4.10pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 05/08/2017

This is a Class 2 maiden raced over 7f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Bathsheba Bay is likely to be short under Ryan Moore, proven already on good to soft and with experience to boot. Dee Ex Bee looks a likely type on pedigree and with an entry in the Champagne Stakes showing what the yard think of him, he is another who should be considered. The vote however at a huge price goes to CAPITAL FLIGHT, who has a pedigree that screams soft ground. He is going to need a little bit further than this in time, but this is going to take a bit of getting as young horses on soft ground so he can outstay them.

1 AMAZING ROCK – 26,000GNS purchase as a yearling by Rock Of Gibraltar out of an un-raced mare. He’s related to some soft-ground runners which bodes well today and the yard can ready a 2yo first time out so he brings leading credentials into this race. Worth close attention in the betting and one of the likelier winners today over this 7 furlong trip.

2 BATHSHEBA BAY – Richard Hannon’s colt took a big step forward on his second career start to finish second, beaten a short head at Sandown. That came on Good to Soft which is a positive with today’s poor conditions and he should come on again for that run. He knows his job and brings a solid enough bit of form into the race so he commands respect with Ryan Moore back in the saddle today.

3 BODIE AND DOYLE – Andrew Balding’s runner was picked up for 50,000GNS as a yearling but he’s already been gelded which is a concern. He’y by Raven’s Pass out of a Halling mare so he’s likely to want further than this in time based on his pedigree. The ground should be fine for him and the yard went close with a 2yo earlier in the week so there are reasons to be positive. There are more appealing pedigrees in this line-up though.

4 CAPITAL FLIGHT – Half-brother to some relatively decent sorts including Ballard Down and Sallen. His relatives have generally improved for longer trips so 7 furlongs looks short on paper but given it’s only August of their two year old days and on soft ground, it will take a little getting. He’s by Zoffany so he shouldn’t be shy of pace and Paul Cole’s yard have been going well of late with a 20% strike rate in the past fortnight. His pedigree suggests that soft ground is going to be right up his street so gets the vote at a big price.

5 DEE EX BEE – Mark Johnston runs one of the most interesting runners in today’s field. He’s a half-brother to Chupalla, an incredibly forward 2yo who displayed plenty of speed which is positive from a pedigree perspective. He’s by Farhh so 7 furlongs should be perfect for him and he holds an entry in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes so there are plenty of positives to take away from his profile. SIlvestre De Sousa is booked to ride and he commands plenty of respect in this.

6 GALLOPING HOGAN – Sylvester Kirk’s runner has been well-held in two average Novice Stakes races earlier this season and he looks up against it in this. He hung slightly on his last start which is a concern and he couldn’t make any progress against a modest bunch of rivals. He’s unlikely to have improved enough to win a Class 2 maiden and handicaps beckon for him after today.

7 KING OF THE SAND – Gary Moore landed one of the biggest upsets at Goodwood earlier in the week when his 100/1 2yo newcomer won. His runner in this has a more attractive pedigree than that winner so he’s unlikely to start as big price although Gary Moore was surprised as anyone his 2yo won. His runner today is a brother to the useful Queen Of The Sand and a half-brother to Rydan so he could turn out to be a useful enough sort in time. He’s probably best watched on racecourse debut though.

8 POWER OF DARKNESS – Half-brother to some moderate sorts over trips varying from 5f to a mile. His dam won on debut over an extended mile which is positive and 7 furlongs looks to be his optimum trip on debut although the yard have slipped out of form and he’s probably best watched today. However, Jim Crowley is a positive booking (27% strike rate in the past fortnight) so he’s worth a second look in the betting market.

9 PREACHER MAN – Jamie Osborne went close with Alifax in a 2yo nursery two days ago and he fields an interesting Lope De Vega colt in this. He improved from his first to second run when finishing second at Ascot last time out over 7 furlongs on Good ground. That’s a solid enough bit of form and he should improve again today so he sets a fairly decent bar although the yard have failed to send out a winner from their last 13 runners.

10 ROUGE – Richard Hannon’s runner races for the first time following a gelding operation earlier last month. He was gelded following a 2-length defeat at Newbury when beaten by some relatively decent types and he wasn’t far away in a Class 2 contest on debut. Ryan Moore rides his stablemate though and he may just need this following that operation.

11 RUSTANG – Beaten 10 1/2 lengths at Windsor on racecourse debut just a few weeks ago in a Class 5 Novice Stakes. That was an encouraging enough run having stayed on well enough and the step up to 7 furlongs is a major positive for this son of Holy Roman Emperor. He has something to find with a few of his rivals but hes sure to improve on what he’s shown so far.

12 SING OUT LOUD – Second runner in this for Gary Moore and he’s a half-brother to some average sorts that have raced for Jim Bolger in Ireland. He’s a full brother to a 7-furlong winner on Good to Yielding and he should have plenty of speed about him on debut. He looks like one for handicaps based on his pedigree and he’s best opposed in this.

13 THE LAMPLIGHTER – Cost 20,000GNS as a yearling and George Baker’s runner has already been gelded. He looks up against it on debut for a yard in poor form of late, without a winner from their last 9 runners with just a 9% strike rate at Goodwood. Pat Cosgrave is a good booking but there are some much nicer types in opposition.

14 TROGON – Mick Channon’s colt ran well at Sandown early last month when finishing third of ten, beaten 6 3/4 lengths. He bumped into a useful sort that day and he will improve plenty for the run although the ground is different here which may not see him to the best effect. Charles Bishop keeps the partnership intact and he’s one to keep onside with more to come.