5.20pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 03/08/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap raced over 5 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: The ground at Goodwood has turned increasingly soft so it could pay to stick with Richard Fahey’s MEGAN LILY in this. She has only won once on turf but that came on Sot ground and she arrives here with some fair form to her name. She can make form on the ground count and get the better of Carlton Frankie who continues to improve at a rate of knots, winning five of her ten career starts.

1 QUENCH DOLLY – Produced two excellent runs earlier this season which saw her shoot up 13lbs in the weights following her latest win. She’s given a good account of herself since including a decent second over 6 furlongs at Windsor two starts ago. The drop back in trip is a concern having produced her best form at 6 furlongs and she may be vulnerable in this.

2 MAJOR JUMBO – Has only finished outside of the placings three times from 13 career starts proving himself to be a model of consistency. He finished second at Windsor last time out when well-supported and he has new questions to answer today off a 2lb higher mark leaving him a career high rating of 91. It’s no surprise to see the useful 5lb claimer David Egan utilized to shed some of that burden but he’s high enough in the weights now.

3 EVERGATE – Did well to beat the useful Yalawin earlier this season but he failed to follow that up at Doncaster next time out. That was a competitive handicap and he still ran well to finish fifth in an 11-strong field and it’s no surprise to see him race off a 4lb higher mark today. A rating of 95 will significantly test him in this but he should improve again and commands respect in this.

4 CARLTON FRANKIE – Completed a hat-trick of wins earlier this season, following on from breaking her maiden tag at the end of last season. She struggled in a 6 furlong York handicap last time out and she’ll be better suited by this drop back in trip to the minimum distance. She’s left on a mark of 90 and she may be best watched today although there should be more to come from her again. Silvestre De Sousa is booked to ride for the first time.

5 MEGAN LILY – Sole success on the turf has come on Soft ground so that could bode well with today’s forecast. She was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Reflektor at Chester last time out and she needs to bounce back to form today although her latest run certainly suggests that’s possible. She’s more exposed than many of her rivals having raced 16 times to date but form on this ground could be critical and she is sure to go well on this surface.

6 POET’S SOCIETY – Finished half-a-length behind Megan Lily when the pair met at Chester earlier this season. He’s only won once on turf which came on Good to Soft ground in a Newmarket handicap back in June and he’s struggled off a 3lb higher mark on his last two starts. He’s run 22 times to date and may not offer much value off just one pound lower today (88). The yard are flying at present though with a 21% strike rate in the past fortnight.

7 INTENSE ROMANCE – Arrives here on the back of a decent win at Ascot in a Class 4 handicap last time out. She carries a 6lb penalty today which asks more questions of her now up in grade again but she’s looked increasingly progressive and she’s won five of her ten career starts. The yard are going as well as any at present with a 28% strike rate in the past fortnight and she commands plenty of respect on ground that should be ideal for her.

8 MERRY BANTER – Remains on a mark of 85 for her fourth start in a row following some mixed performances. She’s without a win since completing a double at the end of her 2yo campaign and she looks vulnerable again in this company today. She has placed on Heavy ground which is positive although her best performances have come on Good and better ground so she could be worth opposing again.

9 SUPER JULIUS – Completed a quick-fire double last moth when winning two Class 5 handicaps. He couldn’t complete the hat-trick off a 3lb higher mark at Windsor on his latest run and the boat may have sailed from a handicapping perspective. This ground looks as if it’ll be too slow for him and he’s opposed today on these terms in this tougher race.

10 MAAKAASIB – Won a fairly competitive Class 4 Kempton handicap last time out off a mark of 79. He’s been raised 5lbs for that effort which looks more than enough given the form and he’s stepped down in trip and switched back to the turf today. His two efforts on turf haven’t quite matched up to his All-Weather form but he remains lightly-raced and he should improve again so it’s too soon to discount this son of Equiano. The betting market is worth a second look.

11 FAIR COPY – Lightly-raced Exceed And Excel filly who arrives here on the back of a modest effort at Sandown last month. She finished third of 6 that day, beaten a comfortable 3 3/4 lengths and connections keep her over the minimum trip today. The ground should be fine and the yard are going well at present with a 14% strike rate although she needs to do more to justify a mark of 79 and she may not provide the most value in today’s race.

12 FETHIYE BOY – Ron Harris’ runner completed a double when winning a decent Class 3 handicap at Sandown two starts ago. He beat Kasbah by a head that day and he’s only 2lbs higher than that mark today having struggled at Bath last time out. This will require a career best but he’s a useful enough sort for this yard and should run his race.

13 YORKSHIREDEBUT – Hacked up in a four-runner event at Catterick last time out. She’s been raised a hefty 6lbs for that effort and that gives her plenty to do in this. The cheekpieces are left on today having made a positive impact last time out but this is a career high mark and others may be better treated today.