4.55pm Goodwood Tips & Bettting Preview 26/05/2017

This is a Class 2 handicap over 6 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: The booking of Robert Winston aboard TOOFI catches the eye and he can score today. He’s been badly out of form of late but he’s sunk down the weights and he’s just the sort of horse that John Butler gets the best out of. He can take advantage of a falling mark at the expense of Clear Spring who’s run to a fair level of late as has Mazzini who shouldn’t be far away in this.

1 GO FAR – Has upheld his form relatively well over the winter with a success in a Class 2 handicap at Wolverhampton in February. He was only beaten two lengths in a similar handicap to this at Newmarket earlier this month and he’s gone back up a pound as a consequence which leaves him on a near-career high mark. Stall 10 is fine and Joshua Byran is aboard again to claim a valuable 7lbs.

2 KADRIZZI – Back down to his last winning mark of 97 following a 17 1/2 length defeat in the Victoria Cup at Ascot earlier this month. He has held his own on the All-Weather off higher marks than this but this is much tougher than those assignments and more will be required to see him come out on top today. Pat Cosgrave is a positive booking although it’s interesting that his regular rider has got off to ride Toofi instead.

3 STELLARTA – Was only beaten a nose over 6 furlongs at Kempton last month and she’s been hiked 3lbs in the weights as a result. This is a career high mark and leaves her 13lbs higher than her last win which is a major negative given she’s failed to score in eleven attempts on this ground and her trainer has sent out just one winner from 18 runners at Goodwood. She’s opposed today.

4 VIBRANT CHORDS – Took a big step forward on his second run of the season to win a 5 furlong handicap at Goodwood on Good ground. He’s up in trip today which is fine given he’s scored over 6 furlongs already and a 4lb rise in the weights looks fair given his latest success. Others look slightly better treated at the weights and the stable are without a winner in the past fortnight.

5 UPSTAGING – Notched up a hat-trick of wins towards the end of last year on the turf and All-Weather. He arrives here off a 4lb higher mark and connections will be hopeful that they can resume where they left off with him this season although this is a stronger race than anything he’s faced to date and he may be worth taking on based on that. Paul Cole has a less than impressive 6% strike rate at Goodwood.

6 SEEKING MAGIC – Finished behind Go Far when the pair met at Newmarket earlier this month and he’s been dropped a pound for that effort. Connections utilise the 7lb claim of William Cox which leaves him on a workable mark although stall 12 isn’t exactly ideal and he’s probably going to need to improve to get the better of his rivals today in this stronger event. Others make more appeal here.

7 JORDAN SPORT – Lightly-raced 4yo who completed an All-Weather double this winter in two 6 furlong contests. He’s 6lbs higher than the last of those wins and he couldn’t take advantage of this mark over 5 furlongs at Wolverhampton in February. This is a stronger race and he may just need this off a 95-day break from stall 8. He’s won twice from three starts over this distance.

8 CLEAR SPRING – Finished behind Seeking Magic and Go Far at Newmarket earlier this month but that was his first run off a break and he improved for that run with a fourth placed finish at Newbury just a week ago. He should improve again today following that run and could be dangerous here off a 2lb lower mark for the John Spearing stable. They’ve had a winner from their last 2 runners and he’s worth respect in this.

9 TOOFI – Has slipped down the weights from a mark of 103 to today’s rating of 92 and it’s interesting that Robert Winston gets aboard for the first time. He was only beaten 5 lengths in a similar handicap to this at York just 9 days ago and he should improve for that run making his third start for the stable and he’s worth extremely close attention in the betting given any market support would be significant.

10 KASBAH -Dropped 2lbs in the weights following a comfortable defeat in a weaker race than this over 5 furlongs earlier this month. He finished 4 1/4 lengths behind the winner that day and is now back onto his last winning mark which is an obvious plus. Gavin Lerena gets aboard for the first time following his move to ride in the UK over the summer and it would be no surprise to see him run a big race here.

11 MOONRAKER – Has been on the go since the turn of the year with three runs at Meydan. They harboured little success but he’s performed better in two starts in the UK and he was only beaten 3/4 of a length at Ascot in a weaker contest than this last time out. He should improve again following that run off just one pound higher although he is without a win since August 2015 which is slightly off-putting.

12 MAZZINI – Finished behind Moonraker at Ascot a fortnight ago and he’s been dropped a pound following that run. He’s still lightly-raced but remains 6lbs higher than his last winning mark which came on the All-Weather at Kempton back in November. He should improve for his seasonal reappearance and the stable have a decent 17% strike rate at Goodwood. He must enter calculations today.

13 BOY IN THE BAR – Finished ahead of Clear Spring when the pair met a week ago at Newbury and he ran a fine race that day to finish third of eleven. He races off the same mark in this today which leaves him well-treated on these terms although he remains 5lbs higher than his last winning mark. He will appreciate firmer ground but can’t be ruled out here with the visor reapplied today.

14 QUEEN IN WAITING – Sole filly in this field and the only 3yo to feature in the race. She’s 9lbs higher than her last winning mark which came in an average Class 4 handicap at Wolverhampton in April and she’s been competitive off this mark since in similar contests. She’s technically well-in on these terms but stall 14 makes life slightly more difficult and it would be impressive to see her win this.