We’re just about up after 2 days of Glorious Goodwood which is obviously a good position to be in with three more tough days ahead. I haven’t had the rub of the green with some of my handicap punts this week although they have run well without winning. The opener today is another competitive handicap and I had earmarked two for this race last week and they were APPROVAL & INTO BATTLE. The former will be suited to the course given how crucial it has been to be up with the pace this week so far. He disappointed at Ascot but had set a furious pace in that race and probably did well to stick on for 7th when many others dropped right out. He is better judged on his earlier effort at Windsor where he beat the improving Lord Of Love. That form has worked out and if bouncing back to that sort of form I think he has a chance here.
Ed Walker’s INTO BATTLE will be much better suited to this 10f trip after being found out over 9f last time. I have no doubt he is well handicapped, I just hope the gelding operation changes his fortunes.
The Richmond Stakes is a really deep race I feel and the favourite is rightly quite short. However, I don’t think BILLBOARD STAR should be 6/1 as his form stands up to the closest inspection. He looks a classy type and connections are quite bullish about his chances today, like me, they feel he is a very solid play here.
I didn’t anticipate EL BURHAN to turn up in nursery this season I must admit but an opening mark of 90 should hopefully be exploitable so I can see why connections have taken this path. A canter at Beverley was preceded by a cosy success at Yarmouth after a promising debut at Newmarket. All of that form has been franked and it is a question today of whether or not he is better than a mark of 90. I think he is.
Goodwood 1.50 – Approval / Into Battle
Goodwood 2.25 – Billboard Star
Goodwood 4.10 – El Burhan
