The listed Foundation Stakes is the highlight of a good midweek card at Goodwood and Basem (3.45) gets the opportunity to race on ground with a bit of cut for the first time this season. A son of Pivotal this brother to the top class Farhh lost nothing in defeat when third at York in Group 3 company last time and the winner has, subsequently, followed up in a Group 1 in Canada. The tissue price of 7/4 at BetVictor looks fair enough in a race which might not have too much depth to it.
Battalion is another who will enjoy the cut in the ground and is the obvious danger although he was pulled out of a similar engagement at the weekend at Newbury. The William Haggas-trained 5-y-old has the worst of the draw but might get an uncontested lead and would be dangerous if given too much rope.
Scrutinise is clearly going the right way for Ed Dunlop and a 6lb rise for a facile win in the Hambleton Cup at Thirsk earlier in the month is fair given the manner and margin of victory. There was plenty of rain forecast for Tuesday, however, and he is reluctantly overlooked in favour of Alcaeus (4.20) who represents the inform yard of Sir Mark Prescott. The selection has only raced once in the last two years but can clearly go well fresh having finished a head second to Hassle on his belated seasonal reappearance and sole start last term. He is certainly built to carry weight and, interestingly, holds an entry in the Cesarewitch at HQ next month.
At Perth I am looking forward to seeing the hurdles debut of Carinena (2.20) in the opening mares’ hurdle for Nicky Richards; the selection improved with each run in her Bumpers and landed her final start at Perth when making most. She receives 17lbs (including jockey’s allowance) from Irish raider Miss Dinamic one of seven runners on the card for Gordon Elliot who is unlikely to go home empty handed!
Bar A Mine (3.30) only got as far as the third on his chase debut at Uttoxeter back in the spring but has always hinted that he could make a better chaser than hurdler and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies loves to have winners at this two-day Festival and landed this corresponding event two years ago.
Elliot saddles recent course winner Bouggietopieces but the 5-year-old has been raised 7lbs for a neck success and preference is for the Twiston-Davies trained maiden who was once with Paul Nicholls.
Winning point-to-pointer Monbeg River (4.05) will get further in time but can make a winning chase debut for Martin Todhunter although the yard could be in better form. He is prone to take quite a pull in his races and might be best served if jockey Henry Brooke lets him bowl along in front. The tissue price is 6/1 at BetVictor and that might be a shade too big.
The feature 3m Chase for the Duke Of Atholl Cup is a terrific contest and I think King Of The Wolds (must go close for Malcolm Jefferson but he has disappointed both starts going right-handed and is reluctantly overlooked. Tom Bellamy takes 3lbs off the back of By The Boardwalk (5.15) and he can take up where he left off in the spring when he was a most progressive staying chaser on decent ground.
The Kim Bailey yard have been quiet of late but this is a prestigious contest and By The Boardwalk was clearly going the right way when last seen and is, seemingly, best going right-handed.
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