A long, wet and strange week is nearly all over. Here we go for one last attempt at beating the bookies!
13:20, Coral Glorious Stakes
Al Aasy 6/4, 2pts win
This isn't the hottest renewal of the opening Group 3 on the card. Meydaan would be of interest if bouncing back to the form of his 2nd place effort here earlier in the season but he's far from trustworthy these days and seems out of form. So too does Ambiente Friendly who has now been gelded but needs to show a glimmer of his 3 year old form before you could latch onto him again really. Candleford holds his form well and is now a 3 time winner at Listed level. The ground may have gone against him however and he has been below form on his 2 visits to Goodwood. Arabian Crown has been running just Ok this year. He could go close if building on those efforts but doesn't seem straightforward. Al Aasy needs to bounce back from 2 underwhelming runs but he won this race last year and will enjoy the slightly easier surface than the last day. He's got no excuses and these are the races he thrives in.
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13:55, Coral Summer Handicap
Aeronautic 15/2, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Barnso 18/1, 0.5pts each-way (4 places)
This is a strong edition of the staying handicap on the final day. French Duke won at the meeting last year and is respected as too is Sam Hawkens who is progressive. Master Builder has claims back from a short break and will appreciate a slightly easier surface. Barnso must have a chance too now having his first run for Alan King who could do with some luck this week. He ran a great race at the Royal meeting to finish 5th, best of those who had raced on the pace. New connections are quick to pitch him into a big race again and he looks overpriced. Barnso is closely matched on Ascot form with Joseph O'Brien's runner Aeronautic. The son of Gleneagles was well fancied that day and ran well. This is slightly easier and he shaped as though there's more to come. He's still fairly unexposed after just 6 runs and should enjoy a nice run round from stall 3 with Colin Keane up in the saddle for the first time.
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14:30, Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes
Serenity Prayer 8/1, 1pt win
The group 2 of the day looks an open affair on ratings. Term Of Endearment is the highest rated runner in the field and should have her backers after winning this last year. She's disappointed favourite backers the last twice though and no longer looks a solid option. Danielle has claims on the ratings and should go well but this is her first run for a while and the step up in trip is an unknown. Goodie Two Shoes is having a great season and should run her race but needs a bit of a step up on all known form. I saw Waardah win at Goodwood earlier in the season and thought she looked good that day in bad ground. She'll enjoy the surface and on breeding has claims over this far. She's respected but at the odds Serenity Prayer makes appeal. She looked a filly to follow after winning well on debut before finishing 2nd int he Musidora to subsequent dual Group 1 winner, Whirl. That is standout form and she could perhaps be forgiven a poor run in the Ribblesdale as it perhaps came too soon for her. She's up in trip now, which is positive on breeding and could surprise a few.
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15:50, Coral Stewards' Cup
Orazio 28/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Strike Red 14/1, 1.5pts each-way (6 places)
This is one of the more open renewals of the Stewards' Cup that I can remember. Hammer The Hammer and Circe both come into this in top form after good seasons and must be respected for all that this is a step up for them. Get It loves these big field handicaps and is respected again after winning the Wokingham but the market hasn't dismissed him this time. Elmonjed will have supporters after winning at York last week but I'm not sure he shapes as though this track will suit. Instead, Orazio could go well at a big price. Charlie Hills' 6 year old started favourite for this race 2 years ago but disappointed. That was heavy ground that year and although he handles ease, probably not extremes. He's now 5 pounds lower 2 years on but has shown life since that day as displayed when finishing 3rd in last year's Wokingham. He's shown nothing since but if low stalls are favoured then he's in a good stall in 3 and Rossa Ryan rides for the first time. A more consistent performer is Richard Fahey's Strike Red. Fahey hasn't had the greatest season by his standards so far but his admirable 7 year old could provide him with his first win in this race. Strike Red finished 6th in this last year from the same mark, behind Get It but he is now much better off at the weights with that rival and could be well drawn in stall 23. He'll enjoy the recent rain and knows how to win these big field handicaps. It was a very encouraging run last week when he finished 6th behind Elmonjed at York but he fared best of those drawn poorly and he looks to be coming to the boil at the right time.
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15:45, Whispering Angel Handicap
Spirit Of Farhh 20/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
Another open race. These types of affairs have been challenging for punters this week so it may pay to look for one at big prices. Eve Johnson Houghton has been having a good run of things and her runner here looks sure to go well. Spirit Of Farhh has been drawn well in stall 3 and is proven on an easier surface. He looked like one to follow last year when winning a nice maiden at Newbury. He didn't hit form straight away this year but has been steadily progressive and won at Newmarket 14 days ago. He's up 6 pounds for that but it was a step back in the right direction and could be ahead of the handicapper if now building on his early promise.
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16:20, British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes
No Bet
This maiden offers no appeal from a punting perspective.
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16:55, Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap
Alpha Crucis 7/1, 2pts each-way (5 places)
Gary Moore's 5 year old Alpha Crucis has strong claims of taking the last race of the week for a popular trainer. The son of Australia finished 2nd at Epsom off this mark in a race that wasn't run to suit but still shaped well on his first run since finishing 8th in the Lincoln. He loves this track and really enjoys a bit of dig in the ground. Colin Keane is an eye-catching jockey booking too.
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