I’ve got four rides across Thursday and Friday all for Karl Burke, where my best chance looks to be Holloway Boy in the Golden Mile Handicap. He’s been running well all year, so it would be great if he could get his head in front.
What is it like to ride Goodwood?
It’s a very scenic racecourse, but it’s certainly a tough place to ride. You often get quite a lot of hard luck stories on the home straight, as the gaps don’t always open up, so you always need a bit of luck on your side.
Thursday
1.50 Goodwood, Arabic Legend (Karl Burke)
I’ve not ridden him before, but he’s got plenty of ability. Earlier this season he ran in a couple of Derby trials, but probably just wasn’t quite up to that level. His last two runs have been encouraging, especially on his penultimate start at the Curragh, where he finished a close second. We are stepping back up in trip 1m2f, which should suit as he probably found the mile a bit too sharp last time out. Hopefully he can run well and be in the mix.
4.10 Goodwood – Cracking Man (Karl Burke)
His best performance to date was over 5f at Carlisle, where he finished a good second, keeping on well in the final furlong. The way he ran that day suggested that he’d probably get further. It will be interesting to see if 7f can bring out any improvement in him. He will also be making his nursery debut with a rating of 78, so it’s hard to know if he’s well-treated. We’ve been given a draw in Stall 13, which won’t make life easy, but we’ll give it our best shot..
4.45 Goodwood – Got To Love A Grey (Karl Burke)
I’ve got a lot of time for this tough filly, and I’ve ridden her throughout the majority of her racing career. Her season started off well after winning a Listed race in France, but her recent efforts have been a little disappointing. Having said that, she had excuses on her latest start at Royal Ascot, where she was drawn on the wrong side of the track. I think she’s overpriced for this race, and if she can bounce back to her earlier form, then she should be there or thereabouts.
Friday
3.00 Goodwood – Holloway Boy (Karl Burke)
He’s definitely my best chance of the week, and I’m really looking forward to riding him. He’s not the easiest of horses to ride, and you have to sometimes have to take your time on him. The last time we saw him, he ran very well at Sandown, where he finished a close-up second on soft ground, which wasn’t his ideal conditions. If the ground can stay on the quick side, then he’ll be a big player.
I hope you’re all enjoying watching the action at Goodwood and you’ll hear from me again soon.