Day Five Goodwood Preview 2022

Andy Smith | @AndySmithRacing

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 12:40
7(3)
Pierre-Louis Jamin

Lethal Levi

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin
T: K R Burke
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-8
OR: 85
Days: 7

In the Steward's Sprint Handicap current market leader Lethal Levi arrives here at the Sussex Downs in fine form and rightly takes up a large chunk of the betting market.

Despite not finding much success last season as a 2 year old, Karl Burke's charge has been in fine form this campaign. After winning a class 4 handicap over 6 furlongs off a mark of 78, he then scored at the same level despite a rise to a mark of 81.

Despite having a couple of unlucky runs to be 4th and 2nd last month, the gelding has quickly got back on track winning his last two starts.

Scoring at Newmarket during the July festival off a mark of 85 with bundles in hand. A rise to a rating of 92 didn't curb his improvement and he defied the handicapper impressively again at Newmarket only a week ago.

Although now officially rated 100 he arrives here with only a 5lbs penalty for his last win. Being 9lbs well in, he's going to be hard to beat.

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 13:10
9(4)
Harry Davies

Boss Power

J: Harry Davies
T: Sir Michael Stoute
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-2
OR: 92
Days: 18

Despite it taking four attempts for Boss Power to break his maiden, when given a sterner test of stamina he obliged in a maiden handicap.

Moved up in trip off the back of that saw him gain success in a low level handicap over 14 furlongs. He did score over 12 furlongs on the all weather last season and has been largely kept over middle distances since.

This season has seen him running in handicaps over 10 to 12 furlongs without much success. However moving back up in trip will likely bring about some improvement in the 5 year old's fortunes. A mark of 92 isn't unworkable as he has won off just 1lb lower previously.

An emphasis on stamina could just see him getting right in the mix.

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 13:10
5(12)
Ben Curtis

Themaxwecan

J: Ben Curtis
T: Charlie & Mark Johnston
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-4
OR: 94
Days: 35

A well versed 6 year old gelding for Charlie and Mark Johnstone, Themaxwecan has already been seen 31 times on course in his career.

Climbing the handicap ranks throughout his time racing, he found success over 2 miles off high enough marks back in 2019. The last of his wins coming here at Goodwood.

The handicapper seemingly getting the better of him off the back of that win, he managed to win again when his mark dipped back below 100 last year over 14 furlongs. Again though he struggled off high marks until dropping back to a mark of 96 and scoring here at Goodwood again over 2 miles.

Again the assessor has taken a grip but off the back of some lacklustre runs this campaign his rating has fallen to a very exploitable looking 94. A return to a course he's clearly effective at on a dangerous handicap mark, the Johnstone inmate can have a say in the finish at a big price.

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 13:45
3(2)
Tom Marquand

Sea La Rosa

J: Tom Marquand
T: William Haggas
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-8
OR: 106
Days: 28

The lethal combination of Tom Marquand and William Haggas team up with Lillie Langtry favourite Sea La Rosa. The daughter of Sea The Stars failed to get off the mark as a juvenile but made up for it last year.

Winning a novice over 12 furlongs on her seasonal comeback, she then moved into handicap company with some mixed success. winning 2 of her 4 outings in handicaps, she gain a rating of 93 and moved up to group level.

Unable to really play a major role in a group 3 over 12 furlongs, she dropped to listed level and went up in trip. The longer distance bringing out plenty of improvement she bolted up at Lingfield without breaking sweat.

She's returned as a fine looking four year old this year and scored a group 3 on her seasonal comeback over 12 furlongs. Last seen in a group 2 over a mile and a half, she looked a little one paced in the finish and couldn't go with Free Wind. Moving up in trip looks like it'll really suit and she still has plenty of scope for improvement.

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 14:20
1(11)
Harry Davies

Chil Chil

J: Harry Davies
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-12
OR: 110
Days: 14

The Steward's Cup attracts some of the best 6 furlong handicap sprinters around and this year is no different. Shouldering top weight in this year's race is Andrew Balding's Chil Chil off a mark of 110.

The 6 year old mare quickly rose through handicaps ranks back in 2019 to score in 3 of her 4 runs over 6 furlongs. She then continued her impressive handicap form as a sprinter to score at Ascot back in 2020 off a rating of 85. She failed to win for the rest of the season off her revised mark.

However she came back in fine form last year and won a handicap despite a rating of 97 before scoring a group 3 at Newcastle in impressive fashion.

She hasn't managed to notch another win since but has only been running in group company since. her comeback run this year in a group 3 saw her race too freely to have a real chance, but with the freshness out of her she's clearly the class act in this race.

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 14:20
10(24)
Rob Hornby

Method

J: Rob Hornby
T: Freddie & Martyn Meade
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-4
OR: 102
Days: 14

Another runner taking his chance in this heritage handicap who looks of interest is 4 year old Method for Freddie and Martyn Meade.

After bursting onto the scene as an impressive looking juvenile, Method scored on debut with bundles in hand before going on to win a listed race without much fuss. However a step up in grade saw him wanting for quality in group races off the back of a mid season break.

He's never really recaptured the form he showed as a 2 year old and hasn't won since his opening two wins. Being highly precocious like his sire Mehmas, he has been running at a high level and has not been entirely disgraced in listed and group sprints this season.

A mark of 104 might underestimate him in a handicap and he could just fulfil that promise he showed back in 2020.

Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 14:55
6(10)
Benoit De La Sayette

Positive Impact

J: Benoit De La Sayette
T: Simon & Ed Crisford
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 91
Days: 21

The penultimate race on the card of Glorious Goodwood is a 7 furlong handicap for 3 year olds and has attracted a competitive field of 10 runners.

Positive Impact heads the early betting for Simon and Ed Crisford off the back of a narrow defeat in the Bet365 Mile during the July Festival at Newmarket.

Gelded before starting his life racing, his first three outings over a mile failed to yield a win for the son of Shamardal but he ran well in defeat in each run. Finishing in the money each time, he finally got his head in front at the fourth attempt when dropped to 7 furlongs in a 2 runner event. Sent off at 1/66 it's no surprise to see he won by a massive 21 lengths.

Moved into handicap company off the back of that, he was only narrowly denied by Jimi Hendrix next time out and has gone up 4lbs off the back of that.

Clearly improving still, the drop in trip looks like it'll suit him and his rating of 91 looks lenient enough to exploit here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
04/11/23CFD8St9-51
02/09/23CHS7.5GS9-109
12/08/23ASC8Gd9-96
10/02/23MEY8Fs9-108
13/01/23MEY8Gd9-1110
Goodwood - July 29 2022
Goodwood 15:30
6(12)
Kevin Stott

General Lee

J: Kevin Stott
T: Paul & Oliver Cole
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-6
OR: 85
Days: 126

The final race of a spectacular week of racing, the curtain closes on Goodwood with a 9 furlong handicap.

Four year old General Lee looks one to note here for Paul and Oliver Cole after hosing up in a course and distance event on his last outing of last season.

The colt took a massive seven attempts to score his first win racing as connections experimented to find his optimum trip. Mainly seen over a mile last year, it wasn't until he was upped to 10 furlongs that he managed to score in maiden company.

Unable to win on handicap debut on deep ground, finished his season with a comprehensive success over this course and distance off a mark of 79.

A poor run on return in the Spring Mile handicap, that will have shaken away the cobwebs. A mark of 85 is workable and his impressive win her last year gives him a massive chance.