Neil Morrice has a look at a few horses from Goodwood and Doncaster.
APOLLO ONE – Goodwood, August 2nd
In finishing tenth in Saturday’s Stewards’ Cup, APOLLO ONE ran a much better race than his placing indicates. Runner-up in the race in each of the past two years, he could have matched that had he not been persistently intimidated by a rival who rolled into him a furlong and a half out, preventing the chestnut the ability to get through. He is clearly returning to his best, and can pick up a big sprint handicap which he is certainly deserving of.
MR CHAPLIN – Goodwood, July 29th
Not for the first time this season MR CHAPLIN met trouble in running that blighted any chance he had of winning. He was looking off when still on the bridle two furlongs out but his rider missed the opportunity to take a gap which then closed when some of the other runners came away from the inside. It was game over for the course winner who then stayed on past beaten horses. He’s a very interesting and well handicapped horse, going forward.
REDORANGE – Goodwood, July 28th
REDORANGE is another who didn’t get the breaks in this sprint handicap in which the field was spread across the track. His rider had to be patient for racing room to appear against the stands rail, but for those few strides the eventual winner Brazen Bolt was enjoying an unhindered passage in front. When seeing daylight, Redorange quickened and finished best of all along the fence but it was too late. He’s a very good prospect for sprint handicaps in the late summer and autumn.
TIRIAC – Doncaster, July 23rd
TIRIAC was beaten a total of three lengths into sixth in this Class4 sprint over 1200 metres. But had he been granted some racing real estate it could have been his first success for trainer Paul Midgley. The trainer and jockey were interviewed by the Stewards and explained that the gelding was unsuited by the slow pace, and that he lost around three lengths when the tempo suddenly quickened. Given a different scenario Tiriac should be able to show his true merits, but he will always require luck in running as he is one dimensional, needing to be held up at the back.
