With the Qatar Goodwood Festival starting next week, Steve Ryder provides a couple of each-way selections in two Group 2 contests.
Lennox Stakes - Winner
Lennox Stakes:
The Group 2 Lennox Stakes is often won by a 7f specialist and the horse that falls into that category this year is the Charlie Hills trained POGO (best priced at 6/1). The six-year-old has form figures of 43216511 over this trip at listed level or higher including two Group 3 victories already this season. He beat Laneqash by a nose at Haydock in John Of Gaunt Stakes on his reappearance before defying a penalty to win the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket by two lengths on his previous start.
Pogo finished a close 3rd in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at the course last season showing that he handles the track and he looks the horse with the least question marks in this race. The likes of Alcohol Free, Modern News and Order Of Australia would rate doubtful runners in my opinion and the favourite Aldaary has shown his best form on a softer surface than he will encounter next week. The biggest danger to the selection could be the three-year-old Lusail who has chased home the likes of Perfect Power, Coroebus and Tenebrism so far this season but I feel Pogo looks the one to beat given his form over the trip.
King George Qatar Stakes - Winner
The King George Qatar Stakes:
The King George Qatar Stakes looks like a good race to be backing a horse in antepost as the two at the top of the market, Royal Aclaim and Flotus, look set to miss this race in favour of The Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Last year’s winner Suesa would be interesting again this season but I am unsure whether defending her crown is her target so preference instead goes to the confirmed runner RAASEL (best priced at 7/1). The five-year-old has been a revelation since joining The Horse Watchers and Mick Appleby and has won eight of the his previous ten starts.
Raasel started off his winning sequence in handicaps off a mark of 73 but has progressed rapidly through the ranks and comes into the race following a Group 3 victory at Sandwon last time in the Coral Charge. The gelding is 2/2 at Goodwood in his career albeit in handicaps off mark of 73 and 94 but it is always good to know horses can handle this slightly unique track. With a rating of 108 he is entitled to contest this Group 2 and with the race looking as if it will cut up, I believe now is the time to back Raasel for next week.
