Steve Ryder is back with three tips from today's action, with runners at Ffos Las, Goodwood & Southwell.
15:00 Goodwood
This looks a competitive 0-95 handicap but preference goes to last year’s second LOVELY BREEZE (best priced at 11/2) who can go one better this season. The Hugo Palmer trained four-year-old finished a close 2nd behind the reopposing Spanish Star last season off a mark of 86 and she runs in the race this year off a 1lb lower mark. She has a good record at Goodwood with form figures of 212341 with her latest victory coming by two lengths over this course and distance on her penultimate start.
Lovely Breeze finished midfield in the Ayr Gold Cup last time from 5lbs out of the handicap but now drops in class here and should run well with William Buick taking over with four places available.
15:45 Ffos Las
The Richard Hawker trained FARCEUR DE MAULNE (best priced at 7/2) won in first time cheekpieces last time we saw him and he should prove hard to beat if headgear works for a second time. The seven-year-old had previously been 0-9 in his career but showed huge improvement to win easily at Worcester in May.
Farceur De Maulne won by an eased down 4 ¾ lengths at the finish on his first start over further than 2m5f showing that he should relish this 3 mile trip. The handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory but that is fair with the manner of his victory and I expect him to prove hard to beat in this race.
17:10 Southwell
The George Scott trained ANOTHER ODYSSEY (best priced at EVENS) has been running consistently well this season in handicaps but the application of first time blinkers brought about improvement last time and he should prove hard to beat if replicating that form. The gelded son of Ulysses has form figures of 55332451 in handicaps with his victory coming off a mark of 48 last time at Wolverhampton over 1m4f.
Another Odyssey was held up in rear that day under Becky Smith before scything her way through the field late on to win by 2 ¼ lengths in impressive style. The handicapper has raised him 10lbs which may seem harsh based on the winning margin but he didn’t get the clearest of runs throughout the race and I expect him to follow up if the headgear works for a second time.
