Goodwood Serves Up Wednesday Feast
What a card Goodwood laid on for us this Wednesday afternoon! Eight races of proper National Hunt action on good ground that rode beautifully all day long. The Sussex downland was bathed in April sunshine, and the racing matched the weather – bright, sharp, and thoroughly entertaining.
From the opening novices' hurdle at 1:30 through to the final PRA graduates' contest, this was a card that had everything. Quality handicaps, promising novices, and enough talking horses to keep the post-racing analysis going well into the evening.
The ground description of Good, Good to Soft in places proved spot-on, with that back straight riding just on the easier side. Perfect conditions for the time of year, and it showed in some of the performances we witnessed.
Silver Trophy Takes Centre Stage
The £80,000 Unibet Silver Trophy was always going to be the day's centrepiece, and what a field they assembled for this Grade 2 limited handicap over two miles and three furlongs. Tommy's Oscar topped the weights on 144, but it was the depth of quality that caught the eye.
Harry Cobden aboard Outlaw Peter looked to have a serious chance off 140, while the French raider Jour d'Evasion brought some continental flair to proceedings with Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle. The beauty of these limited handicaps is how they bring together the established stars with the up-and-coming types.
Riskintheground for Harry Skelton was another fascinating runner. This horse has been knocking on the door in similar company, and the way he's been travelling in his races suggests a big day isn't far away. The Skelton team know exactly how to place their horses, and this looked like perfect timing.
Fugitif caught plenty of pre-race attention too, and rightly so. Tom Bellamy's mount has been progressive all season, and dropping back slightly in trip looked like playing to his strengths.
Mares Take the Spotlight
The Listed Unibet Abram Mares' Novices' Hurdle was another race that had the form students reaching for their notebooks. White Noise headed the market for good reason – this mare has been impressive in her hurdling career to date, and Tom Bellamy's booking suggested connections were confident.
But it was some of the less exposed runners that really sparked the imagination. Girl Friday looked interesting for Patrick Wadge, while Great Dance represented the Lorcan Williams yard that's been in flying form recently.
Sean Bowen's mount Torpille Dagrostis brought some French breeding to the party, and these cross-channel raiders often spring surprises when stepping up in class. The way this mare has been finishing her races suggests she's ready for this level.
Ones to Follow
Several horses from today's card screamed 'follow me' for the rest of the season. In the opening novices' hurdle, Le Beau Madrik looked a horse going places. Harry Skelton's booking was significant, and anything from the Seven Barrows team with that jockey aboard demands respect.
Legendary Luke is another name for the notebook. Gavin Sheehan has been riding with real confidence this season, and this horse has the profile of a summer festival type. The way he's been shaped suggests there's plenty more to come.
From the marathon three-mile-four handicap chase, Ki Woo caught the eye despite carrying top weight. Toby McCain-Mitchell's claim would have been valuable, and this horse looks like he's still improving at the age of eight. These staying chasers often peak later in their careers.
Red Risk in the extended three-mile hurdle looked another progressive type. Paddy Hanlon's booking suggested this horse was fancied to run a big race, and anything that can handle this trip with the pace they go at Goodwood has to be respected going forward.
Trainer and Jockey Combinations
The jockey bookings told their own story throughout the afternoon. Harry Skelton's multiple rides suggested the champion jockey's team had done their homework, while the presence of Nico de Boinville on several fancied runners showed which horses the big yards were taking seriously.
Tom Bellamy's book looked particularly strong, with rides in both the Listed mares' race and the Silver Trophy. When a jockey of his calibre gets multiple quality rides on the same card, it usually means trainers are queuing up to use his services.
The Twiston-Davies booking on Jour d'Evasion was intriguing – Sam's style suits these galloping tracks, and his record on French-bred horses is excellent. That combination alone made the horse worth following.
Sean Bowen's presence on multiple runners showed how highly regarded his services are becoming. His tactical awareness has improved dramatically, and he's now getting the quality of ride his talent deserves.
Looking Ahead
Several of today's performers look destined for bigger targets as the season progresses. The Silver Trophy form will work out well – it always does with these Goodwood handicaps – and we should see several of these horses pop up in valuable prizes over the coming months.
The mares from the Listed race will be aimed at similar contests, with Royal Ascot potentially on the agenda for the winner. These spring targets often act as perfect stepping stones to the summer festivals.
For the staying handicappers, the summer circuit beckons. Goodwood's unique test often produces horses that go on to win at the big summer meetings, and several from today's longer races looked like they'll thrive when the ground gets quicker.
The novices will be heading towards end-of-season targets, with several looking like they could develop into next season's stars. That's the beauty of these April meetings – you're often watching future festival winners taking their next steps up the ladder.
What a day Goodwood served up. Quality racing, progressive horses, and plenty of pointers for the months ahead. This is why we love the game.
