Sam King is back with three selections at Goodwood on Friday.
An absolute torrential downpour caused some carnage at Goodwood on Thursday, although both Whirl and Merchant showed their class to come out on top.
In all truth, it's been a frustrating week thus far so let's hope for a Ralph Beckett style change of luck today.
In the opening marathon handicap (1.20), I'm happy to side with Sheradann. Despite failing to win in ten starts since joining Ian Williams, he's shown plenty of solid form in defeat, including when third behind the reopposing Aggagio and subsequent Northumberland Plate scorer Spirit Mixer over two miles on soft ground here in June. The form also took a further boost with the fourth-place horse, Almuhit, who has since landed back-to-back handicaps at Newbury.
He kept on steadily in the closing stages that day, shaping as though the step up to this marathon two-and-a-half-mile trip could bring out some further improvement, while he backed that effort up with a good third in the
He's a three-time winner in France, so does know how to get his head in front, and surely, it's just a matter of time until he strikes on British soil.
1pt Win – Sheradann
Odds – 10/1
It will be interesting to see where the jockeys wish to go in the Golden Mile. It's widely perceived that they'll shun the inside rail following yesterday's rain but there's a chance they'll go searching for the better ground.
Ed Dunlop's Listed winner Skukuza holds major claims in handicap company off top-weight, while Dutch Decoy has been unlucky in this contest a few times and commands respect following two commanding wins at Newmarket.
However, they both may have to play second fiddle to the course and distance scorer Arisaig, who has shown solid form on both visits to this venue.
The soft ground is a slight unknown, but conditions are drying, and she's related to horses who have won with cut underfoot, so there is hope in the pedigree.
A winner at this meeting twelve months ago, she looked a touch unlucky when coming home strongly from the rear of the field to finish second behind Classic in a competitive handicap at Sandown last time. The winner has since paid the form a nice compliment by going close in the International Handicap at Ascot, and with this race set-up expected to suit, Charlie Johnson's filly gets the nod to strike under Jamie Spencer.
1pt Win – Arisaig
Odds – 10/1
The nine-furlong conditions event has attracted an interesting field but with plenty seemingly in his favour, Liberty Lane sits top at the shortlist.
Trained by Karl Burke, Liberty Lane was last seen being beaten just over five lengths in a competitive renewal of the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. Whilst he was by no means disgraced that day, it's likely that he found conditions a touch on the quick side given his form.
A winner of a soft-ground Cambridgeshire as a four-year-old, this solid son of Teofilo has produced some decent efforts this season, keeping on well from off the pace to finish third in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester before battling on well to land a Listed contest at the Sussex Downs venue two outings ago.
A repeat of that course Listed success should be good enough here and with both conditions and track to suit, he could take some beating.
2pt Win – Liberty Lane
Odds – 9/4
