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Captain's Blog - 29th July 2010

A third day on the trot for me in the booth today. Yesterday was a long one but interesting as well. Canford Cliffs won the Sussex Stakes with some ease and is clearly a top notch miler. He beat Rip Van Winkle by half a length and this horse ran well in what was effectively his first proper race of the season, after all he was too keen on his return at Ascot and never got competitive. Rip was handled considerately by his jockey Ryan Moore and was only given a couple of thumps with the whip. He may have been physically fit, but he was not race sharp and after this he will be spot on. I would be keen to back him wherever he runs next. Yesterday in the paddock he was relaxed and laid back, almost asleep, next time I would be prepared to bet that he will be on his toes and and tugging his lad round the paddock ready to run for his life and I for one will be eager to back him. I was also keen on the performance of Sharnberry in the fillies maiden. She was well backed and found herself in mid pack off a slow pace, switched to the outside she ran on to get within a length of the winner. What I liked was the way she changed legs and started to pick up strongly when Kieren Fallon gave her a flick of the whip, he gave her another one just before the line and she really took off and took some pulling up, she will win next time out.

We will hopefully learn plenty from today’s action which is a better card than we enjoyed yesterday. The Goodwood Cup and the King George Stakes are the features and could not be more diverse. The Cup will be fought out over an attritional two miles. The King George is a burn up over five furlongs. The two speed figure horses are Age of Aquarius in the Cup and Astrophysical Jet in the Sprint, both will go well and both will feature as selections here on the blog later on. Age of Aquarius is due a big one after coming second to Harbinger and then second in the Ascot Gold Cup, both of them big figures. He will be hard to beat. Astrophysical Jet was impressive in victory at Newmarket last time. She benefited from a drop in trip to the minimum distance and posted a speed figure that gives her every right to compete at this level. She is worth a few quid each way.

I managed to get to the Gym before work yesterday and am contemplating the same again today although I have to say that I am feeling a little stiff and sore today after banging out five miles on the running machine. There is no remedy for feeling like this other than to get out there and do it again, but the lazy side of me really cannot be bothered. I need to decide shortly though. Decisions, decisions!

Right, time for me to bid you farewell for another day. Enjoy Goodwood and I will be back tomorrow with some more thoughts.

Today’s Selections

2:45 Goodwood – Astrophysical Jet (each way 7/1 Ladbrokes )

3:25 Goodwood – Age of Aquarius (6/4 LadbrokesLadbrokes )

2:10 Goodwood – Solicitor (each way 13/2 Sky Bet )