Glorious Goodwood 2016: Stargazer among Thursday tips
Published:
David Metcalf | July 27, 2016
Stargazer can shine in Goodwood opener
Stargazer scored in good style on seasonal reappearance, and can make light of a rise in the weights to follow-up and land the 1m 2f handicap that opens proceedings on day three of Glorious Goodwood (14.00).
The Sir Michael Stoute trained colt shaped with promise in three runs as a juvenile, and duly put in an improved effort on handicap debut when landing a competitive 12-runner contest at Sandown back in April.
After being-held up in mid division, Stargazer made stealthy headway two from home to take up the running approaching the last and found plenty when challenged to hold on and beat Lovell by a neck.
Rock solid form
The son of Canford Cliffs was value for a bit more than the winning margin, and the third home Harrison has since come out and run two solid races to finish third In The King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in a Listed contest at Newmarket to be rated 103.
Soldier In Action who came fourth, and the fifth home Gershwin, have also come out and won since to be rated 94 and 98 respectively and that gives the form a rock solid look.
It suggests that a 9lb rise is more than fair for Stargazer and he still looks potentially ahead of the assessor off a revised rating of 96.
Lots to like about Lathom
Lathom caught the eye last time out and looks decent each-way value in the 5f handicap (17.30).
The gelding has some smart form to his name as a juvenille last year when trained by Richard Fahey, winning the valuable 22-runner Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury before finishing a solid fifth of 10 to Kachy in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes over course and distance at that meeting.
Lathom was rated 100 after the latter, but is now able to race off 92 having shaped better than the bare result suggests on more than one occasion in four starts this season since joining David O’Meara.
Unlucky at York
They include a keeping on four lengths eighth of 17 to Caspian Prince in the “Dash” at Epsom off 6lb higher, and a 2 3/4 lengths fifth of 19 to Aplha Delphini at York earlier in the month when denied a clear run at a crucial stage – before keeping on strongly to be nearest at the finish.
Had things panned out better in the latter, I feel Lathom would have gone very close to winning and the third home Thesme ran a cracker to just get touched off in a big sprint handicap here earlier in the week.
That gives the form a solid look in the contest and makes Lathom a huge player in this off an unchanged mark.
Thursday tips
14.00: Stargazer (NAP)
14.35: Intelligence Cross
15.10: Big Orange (NB)
15.45: Pamona
16.20: Amabilis
16.55: Challow
17.30: Lathom (E/W)
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