Epsom and Goodwood previews: Arctic Feeling the answer to feature sprint

David Metcalf | 30.08.2016

David Metcalf | August 30, 2016

Arctic Feeling handicapped to strike at Epsom

Arctic Feeling has a good record at Epsom and looks decent value to land the 6f feature contest on today’s card at the Surrey venue (15.10).

The Richard Fahey trained eight-year-old has won two of his four starts over course and distance, with the last of those successes coming in the 2014 renewal of this contest.

Arctic Feeling has gone on to score four times since and looked as good as ever on seasonal reappearance when winning at Beverley off a mark of 92.

The gelding has also shaped far better than his form figures suggests in some competitive class 2 contests of late, including when a close up sixth of 19 to the progressive Alpha Delphini at York three starts back.

Alpha Delphini, to whom the selection was conceding 9lb, has since gone on to land a Listed contest and the form reads very well in the contest of this lower grade class 3 affair.

Arctic Feeling is also now able to race off a reduced mark of just 87, 5lb lower than when last victorious, and has the services in the saddle of Nanalie Hambling whose claim takes another 7lb of his back.

Race horse trainer RICHARD FAHEY.

Farham has plenty in his favour

Fahey looks to hold leading claims of landing a double on the card with Farham in the 1m 2f handicap (16.55).

The gelding belatedly got off the mark at Haydock back in April when overcoming trouble in-running to get up on the line and beat Zaria by a short-head off a mark of 70.

Farham has failed to build on that success in six subsequent outings but that has resulted in a drop in the weights and the son of Smart Strike is now able to race off 3lb lower.

It makes the four-year-old a big player on the pick of his form and he didn’t run too badly last time out in an amateur riders’ contest at Pontefract when making good late headway to finish a never nearer fourth.

With crack apprentice Adam McNamara now taking over in the saddle and terrific value for his 5lb claim, Farham looks weighted to get back on the scoresheet if building on it.

Epsom top tips

14.00: Suffragette City
14.35: Pioneering
15.10: Arctic Feeling (NAP)
15.45: Good Luck Charm
16.20: Fandango
16.55: Farham (NB)

Rajar to resume winning ways at Goodwood

Rajar was not seen to best effect last time out but makes plenty of appeal in the 6f nursery at Goodwood today (15.35) now stepped back up in trip and eased in grade.

The Richard Hannon trained filly was held-up in the 5f Listed St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury before staying on to be nearest at the finish and beaten 4 1/4 lengths into fifth behind the useful Mrs Danvers.

Prior to that Rajar had rattled up a hat-trick of successes in 6f contests in impressive fashion.

In the last of those at Newmarket, the daughter of Archipenko made all an quickened smartly to beat Paco’s Angel by 2 1/2 lengths in what looked a hot class 2 nursery.

The way in which she travelled powerfully at the head of affairs before putting the race to bed in a matter of strides suggested she had a huge engine and it’s clear that the change in tactics and drop back to the minimum trip last time out did not suit.

Rajar will appreciate the return to handicap company and far better can be expected now that she has her optimum conditions.

Richard Hannon

St Michel can collect for Sir Mark

St Michel has an ultra-progressive profile and looks a worthy favourite to bag another success in the 2m handicap (16.10).

The three-year-old is a typical improver from the Sir Mark Prescott yard who has now won three of his last six starts, finishing runner-up on the other occasions.

In the last of those successes at Newmarket, the son of Sea The Stars looked miles ahead of the assessor when slamming Planetoid by 3 1/4 lengths.

St Michel cruised along and challenged on the bit two from home before being pushed clear to score with any amount in hand.

It was a most taking performance which suggested the colt had even more improvement left in the locker and a 7lb rise in the weights is unlikely to be enough to stop St Michel going in again.