14:55 Goodwood

Wednesday 25 September 2024

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

YPO Southern 7 Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 1m 44.42s

(4)

Naxos^t1,h²²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 97| D

9/1

Ended last season with a career-best success in 6-runner Epsom handicap (10f) in October. Not disgraced in trio of starts at Meydan earlier this year but his record fresh is a definite positive if handling underfoot conditions (unproven on ground softer than good). Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 221-776

(1)

Hafeet Alain¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 97| D

7/1

Productive 2023 campaign included heavy ground victory at York (7.9f) in October. Resumed with victory at Newmarket (1m) in April and, after 4 months off, he resumed with a good fourth of 9 in handicap at Ascot (1m) 19 days ago. Little wriggle room from this mark, though.

Form: 218-194

(3)

Rhoscolyn^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| CD

3/1

Fine record over 7f/1m in the mud and having landed this race last year, proved at least as good as ever when striking at Epsom in May. Exploits mixed subsequently but latest run over 7f here 31 days ago best ignored. Interesting now back on last winning mark and recent rain a major plus.

Form: 610000

(5)

Thunder Ball^b⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & O Cole| OR: 97| CD

3/1

Deservedly gained a second career win over C&D 11 months ago. Solid efforts in big-field handicaps upon returning in the spring and final start at Royal Ascot best excused on where he raced. One to bear in mind back from 98 days off with conditions fine.

Form: 71-7400

(6)

Love De Vega³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: C Johnston| OR: 92| D

28/1

Bagged his third win of 2024 at Pontefract (1m) in July. Good second at Windsor followed but upped further in weights and handicapper looked in control when eighth of 10 in handicap at Ripon (1m, good to firm) 30 days ago.

Form: 391628

(7)

Magic Memories^t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D Egan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 82| D

6/4

Has plenty of form with the mud flying and confirmed promise of previous run when doubling his tally at Yarmouth (1m) in June. Not disgraced whilst keener than ideal when sixth of 9 in a C&D handicap and not discounted provided he settles better.

Form: 582146

Non-Runners

(2)

Leadman¹²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Magic Memories (6/4), Rhoscolyn (3/1), Thunder Ball (3/1), Leadman (9/2), Hafeet Alain (7/1), Naxos (9/1), Love De Vega (28/1)

RHOSCOLYN arrives on the mark he was successful from in this corresponding race 12 months ago and, with underfoot conditions firmly in his favour, he can continue the excellent run of form for the David O'Meara yard. Fellow C&D winner Thunder Ball has fallen back down the weights himself and may emerge as the chief threat, ahead of Magic Memories and Hafeet Alain.