Jutland Ready for Goodwood Battle
Mark Johnston is clearly hoping to land Goodwood’s Racing UK Handicap for the second time in three years on Wednesday. Having won it back in 2008 with Love Galore, he has three entries for this season’s contest due off at 4.00pm and Jutland can help him take the prize back to Middleham.
This three-year-old son of Halling has had a busy season so far, but judged on his last two efforts, he appears to be improving. Contesting a valuable handicap at Lingfield back in June, he made all the running at a steady pace before quickening up two furlongs from home. From that point, he never looked like being caught and powered away to win by three lengths from King’s Masque.
Horses that tend to run well at places like Epsom invariably do well at Goodwood, with its undulations often proving difficult for the long striding type. Therefore, Jutland should have few problems on that count, having won at Epsom last time. It was a good performance too, racing prominently throughout then taking over in front at the two-furlong marker. He galloped on resolutely and comfortably held off the late challenge of Flying Destination by a length.
This race has a competitive look on paper, and Jutland could well start at double figures, though his supporters look sure to get a decent run for their money. He is unlikely to be the shortest price of the Johnston runners, with Bowdler’s Magic likely to be challenging for the position at the head of the market. He comes into the race at the top of his game, having thrashed Tactician by seven lengths at Sandown on his final outing. However, having to carry a six-pound penalty for that win will be no easy task in this field, despite the ease of that victory.
Sir Michael Stoute is no stranger to success in this contest, having won it in 2007 with Regal Flush, and he has a serious challenger here in the shape of Verdant. A three-year-old colt by Singspiel, his victory in a Sandown handicap at the beginning of the month looks even better, following the runner-up’s win in a Listed handicap hurdle at Market Rasen a fortnight ago. He does have to shoulder top weight though, and that could well be his undoing against some tough opposition.
A more likely danger could be the improving Mount Athos. Trained by John Hills, he has bolted up on his last two starts, turning a competitive handicap at Haydock into a procession, before easily accounting for Baltimore Clipper in an ordinary event at Folkestone. Obtaining a good draw at this track is a useful advantage to have and coming out of stall 17, this can only boost his chances. He is some 15 pounds higher in the handicap now, but he has won with such ease recently that he has to go on the shortlist.
Sea Of Heartbreak is an improving filly trained by Roger Charlton and she will be looking for her fifth success in a row. Her last two runs have been particularly impressive, winning a good handicap at Salisbury and following that with a better effort at Newbury. On that occasion, she looked in trouble two furlongs out as she was stuck behind a wall of horses with apparently nowhere to go. However, her jockey Steve Drowne decided to take his chance by pulling off the rail to the wide outside, relying on her ability to quicken. Moreover, she did not disappoint her rider, showing a splendid turn of foot to come through and lead inside the final furlong and in the end won by a comfortable length and a half from Nafura. With further improvement on the cards, she looks sure to be involved in the finish and looks nailed on for a place.
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