There is a notion that a high draw is best on this famous 5 furlong track, allegedly the fastest in the world but I think it's more about early pace, Course specialists and keeping the horse balanced as you run down a steep hill with the camber running away from you from the higher Stands side to the lower far side. Imagine running down the straight of your local velodrome and trying to hang on at the top of the banking and that's probably what it's like.

 

Some horses bring AW fitness, certainly a few have proven to be able to win fresh, some will undoubtedly need the run.

 

It's impossible to get away from MOKAATIL a Course and Distance winner who is on a nice mark, gets a decent draw and who is race fit and at around 3/1 or higher i very much suggest a win saver.

 

Of the remainder, plenty have chances including Recon Mission who won this race last year from the same Stall as today (No 3) and Electric Love who is progressive and gets a high draw. I think there may be wins in the future for the likes of Just That Lord; Nelsoy Gay and lucky Ava and Newyorkstateofmind may need the run and Thegreatestshowman is probably better on AW tracks. 

 

I can't resist a couple of wily veterans though for a e/w shot here on the basis I'll have the 1 point win saver.

 

DARK SHOT was runner up off 71 in this last year, runner up off 82 in 2019, a mark of 80 reflects a good end to last season but drawn in stall 6 he has tactical scope to tag on to pace and clearly likes the Course and usually good and ready to go. Similarly the 13 year old PETTOCHSIDE who will no doubt run at every Goodwood meeting and most weeks later on in the season, is a Course winner and a Distance winner, in the past 2 years its won and been runner up on seasonal debut, its drawn next to Dark Shot in stall 7 and below its last win mark. With all of those boxes ticked the price is frankly ridiculous, so let's speculate!