Friday 2nd August

IAN - Goodwood 3.00 Golden Mile - Class 2 (20 declared)
 
A very strong and competitive field but as we have seen all week, the luck of a "clear passage" is as much a part of form analysis here than anywhere. For that reason the "luck" element pulls me away from the likes of Clon Coulis and Dark Vision drawn in stalls 18 and 19 respectively, drawn lower (single figures) they would have been tips but I think the odds against a clear run from there are too high. 
 
Whats The Story drawn in 2 and my old friend Zhui Feng drawn in 7 should ensure a good pace and expect both the be prominent to the furlong pole and at that point i will favour the single figure drawn GAME PLAYER drawn in stall 1 who ticks every form box and last years winner SENIORITY who despite being drawn in stall 11, should be able to engineer a nice position just behind the pace and have scope to work a safe passage from there.
 
SEAN - Galway 6.15 Blazers Chase 2 miles and 6 furlongs (18 declared)
 
A cracking race and although the top of the market looks strong I will go for 3 at slightly bigger prices who look to have solid each way chances (like Tudor City yesterday) and the experience of the likely rough and fast paced race where onus will be on jumping. 
 
HASH BROWN is a Course and Distance winner, Course specialist, solid form angles and has won here off 121 and 122 a few years back but running well enough off a mark of 116 to be very competitive. MINE NOW is another Course specialist, seems to have been laid out and fresh for the race with a warm up in a Charity race to blow cobwebs away, was a runner up at this Festival off a mark of 130 in 2017, placed 3rd in the 2018 Festival off a mark of 125 and arrives here, may be not quite as good as it was but still very solid off a mark of 124 with a 5lbs claimer. Finally, the ex Alan King trained NED STARK is an interesting runner for Gordon Elliott, basically a 3 mile specialist who could be run off its feet early, but if it gets in to a rhythm it is comfortable with, the long run in from the last could see it stay on past beaten and tired horses in to a nice place position at least.