Anythingday

Unibet ‘You’re On’ Chesterfield Cup Handicap (Tuesday)

The opening handicap on Tuesday lacks progressive runners – or seems to – and the runner who makes most appeal if making the cut is the exposed Anythingtoday, who has slipped well below his last winning mark having endured a barren spell with Roger Fell. He ran well enough from his current mark when a length-and-a-half third of nine to Cormier at York last time, but it’s the fact that he’s moved to the upwardly mobile George Boughey since that run which makes him of most interest.

Anythingtoday shapes as if retaining all of his ability, but he’s lost some consistency, as can be the case with older handicappers who tend to get a little jaded and show their form only in flashes. Horses in that mould tend to tire of the old routine, and can be freshened up by a change of scenery, and the possibility of that kind of positive bounce makes the seven-year-old of interest here.

Austrian Theory

Unibet Vintage Stakes - Tuesday

The colts who head the ratings in this contest are all possibly flattered by that fact, with Berkshire Shadow and Eldrickjones both coming from well off a suicidal pace in the Coventry Stakes, and the latter unable to confirm that improvement at Newmarket since. Lusail, whose July Stakes win looks solid enough, is not crying out for a step up to seven furlongs on either run style or pedigree, and there could be a turn-up.

Austrian Theory was well held in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket having won well on quick ground at Doncaster, but I can forgive him that flop as he was drawn away from the action in stall one, and also seemed to find the looser ground against him. He has plenty of size about him, and is both bred and built to relish this trip, so is worth persevering with in what appears a substandard renewal of this Group 2 event.

Justanotherbottle

Back To Goodwood Handicap – Tuesday

I’ve been waiting for quite a long time for Justanotherbottle to run again over five furlongs at Goodwood. The Kevin Ryan-trained sprinter has loads of mid-race speed and has caught the eye on numerous occasions when facing stiffer tests than this. He was only just touched off in the Stewards’ Cup in 2018, and again rewarded each-way support the following year.

The fact remains, however, that all of his wins have come at shorter trips, and the return to a downhill five furlongs promises to suit him ideally after he was again outstayed in handicap company over further at Newcastle last time. He looked the only threat to the winner that day until his stamina ebbed away, and a further 2lb drop in the weights makes him look well treated again. He’s in the Stewards’ Cup again, and while Ryan might consider running him twice at the meeting, it’s in this contest that he makes most appeal.

Real World

Unibet Golden Mile – Friday

By taking him out of the Lennox Stakes, Saeed Bin Suroor seems to be confirming that he will give Real World a final try in handicap company in the Golden Mile on Friday, and frankly, it will take a freight train to stop him defying a penalty for his stunning win at Newbury last weekend. The turn of foot he found to mow down the high-class Derab was astonishing to witness, and the son of Dark Angel is better than a handicapper, as he pretty much confirmed when running away with the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot. He has a 3lb penalty for his listed win, but I’d imagine that Marco Ghiani will be on board again, and given he was unable to claim his 3lb allowance at Newbury, that penalty is effectively moot.

Winter Power

King George Qatar Stakes (Friday)

Battaash will be expected to be back to his glorious best having been in need of the run in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, and last season’s best efforts would see him win this, but I’m inclined to oppose him at short odds until he shows that he’s as good as he was.

It might seem strange to support one who was behind him at Ascot, but Winter Power went much too hard in front in the King’s Stand and paid the penalty. Her wins at York either side of that unplaced effort show that she is one of the fastest sprinters around at this trip, and she gives the impression that the extra emphasis on speed at Goodwood will be right up her street. She won’t mind any rain, and the forecast suggests that there could be a fair bit through the latter part of the week.

Winter Power progressed throughout last year, and her best effort came in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket, where she proved a class apart. Her wins this season have come at listed level, but I have no doubt that she is a Group 1 winner in waiting, so this Group 2 test may be within her compass.