Goodwood Saturday

1.25 Fitzdares Harroways Handicap 7f

The wide draw is just enough to put me off Hasbro Market here, but he’s one to note for a similar handicap this summer and has shown improved form in two runs this term since being gelded.

He does have the early speed to cut across but the worry would be that if he gets stuck towards the outside of the field, he may be inclined to over-race, and he can be keen enough.

Hopefully we can have him onside when things are more in his favour. Bone Marra is another of interest and stall 10 shouldn’t be a huge inconvenience for Ollie Sangster’s charge.

His best form to date has come on the all-weather but he ran well on balance when third at Salisbury last season and he was a big eye-catcher on his return at Lingfield when travelling best of all but stuck on the rail with no room to open up.

The return to seven furlongs will suit and he will be winning soon, if not here.

2.00 British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes (Listed) 1m 3f 44yd

Saxon Street sets the standard on his Blue Riband Trial win and the longer trip will suit, but I don’t think there is as much between him and Dee Stakes third Golden Story as the betting suggests, with the Chester race, won by the exciting Constitution River, a much deeper race than the Epsom contest.

Golden Story had won on testing ground on debut at Doncaster and looked like he wasn’t loving the much faster ground at Chester, but he still shaped well despite being beaten ten lengths and I think he’s got what it takes to progress past the favourite here.

He’s a full-brother to last year’s Great Voltigeur third Arabian Force and looks a galloper who will benefit from a stiffer test, and while Saxon Street merits plenty of respect, Golden Story gets the nod on value alone.

Haydock Saturday

1.45 William Hill British EBF Hedge Oak Stakes (Listed) 1m 2f 100yd

I’m guessing that two warm days will be enough to get Haydock’s going back to good, for all it was close to heavy for the opening day of this fixture on Thursday.

Wemightakedlongway needs to improve markedly from a disappointing return at Cork, but she was not given a hard time when it was clear she couldn’t win that day and has a big chance on last season’s form, the pick of which was a close fourth in a blanket finish to the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp.

Joseph O’Brien fits her with first-time cheekpieces and this tactic has provided two winners from 11 such runners this year, at odds of 12/1 and 13/2.

Friendly Soul is a huge danger on her best form and I was a big fan when she last raced, but that was in October 2024 and all her best form has come on right-handed tracks. Her one flop was when completely blowing the home bend in the Musidora Stakes at York and she is one to oppose first time out on this track with that aberration in mind.

2.20 William Hill Silver Bowl Handicap 1m 37yd

It’s possible that a wide draw will be a hindrance here, but Jamestown ran a blinder despite racing very deep on the track at Naas last time when just denied by subsequent winner Bobby McGee in a competitive handicap last month.

He looked the likeliest winner halfway up the straight but showed signs of greenness when asked to challenge initially before finishing with a rattle, and the first two appeal as capable of plundering valuable prizes in the UK this summer.

David Marnane has his team in very good order at present and if Jamestown can avoid losing ground out of the bends here, he looks well enough treated to land this good pot. He’s certainly one to keep in mind, with the Britannia at Royal Ascot sure to be on his radar, as it will for Bobby McGee.

2.58 William Hill Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) 6f

Venetian Sun was the subject of positive reports before running in the 1000 Guineas but she simply failed to stay the mile at Newmarket and should get right back on track dropped to the trip at which she’s gained all three of her group wins.

Her defeat of Gstaad in the Prix Morny at Deauville is the best form any of these can muster and there is no reason to think she was just a precocious youngster, having plenty of physical scope. Her one slight disappointment last year came on yielding ground so I’d like to see it dry out at Haydock, but she looks a class above her rivals on balance.

3.30 William Hill Temple Stakes (Group 2) 5f

Mgheera won this from the same stall a year ago and although beaten in the Prix de Saint George, which she won as her prep last year, she shaped well enough from a poor draw there to think all her ability remains intact. High draws came to the fore on the straight course on Friday and Mgheera is drawn to produce another big effort.

Night Raider was back to his best when winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and is a threat, but it must be a worry that he will get drawn into a battle for the lead with Jakajaro who is drawn next to him, and that pair could prove vulnerable unless they are able to cross to the rail early.

York Saturday

2.40 William Hill Epic Boost Handicap 5f

Vantheman caught my eye here last autumn when faring best of the high-drawn horses in a typically competitive course-and-distance handicap, and he bounced back to his best fitted with blinkers at Hamilton last time, showing plenty of dash to score from stall 3, with the placed horses all drawn high.

He looks to have a kind draw in stall 1 here with the low numbers again favoured at the last meeting here and if the blinkers continue to have a positive effect, he’s sure to give a good account, especially with his penalty for Sunday’s win offset by the booking of Jack Nicholls.

3.15 William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 5f 188yd

Danielle has the best form here but has won just one of her last nine, that coming on heavy ground at Doncaster in November and she makes no betting appeal at around 4/6. The trouble is that none of her rivals looks rock-solid in what could be a messy race.

Lava Stream is on the comeback having missed last season but she impressed when going down narrowly in the 2024 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and has always appealed as a mare who would progress with time.

It would have been easier for her to have been retired to stud duties given her owners’ raison d’être, but the fact that she returns to racing as a five-year-old shows that connections retain the faith that she can deliver on past promise, and she is worth chancing having blown away the cobwebs with a spin at Nottingham last month.

Recommended

Bone Marra 1.25 Goodwood – 1pt e/w @ 16/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral; 14/1 general – 5 places)

Golden Story 2.00 Goodwood – 1pt win @ 7/2 (SkyBet, Paddy Power; 3/1 general)

Jamestown 2.20 Haydock – 1pt e/w @ 18/1 (general – 5 places)

Mgheera 3.30 Haydock – 1pt win @ 11/1 (SkyBet, Paddy Power; 10/1 general)

Vantheman 2.40 York – 1pt e/w @ 9/1 (general – 5 places)

Lava Stream 3.15 York – 1pt win @ 15/2 (general)