GOODWOOD SATURDAY

1.50 QATAR STEWARDS’ SPRINT HANDICAP 6F

An interesting feature of this race is that fact that the majority of the field are running off marks higher than their current rating due to this being an early-closing contest and very few have enhanced their claims since the weights have been framed. One who does come here in decent form is Golden Steps, who won this race off a mark of 96 as a four-year-old when trained by Marco Botti. He may not be quite the force of old, but he’s been ticking over nicely for jovial Jim Goldie, and was a fair bit better than the bare result when third to Blue De Vega at Ascot last weekend, that race coming at five furlongs and run at a surprisingly modest tempo for the trip and grade.

Golden Steps also raced away from the pair who filled the first two places and deserves extra credit for winning the race among the main pack.

At his best, he has been well served by coming late off a strong pace, so the scenario here ought to see him improve on that promising effort and he looks a pretty solid each-way bet in a race which doesn’t look as competitive at second glance that it does initially.

Militia, a three-year-old against exposed handicappers must be respected on the back of a win at Ayr on Monday for all a penalty will demand further improvement and Classic Seniority is another for the shortlist having finished second in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton last time.

3.40 UNIBET STEWARDS’ CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP) 6F

A big performance in the consolation race from Classic Seniority would be a positive sign for backers of George Bowen who beat Marjorie Fife’s charge impressively in the Scottish version of this contest at Hamilton. That was the Richard Fahey-trained gelding’s second wide-margin win of the season and he seems to be in very rude health. He’s not always been the most predictable of characters in the past but it’s impossible to win the way he has at York and Hamilton without being a pattern-class sprinter, and although the handicapper has had his say, the grey is still ahead of his revised mark under a penalty.

He’s one of several in this race to be well treated with Foxtrot Lady and Spring Loaded also ahead of their marks but well found in the market as a result.

One horse is especially well handicapped at present, and is a recent winner to boot, but he is underestimated by the market; Solar Flair ran well to be beaten just two and a half lengths in this race last year off a mark of 103 and would have been closer but for late interference.

He’s now rated 102, having bounced back to form to win but is able to run off 92 after a mixed bag of results earlier in the year, although one of his better efforts came over track and trip in May. He showed himself as good as ever when winning a valuable handicap at Newcastle in June, and that is where he copped a 10lb rise, but only for all-weather races.

It can certainly be argued that he is a better horse on Tapeta than turf but he has plenty of historical form which suggests that there isn’t a great differential in his ability between the different surfaces.

He can easily be forgiven a defeat off his new mark at Chelmsford when he set too soft a pace and I think he looks capable of a big run off his reduced turf mark, with William Cox claiming a useful 5lbs and stall four a seemingly advantageous position to start from.

At bigger odds, I would recommend a saver on Swift Approval, drawn next to the main selection in stall three, and coming here off the back of an excellent second to Zap at Newmarket despite losing a shoe. He’s not run a bad race on turf all year, is officially well-in, albeit only marginally, and yet is 33/1 and could get bigger if punters get stuck into the market leaders.

4.50 QATAR HANDICAP 7F

One race runs into another in more ways than one at Goodwood and a good run from Swift Approval in the Stewards’ Cup as that would be a boost to the chances of Zap here. Richard Fahey’s son of Mayson followed his Newmarket win with an excellent ninth in the International Stakes at Ascot a week ago, when faring best of those to race on the far side of the track in a race where the high numbers dominated. That will have helped put an edge on him and he can go very well with what looks an excellent draw on the inside.

5.25 QATAR APPRENTICE HANDICAP 1M 1F 11Y

It could be a double for Fahey in the meeting’s finale as the improving Delph Crescent seeks to defy the handicapper and complete his hat-trick after wins at Beverley and York. His draw in one isn’t as beneficial over this nine-furlong trip as it would be over shorter, but it’s certainly not a negative, and he showed he was tough turned out quickly at York for all he was entitled to win as he did.

He’s been a little slow to click in handicaps, but has done so with a vengeance now, and this really isn’t the most competitive of handicaps for the meeting. In an ideal wold, his rider will be full of confidence after landing the big race of the day but that might be asking a bit too much!

RECOMMENDED

GOLDEN STEPS 1.50 Goodwood - 1pt e/w @ 12/1 (Bet365)

SOLAR FLAIR 3.40 Goodwood - 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (Bet365)

SWIFT APPROVAL 3.40 Goodwood - 0.5pt e/w @ 33/1 (general)

ZAP 4.50 Goodwood - 1pt win @ best odds

DELPH CRESCENT 5.25 Goodwood - 1pt win @ best odds