The fields on offer in the two big races at Goodwood on Saturday hardly make for great reading given a maximum of seven will line up in the March Stakes (3.00) and five in the feature Celebration Mile (3.35).

 

More concerning still is the fact half of the 12 entries across the two contests are doubly entered this weekend. The dry summer shows no sign of relenting either, and the lack of forecast rain opens up the opportunity for non-runners due to quick ground. 

 

Trying to second guess trainers is always tricky, and while March Stakes odds-on shot Hoo Ya Mal is one of those with two entries, I think he will run over 1m6f at Goodwood rather than 1m3½f in the August Stakes at Windsor on Saturday.

 

The St Leger and Melbourne Cup are on his agenda down the line and it makes little sense for connections to take aim at a less valuable prize over a shorter trip.

 

I’m in no rush to take him on with William Buick already booked to ride, but I am keen to oppose Celebration Mile odds-on favourite Mutasaabeq. 

 

I’ve rated this horse for a while but he hasn’t produced what I expected this season and there have to be doubts about him on a largely downhill track. 

 

He didn’t handle Epsom when a beaten 11-8 shot in the Diomed Stakes on Derby day a couple of starts back and struggled in this race last season, trailing home eighth of nine runners.

 

Last of all that day was the reopposing Stormy Antarctic, who needs a cut in the ground to show his best. 

 

There is every chance at least one of the five won’t line up in the Celebration and the two places up for grabs ante-post might not be available on the day.  

 

Without A Fight and Escobar both ran well at York’s Ebor meeting last week when second in good races but would be far from guaranteed to back up quickly, and replicating the high-class form they showed on the Knavesmire will be a tough task. 

Jadoomi
William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes, Goodwood (3.35), August 27
1pt each-way at 9-2 generally

I reckon Buick has every chance of enjoying a quickfire Group-race double at the Sussex track on Saturday afternoon and his mount Jadoomi is the each-way recommendation at 9-2. 

 

Jadoomi has clearly had his issues as we have only seen him twice since he finished third to Van Gogh in the 2020 Criterium International, but both performances have been promising. 

 

He gave the impression the run was needed when returning from a year off the track last October to claim third in a Newmarket Listed race, and produced a big career best on Racing Post Ratings on his belated return this campaign at Clairefontaine from a proper Group 2 filly at Listed level.

 

The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained four-year-old is within touching distance of the standard set by Mutasaabeq on that run, and his lightly raced profile suggests he should have significantly more to offer in a higher grade. The yard are in good form and this looks a Group 2 there for the taking. 

Latest news

‘It’s just one of those silly things’ – cut rules Alcohol Free out of Haydock

Stradivarius ‘recovering well’ and could go for third victory in Doncaster Cup