The colts take centre stage at Goodwood on Friday with The Cocked Hat Stakes attracting some promising types. It is a long time since this race had any merit as a Derby trial but a couple of these still hold entries at Epsom.
The one that stands out is Roger Charlton’s Observational. He is yet to win a race after finishing second in both starts but has shown plenty of promise. He was second at Newbury in soft ground on his debut in October, staying on well without threatening to catch Chatez.
He did not reappear until April and ran a cracker in a valuable sales race at Newmarket over ten furlongs. He launched his run on the wide outside and looked likely to win with a furlong to travel but found Sudden Wonder just too strong. Charlton’s horses are usually better for their first run and the son of Galileo can get off the mark tomorrow.
Postponed is the obvious threat after finishing third in the Craven Stakes and fourth behind Barley Mow. That latest effort was slightly disappointing and Derby entries for both he and Observational look a shade optimistic.
Tioga Pass is my selection for the staying handicap in receipt of two stone from Lady Cecil’s Phaenomena. The latter beat Sir Michael Stoute’s Astonishing last season and that filly romped home next time out. Phaenomena let down her supporters next time and she looks vulnerable with ten stone first time out. Tioga Pass was stepping up in trip for the first time when winning at Kempton for Paul Cole and looks capable of improving further.
Our third and final selection is Red Refraction in the sprint for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. The colt by Red Clubs has a poor win to run ratio but it was difficult not to see him as a desperately unlucky loser last time at Ascot. Held up in rear, he was guided inside by Sean Levey while the winner Blessington took the opposite course.
Levey ended up having to cut through runners late on to take second but the winner had flown. That was over six furlongs but he has raced over tomorrow’s distance of seven before and this looks a soft race. If you back him, don’t expect to see Hughes appear until late on.
Red Refraction 2.50 Goodwood at 2-1 Bet365, William Hill
Tioga Pass 3.25 Goodwood at 5-1 BetVictor
Observational 4.00 Goodwood at 5-2 Bet365
