Alan Thomson’s Racing Tips: Jolly good fella can land the opener

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LIL ROCKERFELLA (1.50) could prove a snip in the opening 2m 4f handicap at Goodwood. Neil King’s gelding beat L’Ami Serge at Ascot last November off a hurdles rating of 160 and his flat rating of 83 looks lenient in this company.

Chief market rival Coeur De Lion is rated 139 over hurdles but has to concede 10lb to Lil Rockerfella. Of course, if the racing game was all about weights and measures we’d be rich, and not everything can be taken at face value. However, with punters’ pal Silvestre De Sousa booked, Lil Rockerfella should have the measure of Coeur De Lion and Kloud Gate. Last year’s third Arthur McBride and fifth-placed Denmead could well hit the frame.

The Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes sees the clash of two Royal Ascot winners in Without Parole and EXPERT EYE (3.35).

Without Parole defends his unbeaten record and this son of Frankel holds Gustav Klimt on their running in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Andrea Atzeni steps in for suspended Frankie Dettori and John Gosden’s colt is a worthy favourite.

Course form is often vital at Goodwood and Expert Eye bolted up 12 months ago in the Vintage Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year produced a similar high-octane performance in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot and James Doyle can produce him fast and late. Yesterday’s rain may well favour him more than his market rival.

Mark Johnston has a fine record in the 1m 4f handicap and fields three runners this year in Making Miracles (Ryan Moore), Baileys Excelerate (Silvestre De Sousa) and Lynwood Gold (Joe Fanning). It’s a formidable trio but INFRASTRUCTURE (2.25) will carry my each-way cash.

Martyn Meade’s gelding had subsequent winner Drill more than eight lengths behind in third when landing the Bibury Cup at Salisbury in late June and is weighted to confirm that form. Infrastructure finished just behind Corgi over 1m 2f at Sandown but didn’t get the rub of the green that day after a sluggish break. There’s nothing between the pair on revised terms.

FABULOUS RED (4.45) could well outrun her odds in another tight handicap. She hasn’t enjoyed much luck in running lately and patently didn’t stay 1m 4f last time. This drop in trip, plus Nicola Currie’s 3lb claim, makes her of interest at a nice each-way price, despite being 2lb out of the handicap proper.

There has been plenty of rain at Redcar and that won’t inconvenience FIRE LEOPARD (3.55). He won over course and distance last September on this type of ground and battled on gamely to score narrowly at Thirsk over a longer trip last month. Fire Leopard is up 5lb but that is cancelled out by his apprentice rider’s allowance.

There are some tasty wagers at Sandown with KITAABAAT (7.30) strongly fancied to repeat last September’s course and distance success in the mile handicap. The colt didn’t enjoy the best of passages when just beaten by Racing Country at Ascot, his first run in 68 days. Owen Burrows will have him at concert pitch this evening and a repeat of last autumn’s run when beating useful Sevenna Star should be good enough.

ELYSEES (8.35) has a wide-margin course and distance victory against his name and will take some stopping in the 1m 6f handicap. Alan King’s gelding has been taking on better company lately and this is a return to much calmer waters.

King has a good chance at Leicester with GRAVINA (7.10). He made all to beat in-form Double Reflection at Newmarket and fourth horse Trulee Scrumptious came out to win quite convincingly last week.

Recommended bets

• Goodwood 1.50 – Lil Rockerfella (7-2, Ladbrokes)
• Goodwood 2.25 – Infrastructure ew (11-2, William Hill)
• Goodwood 3.35 – Expert Eye (11-4, Marathonbet)
• Goodwood 4.45 – Fabulous Red ew (11-1, Ladbrokes)
• Redcar 3.55 – Fire Leopard (7-2, bet365)
• Sandown 7.30 – Kitaabaat (2-1, 888sport)
• Sandown 8.35 – Elysees (11-2, William Hill)
• Leicester 7.10 – Gravina (15-8, BetVictor)

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