Two runner-up finishes were the result on Thursday, which is always a kick in the teeth.
Haaderr gave a better account than Blue Hercules, but both were beaten by the better horses.
Haaderr didn't sit as close to the pace as I thought/hoped. He was a little keen through the early stages, and never really looked like he was going to threaten, even though he was lingering behind the leader and eventual winner.
Blue Hercules set the pace, and with three furlongs to go, I thought that he was going to win by as much as he wanted. The favourite took a while to get rolling, but when he came up alongside Blue Hercules, there was only ever one winner. I think my selection is talented, but it looks like a drop in trip is required; either that or the winner is a 100+ rated horse and is a bit of a beast.
Good Earth 9/2 – Sandown 5.00
Michael Herrington is a fantastic trainer who doesn't get hold of a lot of smart handicappers, but Good Earth has been a magnificent horse for him. This is a venue that isn't used a great deal by Michael, but he always sends Good Earth down a couple of times a season.
This yard has had 11 runners in its lifetime; seven of those have been with Good Earth, who has won twice and been placed on other occasions. It's clearly a track that suits his running style, and with his handicap mark falling, he could be primed for another big effort.
He is now a nine-year-old, so he's not expected to reproduce the form of his prime, but he has shown enough on many runs this season that he can win races. Beating the in-form favourite will be a tough ask, but he ran four days ago, so he might be feeling the effects.
Good Earth has run three times this year, but then was held in races due to his handicap mark. He still ran credible races, like the fourth of nine at this track in a Class 4, and then being a runner-up at Newmarket. Two of his last three runs haven't been fantastic, but it has resulted in the handicapper giving him a chance.
Ruby's Profit 3/1 – Goodwood 6.20
It's frustrating that Ruby's Profit has been running quite well in defeat, and even when she has finished 8th/10, she has only lost by three lengths. I'd have loved for her to have some heavy defeats so that her handicap mark was in the high 70s, because she would be a shoo-in for this.
I'm not ultra-confident, but that's mainly due to the heavy weight she has to carry. However, I think the return to Goodwood and the drop to five furlongs is the winning recipe. She's extremely quick, and if another horse is going quicker, then they are using far too much petrol.
Tom Ward has only had her for one run, and that run was a third-placed effort at Epsom over six furlongs, where she got tired. These downhill sprints suit her to the ground, and with a bit of extra time with her current trainer, a revival could easily be on the cards.
GambleAware