Racing tips: 7lb claimer Shariq Mohd eyes a big handicap success with Live In The Moment

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It was nice to finally get a winner with Temporize winning in the opener of Day 4. He was well-supported into favourite from 14/1 to 6/1, so there was some very good money around and clearly, they were right. He was positioned lovely by Luke Morris who crept around just behind the leader, travelled nicely for the most part and then when he asked him questions he moved many lengths clear, which was needed as he was getting reeled in at the end by the runner-up.

Goodwood 1:50 – Live In The Moment 9/1 (0.5pt EW Bet365 4pl)

Sometimes you've got to stick to your gut and back a cliff horse, who you probably thought you'd never back again, and Live In The Moment is that for me in the Coral Stewards' Sprint Handicap (Stewards' Cup Consolation Race).

I've tipped this horse up a couple of times already this season, which hasn't returned with a win, but a couple of frustrating moments. The gates didn't open up for him in the Epsom Dash when five of the low stalls were massively disadvantaged by not opening at the same time as the others, thus ruining his race and then when I backed him at Windsor he broke away slowly and he got going far too late. This race could be tailor-made for him, and they've opted for Shariq Mohd to take the reigns today, who is a regular rider for Alice Haynes and will be taking off a very handy 7lbs. With the claim taken into consideration, Live In The Moment will be running off a mark of 79 which is ridiculously low for a horse with the ability he possesses, and though he is now a 6yo, I think he is far too well-handicapped to be ignored.

He should be fine on the ground, which is expecting a bit more rain in the early morning of Saturday so it should remain soft. His half-brother had a career-best on soft ground and Live In The Moment is 2/4 on soft ground. I'm convinced a strong gallop on a track like Goodwood will play to his strengths, and as long as Shariq has him in the correct place and gets him a clear run I think he is more than capable of winning this.

Goodwood 2:25 – He's A Latchico 17/2 (0.5pt EW William Hill 4pl)

Though all of He's A Latchico‘s best form on the flat and over hurdles has come on good ground and he has run a stinker every time there's been ‘soft' in the description, I refuse to believe that he won't handle cut in the ground.

Pedigree's are important in racing, and he is by a horse called Fast Company who is one of the notorious soft ground sires. When you hear Fast Company, nearly anyone who knows about progeny will probably mention “does he like soft ground”, and that's why I think he deserves another chance on a slow surface. He's in great form at the moment in both codes, jumps and flat, and I thought his recent win at Sandown was impressive. He was carrying a big weight and he cruised to a win that day. Granted, he probably didn't beat much, but I do like the Gary Moore angle at Goodwood, especially Glorious Goodwood and with this horse sitting at the bottom of the weights I think he is dangerous to ignore.

He is still very unexposed as a flat horse at staying trips on turf, this will be his 5th run on turf on the flat and he has struggled over shorter and then clearly appreciated the step up in trip last time around. Jim Crowley is on board, he is in tremendous form at the moment and I think you can take a chance on this selection.

Goodwood 3:35 – Mr Wagyu 12/1 (0.5pt EW Bet365 6pl)

I'm sure all of the punters who are into their trends will be staying clear of Mr Wagyu as for some reason all of his career wins have been in June or July, and normally when he exits those months his form begins to plummet, but surely that can't be a real reason and it's just coincidence.

For me, this horse is far too well-handicapped to be ignored. He went from a decent handicapper at a mid to low level to a top-class handicapper in the space of a couple of years and he was there or there about in the big sprints last year and the year before. He was well-fancied for this race last year, going off as 10/1, he finished 10th, but now he is 11lbs lower, so surely he comes into this with a great chance if the June and July theory isn't accurate 🤣. He hasn't been running badly this year, he has run well in competitive handicaps including 7th at Royal Ascot, 3rd in a 39k pot at Epsom, 7th/21 at York, so he might not be the horse of old, but he's definitely still got the ability to get involved off what I deem to be a low handicap mark based on his old exploits.

John Quinn is having a tremendous week and his horses are all bang in form, especially at Goodwood so I'd like to think that he's got Mr Wagyu firing on all cylinders and he looks like a solid EW player as he goes on any ground, handles the track and is built for big field handicaps.

Hamilton 7:30 – Elegant Erin 7/2 (1pt)

I couldn't believe that Elegant Erin didn't win at Pontefract last time out. I tipped her up and was confident she'd do the business, but she was beaten by Copper Knight for the 2nd time in a week and that horse was clearly thriving at the time, so I think another chance has to be given to Elegant Erin.

She is best on soft ground on a testing track, which is why I thought Pontefract was going to get the best out of her but she got going too late, the leader got somewhat of an easy lead on the front end and he kept rolling. Elegant Erin was staying on well towards the finish, which is why I think she deserves another chance at Hamilton which is another stiff track, but this time she has an extra half furlong to contend with, which should suit based on her running style. The ground is soft and further rain will be falling throughout the day so it'll be a stamina test, which should suit her better than most in this race.

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