Wordsworth looks Dream of a bet in the Gordon Stakes
THERE have been plenty of small fields so far at Goodwood this week and only the eight have been declared for the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (3.00pm).
Yibir looked revitalised at Newmarket last time having been gelded and could be a tough nut to crack despite carrying a 3lb penalty for that success.
However, Aidan O’Brien has had a quiet week so far and that may all be about to change when he saddles WORDSWORTH here.
The son of the late great Galileo has improved with every run this season and has been ultra-consistent.
He finished runner-up to Kemari in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and then stepped up again to finish third to Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby next time.
On his latest start in France, he finished second to Hurricane Lane again, this time in a soft ground Group One which is the standout form on offer here.
The worry is he has had plenty of hard races recently, but he seems to be improving each time and looks the play at 11/4 with William Hill.
Those playing the Quinella on the World Pool could do a lot worse than including a few unexposed types with him.
Ottoman Empire has won his last three starts and could easily be up to this class at double-figure odds.
I’d also be prepared to chuck in Ralph Beckett’s Aleas at an even bigger price.
He looks up against it on paper, but his stable is in great form and he has only underperformed once and that was on terrible ground.
Beckett holds even stronger claims in the opening handicap (1.50pm) with the lightly-raced PATIENT DREAM, who got back to winning ways at Windsor last time.
The three-year-old catches the eye with just 8st in the saddle and Ray Dawson takes off another valuable 3lbs.
He looks sure to be involved from a nice low draw and 6/1 makes plenty of each-way appeal.
POINTERS
Patient Dream 1.50pm Goodwood
Wordsworth 3.00pm Goodwood
Quinella: Wordsworth, Ottoman Empire and Aleas