3 minute read

Tuesday’s selections include two exciting young horses at Goodwood, both with attractive pedigrees…

Eve Johnson Houghton's Forest Gate has the potential to break his maiden on the third time of asking in the ten-furlong Cleansing Services Group Novice Stakes at Goodwood (14:55). A third on debut over a mile at Leicester, the gelding closed quickly in the final quarter and it was little surprise to see him benefit from the step up to ten-furlongs when runner-up in a hot novice stakes at Newbury in early July. The son of Waldgeist has not been seen on the track since, but the sire is producing horses which improve with age and his page appeals - a half-brother to useful performers Jimi Hendrix and Borletti. It looks like Eve Johnson Houghton's charge could improve again for the step up to twelve furlongs, but this contest is well within his capabilities. 

WIN - FOREST GATE - 5/1

It's a competitive renewal of the one-mile British EBF Peter Willett Future Stayers' Maiden Stakes and Godolphin's Watching Stars gets the nod ahead of his favoured market rivals. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt started a warm 9/4 favourite for his racecourse debut at Newmarket's July Course over seven furlongs and whilst he kept on well to finish fourth, it was a notably one-paced performance. His eye-catching pedigree – the first foal out of a German Group 3 winning mare, from the family of French Derby hero Anabaa Blue – suggests that the additional distance will suit and Charlie Appleby's yard are hitting top form again, with 21% strike rate in the last fourteen days alongside numerous placings. In fact, at time of writing, only two of the trainer's last fourteen runners have finished out of the top three – and they both ended up fourth.

WIN – WATCHING STARS – 9/2