Friday’s Racing
Today’s racing comes from Goodwood, Haydock Park, and Newmarket in the afternoon, as well as Pontefract and Stratford in the evening.
Goodwood starts at 2:10 and the ground remains soft after just a light shower during the night.
Andrew Balding’s horses have been running well lately and the yard can win the opening contest with the improving Free to Air .
The horse has won his last two starts and does look badly treated by the conditions of this race.
Haydock’s ground is more testing after 5mm of rain and is officially heavy with soft places.
Title-chasing jockey Robert Winston is riding brilliantly and he should be in the winners’ enclosure with Escape Clause in the 3:40
Sir Michael Stoute’s youngster has done nothing wrong, having been placed on both his starts. Racing gets under way at 2:30
Newmarket starts at 2:20 and the news from the course this morning is the ground is good to soft following 3mm of overnight rain.
The 3:30 looks competitive but Signatory improved all last season and looks capable of better things.
John Gosden has always held him in high regard and this looks an ideal stepping stone for better things to come.
Evening racing at Pontefract starts at 6:35 and the ground is good to soft with good places after just 1mm of rain overnight.
Trainer Mark Johnston has a good record at this track and can add to that with Always Fruitful in the 7:35
The horse has won his only start and while more is required here he should give a good account of himself.
The only jumping meeting comes from Stratford which starts at 6:15
The ground has eased slightly after 6mm of rain and is now soft with good to soft places on the chase course and good to soft with good places on the hurdles.
Oliver Sherwood has not got a big team for summer jumping but Rodalko in the 7:35 should more than pay his way.
The gelding has been running really well in some very competitive handicaps without actually winning, but this looks a drop in class and he should win.
