Gr2 Action At Goodwood | Sporting Post
With the end of the Ebor festival last week, Group 1 racing in the UK does not return to Haydock Park until next weekend. This Saturday (4:35 p.m.) the focus will be on the William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood.
The William Hill Mile Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday 27th August (Image – H3bet.com Facebook)
Torrential rain spread across most of England during the week and as a result track conditions have turned too soft, well too soft in places.
Not the strongest field one would expect for a Group 2, with a small field of five in the mix. Owned by Shadwell and trained by Charlie Hill, Mutasaabeq is currently the favorite among layers at 1/1.
With an official rating of 112, the four-year-old by Invincible Spirit is between 3 and 6 pounds better off than his opponents and Jim Crowley rides. He has shown fair form in all four starts this season and was the first to win a condition event at Thirsk before being narrowly denied at this level behind Lights On at Sandown and most recently at Ascot in early July when he defeated Richard Hannon trained Chindit just didn’t get the collar.
Jockey Jim Crowley stated: “This has been his goal for a while. He ran very well behind Chindit at Ascot and had previously struggled with the track at Epsom when he also lost a shoe. We’re hoping for a big run for him as he’s knocked on the door and it would be nice if he put his head forward in Group Two. He doesn’t mind if the ground gets soft as he’s quite versatile.”
Its price is “meager” considering it’s only placed at this level, so maybe it’s worth fighting against. In-form trainer David O’Meara saddles Escobar in a big field after his gallant second place finish at the Clipper Logistics Heritage Handicap in York nine days ago. Beaten a head by a stable companion at 9lbs, he comes here fit and in shape.
He doesn’t mind a cut in the ground, he has excellent course form and in a small field where tactics will certainly play a role he will be in the lead from the start.
Referring to Escobar, David O’Meara said: “He ran well at York recently and put on 4 pounds for it. He does well in a small field at Goodwood and is in fine form. He won a Balmoral on soft ground, so it’s not like he can’t walk on soft ground. He is a fun horse who is very efficient in his day. The good thing is that he has become more consistent with age.”
At about 5/1 on the market, he sees value.
Orbaan was able to give David O’Meara and jockey Jason Watson a hit earlier on the map (15h25) in the William Hill Handicap over 7 furlongs. The Invincible Spirit gelding has recently peaked with victories at Glorious Goodwood in the Coral Golden Mile and Ascot. On his last start, the Clipper Logistics in York, he was unlucky to cross the last two stadiums in fourth behind his stablemates.