O’BRIEN TO HIRE FRENCH ACE: Christophe Soumillon could be riding in the final Classic, the St Leger at Doncaster, and in big races beyond for Aidan O’Brien, who has champion Ryan Moore out injured until the end of the season.
WATCH THE WEATHER: Plenty of rain about but that should suit Daqman’s WIN 20 Goodwood pick.
SOUMILLON FOR BALLYDOYLE
Ghost riders. Ballydoyle fans have punted on Scandinavia for the Doncaster St Leger next Saturday week and many will double up on Delacroix in the Irish Champion Stakes the same day.
But who will ride them may not be known until nearer the time with Aidan O’Brien set to find two or three jockeys in the absence of Ryan Moore (broken leg) and Wayne Lordan (whip suspension).
O’Brien, who has Lambourn as well as Scandinavia in the St Leger, has announced that Christophe Soumillon will play ‘a major role’ in Ballydoyle’s plans this autumn.
If he is to ride in the Leger, he needs to be in Ireland for part of the Ballydoyle training preps for their final Classic contenders.
Will he ride Scandinavia? If so, who will be on Lambourn?
And which of them ghosting for Moore will travel same day for the Irish St Leger ride? Or will a third jockey be needed on the Irish Champions Festival programme?
Soumillon won the Group–1 Jacques Le Marois on O’Brien’s Diego Velazquez last month and Camille Pissarro on Arc weekend last year.
He came close to an Epsom sensation riding Charlie Johnston’s 50-1 shot East Griff into second place in the Derby.
ROCKET MAN LAUNCHED
⭕ 5.18 Goodwood There are freshly issued weather warnings issued for rain in London and the South East this morning but whether they reach Goodwood remains to be seen.
I’m treading carefully though as the going is already heavy in places.
It’s a modest card by usual course standards, the first two races are down to three runner affairs, although I did like the look of Rory Rocket for Gary and Josh Moore in
the finale. He is one of few in the race (in fact, a few on the whole card) that has proven form in testing conditions having finished runner up at Bath on heavy last October and comes into this on the back of a sold course and distance second.
That reads as solid form in the context of this race and whilst there is a nagging doubt about him often finding one too good that is countered by the fact that this heat really won’t take much winning.
I much prefer him over the chances of the top weight and morning Betdaq Betting Exchange favourite Eye Of Dubai whose overall form is disappointing this season and 10-1 will be a slog in the ground.
CUP OF COCO?
⭕ 5.25 Chepstow Dropping back down to a five furlong handicap for the Chepstow finale which has a new shape after the defection of hat-trick seeking Barnsnape Boy.
Some Nightmare is out again quickly after his sixth course and distance win just eight days ago but I’m not at the front of the queue expecting him to follow up under a 4lb penalty and the switch from good ground to now soft.
Marcus remains a maiden after 25 starts and whilst Coco Hill hasn’t won since 2022 the balance of her recent form gives her a squeak. I also think she has more stamina than most, which seems odd to say in a sprint, but a crucial factor when the ground is testing.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE NAP
⭕ 8.30 Southwell Handicap debutant Coedana makes the market for us here but her form in three maidens is modest despite being consistent.
74 looks a tough starting mark for her based on what we’ve seen and I prefer the recent winning form of Telecommunication who can again be competitive despite a 3lb hike for his Yarmouth win last month.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
5.18 Goodwood (win 20)
BET 5.7pts win RORY ROCKET
5.25 Chepstow (win 20)
BET 2.5pts win COCO HILL
★ 8.30 Southwell (win 10, nap)
BET 3.3pts win TELECOMMUNICATION
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