Racing fans have been treated to another outstanding week on both sides of the Irish Sea. Goodwood once again showcased the very best of flat racing, while Galway’s unique seven-day festival produced plenty of memorable moments. Here are a few runners who, for one reason or another, left a lasting impression and look well worth noting for the future.
Beguiled
Produced a really eye-catching performance when finishing third in a strong Class 2 maiden at Goodwood on Thursday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly came under pressure some way from home and showed signs of greenness, taking a while to organise herself before finishing strongly through the closing stages to snatch third, making up plenty of late ground.
This was her first start on turf and, by all accounts, she had done very little work on grass beforehand, making the performance all the more impressive. There should be plenty more to come with that experience under her belt. A step up to a mile and beyond looks sure to suit, and with the benefit of being more streetwise next time, she looks capable of getting her head in front sooner rather than later. Despite not commanding a huge price as a yearling, she already looks a filly with a bright future.
Bowensonfire
Made a highly encouraging start to his chasing career. A smart handicap hurdler last season, he won a valuable and competitive Listed handicap hurdle at Leopardstown, performed with credit in top-class races, including at the Cheltenham Festival, and proved his versatility by handling a range of ground conditions. Although Frankie John always enjoyed the better track position, Bowensonfire travelled strongly throughout and jumped accurately on his first start over fences. He kept on well to the line and shaped like a horse with a bright future in this discipline.
While plans will become clearer as the season progresses, Bowensonfire looks the type to be aimed at some of the major handicap chases. The Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival could prove an ideal long-term target given his travelling style and accurate jumping, although the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase is another race that may also come under consideration. Whatever route Gordon Elliott and the team choose, he appears to have all the attributes to enjoy a productive first season over fences.
Diego El Queso
This Irish raider was well fancied by many in the opening race of the Goodwood Festival and put plenty of punters on the back foot as he finished sixth, but his effort is well worth marking up. The four-year-old reared and broke awkwardly from his wide stall, leaving a mountain to climb after being forced to race at the rear of the seventeen runner field.
Despite that early setback, he travelled strongly throughout and repeatedly found himself short of room as Colin Keane searched for daylight. Initially looking to challenge through the middle of the pack, he was then forced to angle left and eventually squeezed through a gap. Once in the clear, he finished his race strongly, shaping much better than the bare result suggests.
Granted a cleaner start and a more favourable track position, he may well have had a major say in the finish. He remains one to keep firmly onside.
Howzatt
Caught the eye with a highly encouraging debut in Goodwood’s seven-furlong maiden for colts and geldings on Saturday. The James Owen-trained 66/1 shot lacked the benefit of experience enjoyed by many of his rivals and found himself in arguably the worst position in the race, anchored towards the rear on the inside as the field turned for home.
As the pace increased approaching the two-furlong pole and the gaps finally began to appear, he made eye-catching late headway to finish fourth, beaten just four lengths. Considering where he came from, it was a performance full of promise. He showed a willing attitude throughout, getting his head down and sticking his neck out all the way to the line.
With that experience behind him, he looks capable of taking a significant step forward next time and getting off the mark as a two-year-old before the season is out. Connections can then look forward to what promises to be an exciting three-year-old campaign.
Oliver Show
Having won off a mark of 90 and finished placed in the competitive Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster from a rating of 95, there is no doubt this six-year-old is now very well handicapped and is showing plenty of signs that another success is near. He produced an eye-catching late run from the rear to finish fourth at Goodwood at the end of May and again caught the eye in West Sussex last time. Travelling strongly two furlongs from home, he began to make good progress before being repeatedly denied a clear run. By the time daylight appeared, his chance had gone, yet he still finished a creditable fourth. With a little more luck in running, he looks capable of winning another handicap over 6f to 8f soon.
Prime Contender
Made an encouraging Rules debut in the bumper on the opening day of the Galway Festival. Although he showed signs of greenness, he responded well when asked for his effort. Briefly outpaced as the race developed, he stayed on strongly to finish third and will benefit greatly from the experience.
A point-to-point winner who cost €200,000, he looks a horse with plenty of potential. He looks capable of winning a bumper, but his future appears to lie over hurdles and, ultimately, fences, where we should see the very best of him. Judging by this performance, he looks capable of winning his fair share of races along the way.
Thunder Wonder
May well have been the biggest eye-catcher of the week in the concluding race of the Goodwood Festival. Charlie Johnston’s gelding stumbled shortly after leaving stall two and Marco Ghiani did well to keep the partnership intact. As a result, they became detached in the early stages and were forced to play catch-up from the rear of the field.
Gradually making up ground, Thunder Wonder was still faced with a difficult task before being switched towards the centre of the track to deliver his challenge. Although never in a position to trouble the principals, he finished his race strongly to take fifth, shaping much better than the bare result suggests.
A winner off a mark of 92 at Musselburgh last season, he now looks very well handicapped and is beginning to show all the signs of a horse ready to strike again. He is one to keep firmly onside.
Witches Familiar
Not a difficult one to spot after she ran away with a novice hurdle by eight and a half lengths on Monday, but this filly is now two from two over hurdles, winning by a combined margin of 20½ lengths. The form may not amount to much, but she travelled strongly throughout, jumped accurately and quickened away impressively when Paul Townend asked her to go after the last.
She looks sure to win plenty more races and is well worth her place in Graded company, with the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle an obvious target. A word of caution for those already looking ahead to races such as the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle or the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. It is uncommon for the winners of those races to emerge from the summer jumping scene, and she will face much stronger opposition in the months ahead, including from within her own stable. We saw a similar story with Willie Mullins’ Love Me Tender, who looked a potential star when winning impressively at the summer tracks last year but ultimately proved short of top-class level. Nevertheless, she is still one to keep a close eye on as her career progresses.
Zarak Pasha
This son of Zarak caught the eye on debut when finishing a close fourth over a mile at Killarney, emerging slowly from the stalls before staying on strongly in the closing stages. He again shaped with plenty of promise on his second start at Galway over an extra half-furlong, finishing behind a well-bred Coolmore favourite. He required plenty of encouragement turning into the straight and took time to organise himself, but once he found his stride he finished strongly, closing on the winner all the way to the line.
His running style and pedigree suggest a step up in trip will bring about further improvement, and he looks capable of getting off the mark sooner rather than later.
