Festival Stakes (Goodwood)

Goodwood 3.10
Festival Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £22,708

Pick: Palavacini (win)

Chock A Block: Still lightly raced as he begins his older horse campaign (only had 5 runs) and opened his account for Godolphin at Newmarket last October in this grace (race slowly run); Heavy ground to blame when he bombed behind quite good opposition last time but still has to improve.

Laaheb: Won 3 out of his 6 last year, including a decent listed event that has worked out OK since; Built on that again when coming third behind Redwood and Glass Harmonium, and will be hard to beat for a red – hot yard.

Class Is Class: Expensive to follow in handicaps and went off far too quickly in first-time visor at York last time, so easy enough to take on at this level.

Drunken Sailor: Was improving steadily last season and evelation for new yard at the Dubai Carnival, winning twice and coming fifth on last UAE start; Perfectly capable of making impact on this level (just as good on turf as AW) for in form yard.

Indian Days: C&D winner who has held his own in this sort of company; did well when facing tough task under top weight last time when finding only the improving Imposing too good in competitive York handicap last time; Not sure that form alone would bring him into it but game horse none the less.

Palavacini: Proved to be very useful at good level last year, landing the Strensall Stakes at York (for which he escapes a penalty); Suffered for a lot of negative things on comeback at Newmarket, seeing way too much daylight before switching sides and hanging so much that he wasn’t even tried with in last 2 furlongs; Commendable effort to be beaten less than 3 furlongs in circumstances and if over that (should improve for race as well) must hold major chance.

Safari Sunup: Although he has proved consistent on most surfaces, he might be biting off more than he can chew here.

Soul City: Height of two-year-old campaign featured a Listed win at Deauville and a Group 3 success at Longchamp by beating the Jim Bolger-trained pair Gan Amhras and Intense Focus in the 7f Goffs Million; Hasn’t reached those heights sine and hard to fancy here.

Traffic Guard: Has some serious form and if he could get back his career best second to New Approach, he would come under some serious consideration; Also did well when slamming useful horses at Windsor last summer; Got squeeezzed up so better than result says last time but would want longer trip ideally.

VERDICT: A very competitive listed event where plenty care going to play a part. The likes of Indian Days and Drunken Sailor have to be respected, while Safari Sunup is consistent and Chock A Block may not have shown his best yet, but I think that this race might revolve around Laaheb and PALAVACINI, the latter getting the vote due to him having won a Group 3 last year and having very valid excuses of only being beaten 3 lengths by a decent pair of horses in Sri Putra and Tranquil Tiger.