Epsom and Goodwood previews: Arctic Feeling the answer to feature sprint

The gelding belatedly got off the mark at Haydock back in April when overcoming trouble in-running to get up on the line and beat Zaria by a short-head off a mark of 70.

Farham has failed to build on that success in six subsequent outings but that has resulted in a drop in the weights and the son of Smart Strike is now able to race off 3lb lower.

It makes the four-year-old a big player on the pick of his form and he didn’t run too badly last time out in an amateur riders’ contest at Pontefract when making good late headway to finish a never nearer fourth.

With crack apprentice Adam McNamara now taking over in the saddle and terrific value for his 5lb claim, Farham looks weighted to get back on the scoresheet if building on it.

Epsom top tips

14.00: Suffragette City
14.35: Pioneering
15.10: Arctic Feeling (NAP)
15.45: Good Luck Charm
16.20: Fandango
16.55: Farham (NB)

Rajar to resume winning ways at Goodwood

Rajar was not seen to best effect last time out but makes plenty of appeal in the 6f nursery at Goodwood today (15.35) now stepped back up in trip and eased in grade.

The Richard Hannon trained filly was held-up in the 5f Listed St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury before staying on to be nearest at the finish and beaten 4 1/4 lengths into fifth behind the useful Mrs Danvers.

Prior to that Rajar had rattled up a hat-trick of successes in 6f contests in impressive fashion.

In the last of those at Newmarket, the daughter of Archipenko made all an quickened smartly to beat Paco’s Angel by 2 1/2 lengths in what looked a hot class 2 nursery.

The way in which she travelled powerfully at the head of affairs before putting the race to bed in a matter of strides suggested she had a huge engine and it’s clear that the change in tactics and drop back to the minimum trip last time out did not suit.

Rajar will appreciate the return to handicap company and far better can be expected now that she has her optimum conditions.

St Michel can collect for Sir Mark

St Michel has an ultra-progressive profile and looks a worthy favourite to bag another success in the 2m handicap (16.10).

The three-year-old is a typical improver from the Sir Mark Prescott yard who has now won three of his last six starts, finishing runner-up on the other occasions.

In the last of those successes at Newmarket, the son of Sea The Stars looked miles ahead of the assessor when slamming Planetoid by 3 1/4 lengths.

St Michel cruised along and challenged on the bit two from home before being pushed clear to score with any amount in hand.

It was a most taking performance which suggested the colt had even more improvement left in the locker and a 7lb rise in the weights is unlikely to be enough to stop St Michel going in again.

Goodwood best bets

13.50: Dubara
14.25: Saunter
15.00: Seven Heavens
15.35: Rajar (NAP)
16.10: St Michel (NB)
16.45: Yeeoow
17.20: Hard Toffee

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