Havana Cooler ready to sizzle in Summer Handicap

Trainer Luca Cumani has his team in good form at present, and Havana Cooler holds major claims of providing him with another winner in the Summer Handicap at Goodwood today (3.40).

The colt had a progressive profile last season, beating the talented Pether’s Moon by 3/4 of a length at Newmarket before finishing third behind that rival at this venue over 1m 4f.

Havana Cooler then ran a stormer to finish a 1 1/2 length third of 11 to Dark Crusader over 1m 6f in the Melrose at York , having every chance until being unable to find any extra inside the last.

The son of Hurricane was then off the track for 301 days before reappearing in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and running a blinder to finish third of 18 to the ultra-progressive Arab Spring.

Havana Cooler was slowly into stride but stayed on strongly from well off the pace to be beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

The four-year-old did best of those that came from behind, and it was a terrific performance given his time off the track.

Havana Cooler was then far from disgraced last time out in the valuable Old Newton Cup over 1m 4f at Haydock when beaten 2 1/4 lengths into fifth behind De Rigeur, keeping on at the once pace having been given plenty to do.

It was a run which suggested he was well worth anotrher try and today’s 1m 6f trip, and this contest doesn’t look as hot as those that Havana Cooler has contested this season.

The biggest danger may well be the Andrew Balding trained Van Percy, who started this campaign by showing improved form to land handicaps at Lingfield an Newmarket.

The four-year-old was not see to best effect last time out from a bad draw in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle when running far better than his finishing position suggests to be ninth of 19 to Angel Gabrial, and it was an effort which suggested Van Percy should be up to making an impact at this level off his current mark of 95.