Space Ship ready to land big handicap at July meeting

Space Ship has only managed to win once in five starts for John Gosden this season but he put up a career-best effort when second to Elidor at Royal Ascot last month. Held up by William Buick, he flew down the outside and could arguably have won had been able to start his run a little earlier.

The handicapper has put him up 3lbs for that effort but had previously been dropped a couple of pounds after defeat at Epsom and is weighted to go well again here. His Epsom run behind Pasaka Boy can be ignored as he was never able to get into a muddling race. There should be no hanging about here and he is best suited by a fast run mile and a quarter.

There are plenty of dangers and the William Haggas-trained Matrooh will be a very popular choice after finishing third to Remote and Baltic Knight at Doncaster. Those horses have since gone on to success in a higher grade so Matrooh has to have a great chance off a mark of just 87.

Godolphin’s Tarikhi is another bringing top class form to the race having finished second to Roca Tumu in the hugely competitive Britannia Stakes. He has been raised 6lbs for that excellent effort and the extra two furlongs could be a slight concern.

Her Majesty The Queen’s Sea Shanty could never get competitive in that race but was under seven lengths away at the finish without having a hard race. Richard Hannon’s gelding had won his previous three starts and is another stepping up to ten furlongs for the first time.

Frankie Dettori rides Goodwood Mirage here and the lightly-raced colt is still on an upward curve. There was a lot to like about the manner of his victory at Goodwood over this distance and he could have been let in lightly at the weights.

Maputo faded quickly at Ascot but you can never discount Mark Johnston’s runners at this time of year. He also saddles Greeleys Love and Party Royal. One Pekan, Red Avenger and Soviet Rock are others with chances in a wide open race.