Warwick Preview: Goodtoknow holds solid claims

Goodtoknow has shown progressive form since going chasing and can defy top-weight to land the 3m 2f contest at Warwick today (2.20).

The Richard Lee trained gelding was narrowly beaten in two handicap chases at Wetherby before opening his account over the larger obstacles with an easy 10 length success on heavy ground at Bangor 13 months ago off a mark of 111 in a class 4 contest.

The seven-year-old was then clearly not right when pulled up next time out at Chepstow, and showed that run to be all wrong when a solid neck third to Everaard at Wetherby off a mark of 122 last April in a class 3 affair.

The handicapper has since dropped Goodtoknow 2lb to 120, and that gives him an obvious chance in this class 4 contest.

Goodtoknow looks the type who should have more to offer this season, and after not getting get a chance to show what he is capable of on reappearance at Ffos Las when badly hampered and coming to grief at the first put in a solid effort last time out to finish runner-up at Bangor.

That contest was over 2m 5f, and the son of Presenting stuck to the task well to go down by 10 lengths to an improver in the shape of Final Assault.

The step back up in trip this afternoon looks sure to suit and gives Goodtoknow major claims of going one better.

In the 3m 2f handicap hurdle (2.50), Vice Et Vertu is a fascinating contender now stepped up in trip from what looks a handy mark.

The Henry Daly trained gelding was a bumper winner who won his first two starts over hurdles in good style.

Vice Et Vertu was particularly impressive in the second of those over 2m 1f on heavy ground at Carlisle when slamming Dark Dune by 11 lengths, and the form has a very strong look to it.

The runner-up has gone on to win twice since and is now rated 123, and the third home Spanish Fleet who was beaten 24 lengths has since landed a hat-trick and is now rated 133.

That makes Vice Et Vertu’s current mark of 124 look very exploitable, and the unexposed son of Network comes into the contest on the back of two decent efforts in class 2 contests at Newbury.