Arc third Masterstroke can take the Goodwood laurels on day three
Published:Day three of Glorious Goodwood sees some horses with high-class form in some of the best races around stepping down in class and both Masterstroke and Glory Awaits are fancied to score now their sights have been lowered.
Last year’s Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe may not have been a vintage renewal, but Masterstroke’s fourth place – with the likes of Sea Moon and St Nicholas Abbey behind him – was still a fair achievement.
That career best came on heavy ground, so morning precipitation won’t have caused too much concern and having scored on both his seasonal debuts so far there’s no need to swerve him on account of this being his first run of the campaign for new boss Charlie Appleby.
Kevin Ryan’s 2000 Guineas runner-up Glory Awaits looks the most attractive proposition of the prices, having proved his Newmarket run no flash in the pan when running to a similar level in the St James’s Palace Stakes against the same foes next time.
The draw has had plenty to say about the destination of the Betfred Mile laurels down the years, with nine of the last 10 winners breaking from seven or lower and Cape Peron is one of the lucky ones in stall five.
Unbeaten on good-to-soft he ran a fine race to finish fifth in the Britannia Stakes at Ascot last time on ground that would have been too fast and should be capable of better here.
Favourite Tickled Pink has many of these held on the form of her recent Sandown victory, but with good-to-firm ground seemingly the key to her chances, progressive three-year-old Smoothtalkinrascal is taken to lower her colours.
Consistent in his improvement he’s placed in his last five outings, winning twice and has yet to taste defeat in three runs on good-to-soft ground, which may only be a shower or two away.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
