Aintree - Race 7 v Race Winner

30 July 2009

Preview By Tipster rdeacon (England)

I'm going for 2 tips in this race as it is an amazingly competitve 5 furlong sprint with 26 runners in it!

The 5 furlong course at Goodwood is one of the fastest in the world, so this race will be run at a tremndous pace.

The fact there are also plenty of front runners and early pace setters will ensure they go even faster still.

There looks to be plenty of pace spread right across the track here today.

With so many front runners, it will be very difficult for anything to make all and dominate here.

It looks most likely that the race will be run to suit something that can get a good lead, before finishing strongly.

In years gone by, middle to high numbers have been favoured over 5 furlongs at Goodwood, especially in such big fields.

However, in recent times, things have evened themselves out somewhat.

With regards to the draw, it should pay to be where the early pace is.

With plenty of early pace spread right across the track, there shouldn't be any significant advantage in the draw.

The 1st horse i'm backing will be Piscean.

Although out of form recently, Piscean abosultely loves it here at Goodwood.

The horse has run 3 times here over 5 furlongs, winning all 3.

Goodwood can at times prove to be a specialist track, so that is an impressive record for Piscean.

He kicked off this season by winning here at Goodwood.

That came in a class 2 event, from a rating of 85.

Although he hasn't run as well since, he's been competing in some hot races.

The horse can often start slowly, which certainly doesn't help him over 5 furlongs.

He did so last time out at Ascot, where he lost all chance at the start.

He will certainly need to get away much better here, or could find himself with too much to do late on.

However, if he doesn't fluff his lines at the start, he is capable of a bold bid in this open race.

The fact he is 3 from 3 over this course and distance alone makes him appeal.He has gone well in better races than this, and also gone well in big fields.

Piscean is drawn in stall 9.

That looks to be ok, as he should be able to get a good lead from the likes of Mandurah in stall 1 and Le Toreador in stall 6.

Those 2 both like to blaze away from the stalls, so there will be no hanging about for those drawn low.

If Piscean can keep close enough early enough, he could just pick them off late on.

My 2nd bet in this race will be on Northern Fling.

This is 1 of 4 horses in the race trained by David Nicholls.

For many years now, David Nicholls has made his name by mopping up these big sprint handicaps.

It's not uncommon for him to have 6, 7 or even 8 runners in such races.

However, he has just the 4 today.

David Nicholls has won this very race 5 times in the last 10 years, so clearly knows what sort of horse is required here.

He has 2 towards the head of the market here today, in Mandurah and Indian Trail.

However, it's quite often one of his lesser fancied horses that obliges.

I believe Northern Fling could well be the one today.

The horse has been in pretty poor form of late, but that has seen his handicap mark drop significantly.

He now looks a very well handicapped horse.

He is now a massive 11 lbs lower than for his last success.

This horse is very versatile with regards to trip and ground.

A winner over both 5 and 6 furlongs, he has also won on both Good to Firm and Soft ground.

Conditions today should be no problem.

If he can get a good early position behind those, he could be staying on strongly.

However, he is reunited with Andrew Mullen today, who rode him when he put up his best effort so far this season.

2 points each way (4 points in total) Piscean @ 26.0 with William Hill 1/4 odds a place 1,2,3,4

2 points each way (4 points in total) Northern Fling @ 34.0 with Coral 1/4 odds a place 1,2,3,4