Racing Sport
the times | Saturday August 1 2020 2GS 17
Meraas ready to give Johnston a
first success in the Stewards’ Cup
Rob Wright
Racing Editor
which offers a clue as to the regard in
which he is held, and he is fancied to lift
this prize on the way to better things.
Lexington Dash did not get the
clearest of runs when fourth in a good
race at Newmarket last time — when
Meraas failed to handle the softer
ground — and he, too, is an improving
young sprinter. He should again go
well, as should Nahaarr, who won well
at Newbury and is far from harshly
treated off a 7lb higher mark.
Rewaayat won with ridiculous ease at
Salisbury last time and will be a warm
order for the consolation race for those
that missed the cut for the Stewards’
Cup, the Unibet Stewards’ Sprint (1.50).
However, he has been put up 12lb in the
weights for this more competitive con-
test and preference is for Batchelor
Boy. The latter was not helped by a slow
early pace when a staying-on fourth
over five furlongs at Yarmouth last
time. This longer trip will suit, as will
the likely strong gallop, and he looks a
fair bet at the 11-1 generally on offer.
The Unibet Summer Handicap (2.25)
can go to Laafy. He has looked an im-
proved performer since being gelded,winning well on his reappearance at
Newbury and then finishing a fine
second in the Old Newton Cup at
Haydock. This return to further will
suit and he looks sure to go well.
Mister Snowdon was withdrawn
from a race here on Wednesday
because connections felt the ground
was not fast enough. With the sun beat-
ing down, he will have no excuse on that
score in the Qatar Handicap (4.10) and
he should appreciate this return to
seven furlongs after a good second over
shorter at Yarmouth last time.
The best bet of the day is Oslo in the
MansionBet Handicap (12.55) at New-
market. He was too keen in a slowly run
race at Yarmouth last time, so that run
can safely be ignored, and the form of
his previous fifth at Lingfield has
proved extremely strong. Oslo is
strongly fancied to bounce back here.
She’s So Nice is also worth an inter-
est in the European Bloodstock News
Fillies’ Nursery (2.05). She made all the
running when successful over this
course and distance last time and, with
that form working out well, she could
again be tough to pass.Mark Johnston is the most successful
trainer at Goodwood but the Middle-
ham handler has yet to saddle a winner
of the Unibet Stewards’ Cup (3.35). He
can put that right through the
progressive Meraas today.
Not many three-year-olds tackle this
cavalry charge but they have a good
record in the race, with three winners
from 11 runners in the past five years.
Meraas and Lexington Dash are the
only two that try this time around and
preference is for the former.
Unraced as a juvenile, Meraas has
won three of his past four starts, the one
disappointment coming when unsuited
to soft ground at Newmarket last
month. He bounced back from that in
fine style at Hamilton last time, track-
ing the pace before quickening clear a
furlong out and winning with plenty in
hand. A 6lb rise in the weights looks fair
and he remains well treated.
Meraas was given an entry against
Battaash in a group two race yesterday,
Brilliant
Battaash
blitzes rivals
in record timeBattaash broke his own
course record with a
sizzling display to win a
fourth successive Qatar
King George Stakes at
Goodwood yesterday.
The six-year-old looks
better than ever andaveraged 40.5mph for
the five-furlong dash.
Jim Crowley, his jockey,
said: “If a horse wants to
take him on in a race
then good luck to them.
He’s so quick he burns
them off from halfway.”ALAN CROWHURST/GETTY IMAGESGoodwood
Rob Wright
1.50 Batchelor Boy 4.10 Mister Snowdon
2.25 Laafy 4.40 Titian
3.00 Enbihaar 5.10 Streak Lightning
3.35 Meraas
Going: good to firm Racing TV
Draw: 7f-1m 2f, low numbers best1.50 Unibet Stewards' Sprint Handicap ITV
(£12,450: 6f) (17 runners)
1 (5) 600304 DREAM TODAY 10 (T,D) J Osborne 5-9-10 S Osborne (7) 76
2 (12) 553-11REWAAYAT 21 (D) C Hills 5-9-10 J Crowley v^88
3 (2) 5-4526NORTH WIND 14 (D) T D Barron 4-9-9 R Hornby 81
4 (17) 35-031SALUTI 9 (D) P Midgley 6-9-8 D Tudhope 66
5 (6) 0-0562CALL ME GINGER 16 (D) J Goldie 4-9-8 K Stott 80
6 (4) 210-10HIGHLY SPRUNG 14 (D) J L Eyre 7-9-8 L Edmunds^82
7 (3) 152141 TREACHEROUS 15 (CD) E De Giles 6-9-8 H Bentley 81
8 (7) 10-040MUSIC SOCIETY 6 (D) T Easterby 5-9-8 T Marquand 74
9 (15) 100-22SECRETINTHEPARK 11 (B,D) M Mullineaux 10-9-6 R Kingscote 82
10 (9) -12321MAY REMAIN 16 (P,C,D) G Baker 5-9-5 C Fallon (3)^79
11 (16) -14134BATCHELOR BOY 17 (D) M Botti 3-9-4 R L Moore 82
12 (10) -66226SPIRITED GUEST 17 G Margarson 4-9-4 T P Queally 79
13 (14) 525-50ONE HART 27 (D) M Johnston 3-8-12 J Fanning 53
14 (8) -56202THE LAMPLIGHTER 8 (P,T,CD) G Baker 5-8-12 S W Kelly^80
15 (13) -05510PRIMO'S COMET 9 J Goldie 5-8-11 P Mathers 71
16 (11) 54-000DARK SHOT 14 S Dixon 7-8-11 K O'Neill 81
17 (1) 050-02TOMMY G 18 (CD) J Goldie 7-8-11 S De Sousa 81
7-2 Rewaayat, 7-1 Tommy G, 8-1 Call Me Ginger, May Remain, 10-1 Treacherous, Batchelor Boy, The Lamplighter,
Saluti, 12-1 others.
Rob Wright’s choice: Batchelor Boy stayed on well when fourth over shorter at
Yarmouth and is unexposed after just seven starts Dangers: Rewaayaat, Tommy G
2.25 Unibet Summer Handicap ITV
(£31,125: 1m 6f) (10)
1 (2)^306200 KING'S ADVICE 22 (CD) M Johnston 6-9-10 J Fanning^94
2 (1) 10-540THEMAXWECAN 13 (C) M Johnston 4-9-8 R Kingscote 97
3 (9) 166-12LAAFY 27 (V,BF,D) Sir M Stoute 4-9-7 R L Moore v 100
4 (6) 14-406SHAILENE 14 A Balding 5-9-6 R Hornby 92
5 (3) 1-6504INDIANAPOLIS 8 (P) J Given 5-9-4 S De Sousa^98
6 (8) 0-1241CALLING THE WIND 21 (D) R Hughes 4-8-13 P Dobbs 92
7 (4) 00-004HOCHFELD 11 (D) M Johnston 6-8-12 H Bentley 90
8 (7) 50-452PLATITUDE 11 (CD) Mrs A Perrett 7-8-9 J Crowley 88
9 (10) 5434-0QULOOB 46 (P) G L Moore 6-8-8 S W Kelly^85
10 (5) 0-1222MORDRED 23 R Hannon 4-8-3 K O'Neill^92
5-2 Laafy, 7-1 Calling The Wind, 8-1 Platitude, Indianapolis, Themaxwecan, Shailene, King's Advice, 10-1 others.
Wright choice: Laafy has shown improved form this season and should find this easier
than when a good second at Haydock last time Dangers: Hochfeld, Platitude
3.00 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes ITV
(Group II: £70,888: 1m 6f) (4)
1 (1) 322-11MANUELA DE VEGA 27 R Beckett 4-9-9 H Bentley v^115
2 (2) 1113-4ENBIHAAR 23 (BF,CD) J Gosden 5-9-6 J Crowley 109
3 (4) 1-241CABALETTA 14 R Varian 3-8-9 David Egan 106
4 (3) 4-1215SNOW 14 A P O'Brien (Ire) 3-8-9 R L Moore 109
11-10 Enbihaar, 5-2 Manuela De Vega, 9-2 Snow, 6-1 Cabaletta.
Wright choice: Enbihaar won this race by five lengths a year ago and will strip fitter
for a recent fourth over an inadequate trip at Newmarket Danger: Cabaletta
3.35 Unibet Stewards' Cup ITV
(£46,688: 6f) (28)
1 (17) 602216 SUMMERGHAND 14 (P,D) D O'Meara 6-9-10 D Tudhope v 109
2 (3) 146042 GULLIVER 14 (P,T,D) D O'Meara 6-9-9 A Villiers (5) 103
3 (8)^661030 TINTO 14 (D) Mrs A Perrett 4-9-7 J Crowley^104
4 (9) 233-03DANZENO 13 (D) M Appleby 9-9-7 A Rawlinson 105
5 (15) 000-01HEY JONESY 42 (B,D) K Ryan 5-9-6 K Stott 104
6 (16) /636-2WATAN 13 (CD) R Hannon 4-9-5 R L Moore 99
7 (27) 2-5660ANGEL ALEXANDER 42 (V,D) T Dascombe 4-9-5 R Kingscote^101
8 (19) 13-431NAHAARR 13 (D) W Haggas 4-9-3 T Marquand^98
9 (24) 000-40MR LUPTON 42 (D) R Fahey 7-9-3 Connor Murtagh (3) 92
10 (4) 21101 MERAAS 16 (D) M Johnston 3-9-1 J Fanning 100
11 (20) 3-2154SILENT ECHO 13 (H,D) S Hodgson 6-9-0 H Bentley^98
12 (18) 05-131ALJADY 19 (D) R Cowell 5-9-0 C Bishop^96
13 (21) 5600-1BARBILL 37 (D) M Channon 4-8-13 J F Egan 87
14 (23) /151-5SWINDLER 57 (BF,D) Ed Walker 4-8-12 L Steward 87
15 (14) -23141CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD 23 (CD) M Channon 4-8-11 R Hornby 92
16 (10) 00-460STONE OF DESTINY 21 (D) A Balding 5-8-11 S De Sousa^94
17 (26) 364-40LOUIE DE PALMA 19 (BF,D) C Cox 8-8-9 H Crouch 91
18 (25)4-2114LEXINGTON DASH 23 (D) R Hannon 3-8-9 T Hammer Hansen (3) 95
19 (1) 2-5626KIMIFIVE 21 (C,D) J Tuite 5-8-8 C Fallon (3) 86
20 (12)30-050OPEN WIDE 19 (B,D) Mrs A Perrett 6-8-8 P Dobbs 78
21 (6) -10220VENTUROUS 21 (D) T D Barron 7-8-6 K O'Neill^92
22 (2) 1-0005TERUNTUM STAR 6 (P,D) D C Griffiths 8-8-6 J Quinn 82
23 (28)030-13BRIAN THE SNAIL 8 (D) R Fahey 6-8-6 Megan Nicholls (3) 84
24 (5) 610-12ATALANTA'S BOY 34 (H,CD) D Menuisier 5-8-4 T Greatrex (3) 88
25 (13)0-0226WEDDING DATE 21 (D) R Hannon 4-8-4 T Ladd (3)^78
26 (7)^231055 CONCIERGE 27 (D) M Attwater 4-8-3 M Dwyer^74
27 (22)00-020GEORGE BOWEN 6 (V,D) R Fahey 8-8-3 P Mathers 88
28 (11)00-010I AM A DREAMER 21 (D) P Midgley 4-8-3 David Egan 86
9-2 Nahaarr, 8-1 Meraas, 12-1 Summerghand, Lexington Dash, Hey Jonesy, 14-1 Kimifive, Gulliver, Watan,
Swindler, 16-1 others.
Wright choice: Meraas looked a sprinter to follow when winning easily at Hamilton
and he can shrug off a 6lb rise in the weights Dangers: Lexington Dash, Nahaarr4.10 Qatar Handicap ITV
(3-Y-O: £18,903: 7f) (9)
1 (4) 00-345FLEETING PRINCE 34 C Hills 9-7 J Crowley 87
2 (3) 16-020TOMFRE 21 (D) R Beckett 9-4 H Bentley v^102
3 (7) 245-16MANIGORDO 35 (D) R Hannon 9-3 P Dobbs 94
4 (9) 1-1104CORVAIR 47 (D) S & E Crisford 9-1 S De Sousa 92
5 (2) 1102 MISTER SNOWDON 17 (BF,D) R Hughes 8-13 S W Kelly 99
6 (6) 2-221COLD FRONT 15 (D) W Haggas 8-12 T Marquand^98
7 (1) 2110-0HOMESPIN 56 (C) M Johnston 8-12 J Fanning 85
8 (8) 41-42SOCIETY LION 27 (T,BF,D) Sir M Stoute 8-12 R L Moore 89
9 (5) 21-321KING RAGNAR 15 (P,D) R Varian 8-11 David Egan 87
9-4 Society Lion, 4-1 Cold Front, 9-2 Mister Snowdon, 7-1 King Ragnar, 8-1 Tomfre, 10-1 Corvair, 14-1 Manigordo,
16-1 Fleeting Prince, 20-1 Homespin.
Wright choice: Mister Snowdon shaped with plenty of promise when second over six
furlongs at Yarmouth and has untapped potential Dangers: Cold Front, Society Lion4.40 British European Breeders Fund Maiden
Stakes (Plus 10)
(2-Y-O: £10,397: 7f) (11)
1 (7) DANVILLE Eve J-Houghton 9-0 C Bishop --
2 (6) 6 DINGLE 22 R Hannon 9-0 P Dobbs 71
3 (2) 2 FOREVER FORWARD 16 C Cox 9-0 H Crouch 86
4 (4)^0 GLOWING FOR GOLD 55 I Mohammed 9-0 C Fallon^52
5 (3)^24 GOLDEN FLAME 44 M Johnston 9-0 R L Moore v^88
6 (11) IL BANDITO C Hills 9-0 R Kingscote --
7 (9) 2 LONGLAI 49 R Hannon 9-0 S De Sousa 78
8 (8) RAGING RASCAL Tom Ward 9-0 H Bentley --
9 (10) TASFEEQ M Tregoning 9-0 J Crowley --
10 (1) 4 TITAN ROCK 14 J J Quinn 9-0 D Tudhope 78
11 (5) 4 TITIAN 22 W Haggas 9-0 T Marquand 78
9-4 Golden Flame, 4-1 Titian, Forever Forward, 5-1 Longlai, 12-1 Titan Rock, Dingle, 14-1 Tasfeeq, 20-1 others.5.10 LG Signature Apprentice Handicap
(£9,452: 1m 1f) (17)
1 (10)320-22MURAAD 23 (D) Owen Burrows 4-10-0 C Fallon v 93
2 (4) 0-3200ANYTHINGTODAY 14 (P,D) Roger Fell 6-10-0 A Villiers (5) 77
3 (14)40-150YOU'RE HIRED 4 (C) Mrs A Perrett 7-9-11 D Keenan^87
4 (17)0-4400DOLPHIN VISTA 28 (H,D) J Boyle 7-9-11 L Catton (7) 41
5 (13)06-630COMIN' THROUGH 28 (B,T) G Scott 7-9-9 A Jary (7) 90
6 (5) 2521-2HATS OFF TO LARRY 42 (BF) M Channon 6-9-6 G Bass (7)^86
7 (6) 046-43EXEC CHEF 49 (P) G Scott 5-9-6 D E Hogan 79
8 (15)40-346ALFRED BOUCHER 13 (BF) H Candy 4-9-4 M Ghiani (3) 82
9 (7)^110 STREAK LIGHTNING 14 (BF,D) M Johnston 3-9-1 O Stammers (5)^90
10 (8) 1-4610OVERWRITE 22 M Johnston 3-8-13 T Greatrex 87
11 (1)10145/LORD CLENAGHCASTLE 611 (D) G L Moore 6-8-12 L Garoghan (7) --
12 (9) 141-03CITY WANDERER 33 (P,BF) M Channon 4-8-12 T Ladd^74
13 (11)-45160APEX KING 6 (C) E De Giles 6-8-11 S Cherchi (5) 64
14 (2) 31-530SWORD BEACH 24 (P) Eve J-Houghton 3-8-7 Georgia Dobie (3) 80
15 (12)^2234 CITYZEN SERG 14 R Hannon 3-8-2 T Hammer Hansen^37
16 (16)3231-6ALWAYS FEARLESS 49 R Hannon 3-8-2 Georgia Cox 61
17 (3) 12-402KUWAIT SHIELD 16 (P) R Fahey 3-8-1 G Malune 74
4-1 Muraad, 9-2 Streak Lightning, 8-1 Overwrite, Hats Off To Larry, 10-1 Alfred Boucher, 12-1 Exec Chef, City
Wanderer, 14-1 Cityzen Serg, 16-1 others.Visored first time: Goodwood 3.35 Angel Alexander Hamilton 12.55 Image Of The
Moon. Blinkered first time: Chepstow 7.00 Host; 8.30 Majestyk Fire Hamilton 7.
Speedy Lost Sock, Millie The Minx Newmarket 3.50 Moonlight SpiritCourse specialists
Goodwood: Trainers D Menuisier, 6 from 21 runners, 28.6%; H Candy, 11 from
44, 25.0%; J Gosden, 24 from 112, 21.4%. Jockeys Megan Nicholls, 3 from 16
rides, 18.8%; R L Moore, 25 from 141, 17.7%; J Crowley, 32 from 192, 16.7%.