Read Andrew Balding On Betway Insider Handicap

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 2m 57.61s

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(5)

Speedo Boy³⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 96

11/4

Versatile stayer (and useful 127-rated hurdler); off the track since finishing down the field in the 2019 Northumberland Plate (bit slipped); runner-up to Red Galileo over on the July Course (1m6f, good to firm) immediately prior; chance.

Form: 6/66720-

(6)

Platitude²⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Marco Ghiani⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 94| D

8/1

Former Listed winner with a strong affinity to Goodwood; less reliable nowadays but undoubtedly on a fair mark (94), and a basic reproduction of his Ascot third (2m, soft) to Landa Beach would give him every chance; further rain helpful.

Form: 2R3358-

(2)

Island Brave¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: H Main| OR: 94| D

4/1

Six of his eight career wins (31 starts) have come on a synthetic surface; now rated 2lb lower than when scoring (kept on strongly) over 1m5f at Ayr (good) 12 months ago; can draw benefit from his recent seasonal reappearance at Newbury.

Form: 5395-35

(3)

Star Of The East²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92| CD

9/4

Three-time July Course winner, including twice (1m6f) during the summer of 2018; weakened quickly after forcing the pace on return from a lengthy absence (66-1) at Newcastle (1m4½f) on the first day back from lock-down; looks vulnerable.

Form: 18223/9

(4)

Pianissimo^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 91| D

28/1

Completed a hat-trick on the AW (1m5½f-2m) in late 2019, rising a combined total of 13lb in the weights; is yet to win on turf (0-4), but did show ability with cut underfoot for John Gosden; tailed off in last week's Ascot Stakes (2m4f).

Form: 111-270

(1)

Charlie D^p,t¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90| BF| D

18/5

Can boast a near 33% career strike-rate (7-22), and those figures improve to 50% (4-8) if focusing solely on turf racing; sits on a career high handicap mark (90) after finishing a neck second to Glan Y Gors at Wolverhampton (1m6f) in early March.

Form: 132-412

Forecasts

Star Of The East (9/4), Speedo Boy (11/4), Charlie D (18/5), Island Brave (4/1), Platitude (8/1), Pianissimo (28/1)

Charlie D has proved to be a wonderfully consistent horse throughout his racing career, but equally having risen steadily in the weights since August 2019 (some 15lb or so) he'll need to continue to improve in order to taste success from a career high handicap mark (90). Island Brave should draw benefit from his Newbury seasonal reappearance, while July Course specialist Star Of The East has plenty to prove on the Rowley Mile. Therefore, with his trainer Ian Williams a dab hand in these type of contests, and Ryan Moore booked for the mount, we'll elect to take a chance on the returning SPEEDO BOY.