14:30 Goodwood

Wednesday 27 September 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

William Hill Handicap

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 1m 42.69s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Fox Tal³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Joshua Bryan| T: A M Balding| OR: 103

25/1

Narrowly denied returning from 7 months off in Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot 6 weeks ago but tailed-off last in Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor (10f, good to firm) a fortnight later. He's hardly one to place much trust in, so the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 4/13-426

(6)

The Gatekeeper¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 96| CD

3/1

Winner of 7f handicaps at Newcastle and Newmarket earlier this season and better than ever when promoted to first after just failing over C&D last month. Seemingly just not 100% at Doncaster since, so needs to bounce back quickly.

Form: 022010

(3)

Lattam⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF| D

3/1

Overcame trouble to land Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh on return and having split a couple of subsequent winners when runner-up at Newbury, he made a successful AW debut at Newcastle in June. Didn't have much go right over C&D 8 weeks ago and he remains with potential.

Form: 50-1210

(5)

Rhoscolyn^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| C

7/2

Dropped in the weights and back in excellent order, winning brace of 7f handicaps here last month. Shaped as if still in good form away from softer ground when mid-field at Leopardstown subsequently and he merits plenty of respect back at this venue.

Form: 921017

(2)

Hafeet Alain²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Planas⁽³⁾| T: E Walker| OR: 91| D

4/1

Capitalised on a falling mark at Newmarket in June and remained in good order under this jockey. Not so good back at Wolverhampton (8.6f) under a different pilot recently but fancied to get firmly back on track returned to turf.

Form: 641248

(1)

Sweet Reward¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman| OR: 90| C

7/1

Just about better than ever when landing 7-runner handicap in the mud at this track (9.9f) last month but not quite at that level on the back of a 7 lb rise at Chester (10.3f, soft) since. Back down to 1m and every chance he can get involved.

Form: 251716

(4)

Crystal Casque¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: Oliver Searle⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 86| D

14/1

Has enjoyed a productive season, seen to maximum effect when notching her fourth win of the year at at Ascot (8f, good to firm) 19 days ago, helped by being held up in a strongly-run race. 4 lb higher here likely to struggle in this Class 2 event.

Form: 517171

Forecasts

Lattam (3/1), The Gatekeeper (3/1), Rhoscolyn (7/2), Hafeet Alain (4/1), Sweet Reward (7/1), Crystal Casque (14/1), Fox Tal (25/1)

LATTAM had little go right when sent off favourite for the Golden Mile over C&D just under 8 weeks ago so William Haggas' 4-y-o is worth another chance to continue on his upward trajectory. He can get the better of Hafeet Alain, who is fancied to get back on track returned to turf and reunited with top apprentice Connor Planas. Rhoscolyn won twice at this venue last month so he rounds off the shortlist.