15:45 Goodwood

Saturday 2 August 2025

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4516:2016:55

Whispering Angel Handicap

3YO only | Class 2 | 7f | 20 Runners | Turf

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(7)

The Waco Kid^p,t⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 104| D

Took his form up a notch with Group 3 success at Newmarket (7f, heavy) last autumn, but it's been a struggle since and he needs to get back on track now pitched into a handicap for the first time.

Form: 310-706

(10)

Pellitory⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Mason Paetel⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 102| D

Won twice as a juvenile and improved again to land a 7f conditions race on return at Newmarket in April. Creditable fourth of 7 in listed race at Sandown (1m, good to soft) on penultimate start, but safely held at Royal Ascot since and he's on a stiff-looking mark now back in a handicap.

Form: 31-1947

(13)

Yah Mo Be There⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: R Spencer| OR: 99

Winner of 6f Newbury listed race on final 2-y-o start and has acquitted himself well in Group company this season, most recently finishing fifth of 15 in the Jersey at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm). Ground slower than good would represent a step into the unknown, but he's otherwise appealing.

Form: 201-585

(19)

Montpellier³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: J Ferguson| OR: 98| D

Unraced at 2 yrs but quickly making up for lost time, winner of Thirsk maiden and Newbury novice (both at 7f) before finishing a clear second dropped to 6f for his handicap bow at Salisbury. He's another for whom ground slower than good would pose a question, but his profile is broadly appealing.

Form: 112

(4)

Hallasan²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 96| D

Got the better of subsequent French Derby winner Camille Pissarro when landing a valuable Doncaster sales race on final 2-y-o start. Added to his tally in Dubai at the beginning of the year, but has failed to make much of an impact since, safely held on handicap bow at Newmarket last time.

Form: 216749

(11)

Consolidation⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: R M Beckett| OR: 95| CD

Cost plenty at the breeze ups and, having signed off 2-y-o campaign on a winning note at Kempton, he followed up over this C&D (good to firm) on return/handicap bow in May. Poorly drawn when tenth in the Britannia at Royal Ascot since and he's of strong interest for in-form yard back at this course.

Form: 6231-10

(8)

Columnist²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D Egan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93

Very useful at 2 yrs, the highlight of which was his close third in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. Has so far failed to scale those heights this season and while his latest fifth of 17 in a valuable Newmarket handicap represented a step back in the right direction, he looks vulnerable all the same.

Form: 43-8705

(12)

El Matador⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Hector Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92| D

Turned over when odds on for sole 2-y-o start at Nottingham, but it was a promising start to his career nonetheless and he's 2-2 in 7f novice events this season. Remains open to improvement and certainly needs considering, for all that his achievements form-wise don't stack up particularly well.

Form: 2-11

(20)

Shout⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Havlin| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 92

Twice a winner at 2 yrs, including when running out an impressive winner on nursery debut at Doncaster. Good placed efforts first 2 starts of present campaign and it's probably best to forgive his heavy-defeat in a first-time visor (discarded here) at Royal Ascot, given his otherwise solid profile.

Form: 131-230

(3)

Spirit Of Farhh¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 92| D

Progressive at 2 yrs and back on track when landing a 7f Newmarket handicap (good to soft) a fortnight ago, enhancing his good record when the word 'soft' appears in the going description. This is tougher, but 6 lb rise looks fair (pulled clear with the second at Newmarket) and he's not discounted.

Form: 31-9241

(1)

Mudbir²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 91| D

Very well-related colt who took his form up a notch when scoring on handicap debut at Sandown (7f, good to firm) where he looked suited by the drop back to this trip. The ground was soft when runner-up on sole 2-y-o start at Newmarket, so the recent rain won't be an issue and he merits respect.

Form: 2-151

(15)

Rare Change³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Finley Marsh| T: R Hughes| OR: 91| BF| D

Gelded during the winter and improved to win 3 of his first 4 handicaps over 6f/7f on good ground this year. Wasn't seen to best effect at Newcastle, so that can be overlooked, but his new mark demands further progress and ground slower than good would pose a question.

Form: 3-11017

(16)

The Fingal Raven^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J A Osborne| OR: 91| D

Novice winner at Kempton last autumn and placed all 3 starts in Dubai earlier this year. Left low-key reappearance at Royal Ascot behind when a close third to Mudbir at Sandown last month, but one has to be doubtful as to whether a 2 lb pull will enable him to turn the tables on that rival here.

Form: 3-33203

(5)

Andesite⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: K R Burke| OR: 90

Narrowly outpointed the re-opposing Yah Mo Be There on 2-y-o debut at York. 0-5 since, but has shaped well both starts since being gelded and, with this step up to 7f expected to work in his favour, he'll have an each-way chance if handling conditions (unraced on ground slower than good).

Form: 17-4865

(2)

Aurora Majesty³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 88| D

Winner of first 2 starts over 7f on the AW during the spring and opened turf account at the third attempt when landing an Epsom handicap (7f, good to firm) in decisive fashion. 5 lb rise looks about right, but he has much more on his plate here.

Form: 119661

(6)

Headmaster¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Mirai Iwata| T: W J Haggas| OR: 88| D

Runner-up first 2 starts prior to completing a relatively simple task in a Haydock maiden (7f, good) recently. Will need to take a step forward in order to follow-up on this handicap debut, but his pedigree is a good one and he's in good hands, so there is cause for optimism.

Form: 221

(14)

Dance In The Storm^h²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 87| BF| D

Settled better in a first-time hood (retained) and much improved when making a winning handicap debut at Sandown (7f, good to firm) in June. Too keen when fourth to Mudbir over the same C&D since, but she remains one to be positive about and is of interest now switched to a sharper track.

Form: 5-1714

(9)

Miami Matrix²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Connor Planas⁽³⁾| T: H Palmer| OR: 86| D

On the up since being gelded, bagging back-to-back 7.6f Chester handicaps under contrasting conditions. 3 lb rise for latest success fair enough and, armed with a progressive profile, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 313711

(17)

Fondo Blanco⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Aidan Keeley| T: R Varian| OR: 85| BF

Winner of soft-ground 6f York novice on second of his 2 starts as a juvenile and positive start to this season, going close on return at Doncaster prior to again finding just one too good on Newmarket handicap debut. Shade below par at Leicester last time, but step back up to 7f should help.

Form: 31-227

Non-Runners

(18)

Wolf Of Badenoch⁴⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: H Palmer J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Yah Mo Be There (4/1), Mudbir (5/1), Consolidation (7/1), El Matador (8/1), Rare Change (14/1), Headmaster (14/1), Montpellier (14/1), Miami Matrix (14/1), The Waco Kid (16/1), Shout (16/1), Pellitory (16/1), Dance In The Storm (16/1), Fondo Blanco (20/1), Aurora Majesty (20/1), Columnist (20/1), Spirit Of Farhh (20/1), Wolf Of Badenoch (25/1), Andesite (25/1), The Fingal Raven (33/1), Hallasan (33/1)

The Andrew Balding yard has saddled the winner of this a few times over the years and DANCE IN THE STORM is taken to enhance that record. She did too much too soon when fourth to Mudbir at Sandown last time and is better judged on her handicap debut success at the same course in June, form which has worked out well (second, third and fourth have all won since). Mudbir will be a threat if getting the breaks from stall one, while Consolidation, Headmaster and Miami Matrix are others to consider.