14:05 Goodwood

Saturday 23 August 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 1m 24.71s

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(9)

Royal Zabeel¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: K Shoemark| T: M Appleby| OR: 104| D

18/1

Big improver for current yard over 7f on all-weather over the winter and spring and returned to form out of the blue on the turf, running to a smart level when landing an 8-runner handicap at Newmarket (7f, good to firm, 12/1) 14 days ago, pushed out. Should remain competitive in handicaps.

Form: 165001

(5)

Rhoscolyn^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: C Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

25/1

3-time C&D winner including this race in 2023 and is a credit to connections, proving as least as good as ever when readily winning a 15-runner handicap at this course (8f, good) 22 days ago. Up 4 lb for that but no surprise to see him run another big race.

Form: 863601

(7)

Purosangue²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 98

18/1

Winless in 2024 but he was runner-up at listed/Group 3 level. Not seen to best effect in first 3 runs this season but proved a disappointment in the Stewards' Cup here last month. Still not one to write off but likely to be seen to better effect in more testing ground over the autumn.

Form: 27-4790

(2)

Great Acclaim^b¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 96| CD

11/2

Had a productive 2024 with a 4-time winner and back on song of late in blinkers, career-best when landing a double in a 9-runner handicap at Chepstow (7.1f, good) 16 days ago, travelling best mid-race for all he was all out at the line. Could still be more to come as he bids for a hat-trick.

Form: 842711

(1)

Palmar Bay²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jack Dace⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 96| D

7/1

3-time winner last season and has proved better than ever this year, landing his second win in 4 starts this season when winning 7-runner handicap at Chester (7f, firm) 20 days ago, soon clear showing a good turn of foot. This is tougher but he's not discounted if getting the breaks from stall 1.

Form: 32-3161

(10)

Billyjoh^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 92

11/1

On a long losing run but did run some big races in competitive handicaps at this course last year. Hasn't been in the same form recent starts, again didn't see his race out when sixth of 20 to Great Acclaim in handicap at this C&D (good) 24 days ago. On a handy mark but isn't straightforward.

Form: 320386

(6)

Gorak^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Paddy Bradley| T: C Fellowes| OR: 92| D

22/1

It's now 18 runs since his last win but he did bounce back to form over a course and distance he relishes when third of 9 in handicap at Haydock (7.2f, good to firm, 4/1) 14 days ago, well positioned the way the race unfolded. Remains to be seen whether he back that up in a stronger race.

Form: 0-26873

(12)

Mudbir^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95| CD

11/4

Well-bred colt advanced his form when successful on handicap debut at Sandown and improved to a win 16-runner handicap over C&D (good) 21 days ago, travelled strongly from stall 1. Widest draw to overcome this time but is most progressive and could well land the hat-trick in first-time headgear.

Form: 2-1511

(8)

Darkness^v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Mark Winn| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

25/1

Winner off a 1lb higher than this last season and again capitalised on some leniency from the handicapper when winning at Thirsk in May. Creditable fourth of 13 returned to that track last month and while he's on a workable mark again, this is highly competitive.

Form: 791094

(4)

Back In Black¹³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 92| D

4/1

Progressive juvenile finished his campaign with a solid third behind a subsequent listed winner on nursery debut. Picked up where he left off following 7 months when readily winning a 9-runner handicap at Newbury (7f, good). Could prove a danger to all if in the same form following a break.

Form: 2213-1

(11)

Principality²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 91| C

22/1

Course winner as a juvenile and made it 2 wins from 3 starts here when bouncing back to form with a career best when winning 15-runner handicap (8f, good to soft) 23 days ago. Now forced up in grade and may not be the obvious type to follow up dropping back to 7f.

Form: 9-74301

(3)

Zoulu Chief⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Jack Doughty| T: H Main| OR: 82

8/1

Won 3 times as a 2-y-o and although he hasn't tasted success since, he bounced back to form having been gelded when second of 12 in handicap at Windsor (6f, firm, 11/1) 9 days ago. Will need to build on that now upped in trip and grade.

Form: 038462

Forecasts

Mudbir (11/4), Back In Black (4/1), Great Acclaim (11/2), Palmar Bay (7/1), Zoulu Chief (8/1), Billyjoh (11/1), Purosangue (18/1), Royal Zabeel (18/1), Principality (22/1), Gorak (22/1), Darkness (25/1), Rhoscolyn (25/1)

Well-bred MUDBIR is proving most progressive on the track, catching the eye with how he moved through the race from stall 1 when landing a double in a 16-runner C&D handicap at the Glorious meeting. He's drawn widest of all this time but may well progress again to land the hat-trick in first-time headgear. Back In Black impressed when winning at Newbury earlier this season and is a big danger if in the same form after a break, while 2023 winner Rhoscolyn is very much respected.