Goodwood produced some taking winners on Saturday but there were certainly two horses that looked worth keeping onside despite not finding the winners' enclosure.
Yacowlef – William Hill Harroways Handicap 2.05
If you watched the majority of the racing over the weekend, then you'll probably find it hardly surprising that Yacowlef was the first horse that made it into my tracker. I'm sure he would have gone into the notebook of thousands following that eye-catching second in the Class 2 7f handicap on Saturday and it's easy to see why.
It looked tough to come from off the pace at Goodwood on Saturday with the majority of winners racing handily or making the running. The Paul and Oliver Cole-trained Yacowlef had bundles of ground to make up entering the final two furlongs with the winner, Urban Sprawl, able to dictate steady enough fractions out in front. Yacowlef's task was made virtually impossible when he was badly hampered inside the final furlong but once in the clear he stuck on nicely and was only beaten one-and-a-half lengths by a horse that certainly had the run of the race out in front. The son of Kessaar ran the final furlong 0.18 seconds quicker than the rest of the field and I fully expect he would have gone close if more prominently positioned.
The lightly-raced three-year-old looked progressive when winning on soft ground at Newmarket off a mark of 86 earlier in the month and I'd be hopeful he can continue improving throughout the season.
Hellfire – William Hill / British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes 2.35
The William Hill / British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) at 2.35 saw La Guardia run out an impressive winner for AMO Racing. All five previous winners of this Goodwood maiden have gone on to compete at Royal Ascot on their second start and I'm sure connections of Richard Hannon's filly will have the Royal meeting on their agenda next month.
However, it was Hellfire Bay that caught my eye in the closing stages. The first two home were prominent throughout and, on a day, where it proved difficult to make up ground it was pleasing to see John and Thady Gosden's filly stay on nicely entering the final furlong.
The sectionals make for impressive reading as well with Hellfire Bay running three of the six furlongs quicker than the rest of the field. Her first furlong was over half a second slower than that of the winner after missing the break badly and given how greenly she ran throughout; it looks some effort to have only been beaten three-and-half-lengths at the line.
Cieren Fallon understandably looked after this daughter of Zoustar in the closing stages and she shaped as though she'd improve bundles for the experience.
It remains to be seen where connections will look next, but it wouldn't be completely fanciful that she could turn up at Royal Ascot next month if getting off the mark at the second time asking.
The Curragh staged Ireland's first two Classics of the season this weekend. Both winners of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas were equally impressive but amongst all the superstars on show I think one lightly-raced filly went under the radar.
Jumbly– Lanwades Stud Stakes 3.15
The Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes looked like a warm contest on paper, and I think the form will work out strongly going forward.
It paid to be prominent at the Curragh over the weekend and the winner Just Beautiful made just about every yard of the running under Billy Lee. Very few got into the contest but Jumbly did make some nice late gains staying on pleasingly into second.
It was her first start for Joseph O'Brien and her first outing since winning the Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot in July for preview connections. The daughter of Gleneagles was more than entitled to need that run and she pulled hard enough in the early stages.
The winner, a smart filly on quick ground in her own right, certainly benefitted from race fitness and I'd definitely fancy the Joseph O'Brien-trained filly to get closer if the pair met again with that run under her belt.
The unexposed four-year-old looked progressive for Harry and Roger Charlton last season and there should be plenty more to come from her this year after just nine career outings.
She holds an entry in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot next month and I certainly wouldn't be putting any off at her current price of 8/1 if connections opt to go that route.
