CHELTENHAM’S loss is Goodwood’s gain as Billyjoh bids to score on his second start at this week’s Glorious meeting.
Not only that, but Mick Appleby’s speedster is trying to do so live on ITV in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season.
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It was in early 2019 that the powers that be made the decision to limit horses to a single Cheltenham Festival outing, something that was massively questioned and opposed by those who, over the four days, had challenged twice in the past.
On the Flat the rules are different, which means Billyjoh can tackle today’s Coral Stewards’ Cup in which 28 runners were declared to charge down a helter-skelter straight.
Billyjoh has Goodwood in his family. His sire, Mayson, was fourth in the 2010 Molecomb, while also in his pedigree is Kodiac, who once ran fifth in a really tight handicap at this course.
Perhaps, then, it is no surprise that Billyjoh ran a cracker when second to Blue Prince in the HKJC World Pool Handicap over seven furlongs on Wednesday.
Rossa Ryan’s mount might well have landed the prize if he had got a clear run over two furlongs out, but he didn’t and the pair finished off with aplomb.
Billyjoh also has a second at Royal Ascot to his name over seven furlongs, when chasing home English Oak in the Buckingham Palace.
On that basis it would be easy to argue the six furlongs here will be too short.
But not so long ago he showed pace at Haydock and surely he will be charging home here off a very strong gallop. His mark of 95 is workable.
I’ll be supporting Billyjoh eachway.
Dangers abound. Dark Trooper is another horse to go from the excellent Ed Walker now Wathan Racing have got their cash out and sent him elsewhere.
The Wokingham second is up 3lb here to 105 which is a big ask but he’s clearly got every chance.
Albasheer is not easy to win on, but can’t be ignored for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle.
The six-year-old bounded home at Ascot last time and was eighth in this last year on heavy ground. His rating goes from 97 to 104.
Another to consider is Apollo One, who was second 12 months ago and can now challenge off a 2lb lower mark.
The ground, though, will be very different.
I’ve been lucky enough to be at Goodwood all five days, and that privilege is never taken lightly.
To be able to interview some of the best jockeys and trainers on the planet is such a treat, and that’s not to mention the owners who come at me in many different guises.
Phillipa Cooper is a particular favourite of mine, and she was as feisty as ever before her Sweet William’s courageous second to star Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup.
‘Coops’ is not one to take on lightly. If she ran racing it would be a very different world!
Kyprios, of course, is trained by Aidan O’Brien and I love to share little moments with you that I notice with the master of Ballydoyle and Coolmore owners ‘the lads’, which of course consist of the Magnier, Tabor and Smith families.
It was Michael Tabor and Paul Smith that got in the huddle which, among others, also numbered O’Brien and Ryan Moore after Opera Singer landed the Nassau on Thursday.
At first all listened intently to every word that Moore had to say. Then there was laughter and jokes.
It made me realise that not only do you get the intense genius with O’Brien, but you get so much fun as well. You don’t have as many kids as Aidan does without having a sense of humour.
All the ‘lads’ have that too. Tabor didn’t hold back on what he felt about one of my jackets, while O’Brien clearly agreed. But it was all done in a nice way.
As a TV presenter you give out much of the time. You have to take in as well, and these guys do it with class. It’s what the whole game should be about.
As well as Kyprios and Opera Singer, Notable Speech excelled in the Sussex Stakes and showed we can believe in his 2000 Guineas success.
The Godolphin star is exciting, and his handler Charlie Appleby is also a great lad, always willing to chat and wear his heart on his sleeve.
All in all Goodwood has shown this sport is super cool.
Yes, it has many faults, but none of us should forget the magic.
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