THE STRIKIN VIKING can hit the back of the net at Goodwood under in-form jockey James Doyle.
The big two-year-old race of the day is the Richmond Stakes and The Strikin Viking is the clear standout on ratings.
He’s another Wathnan Racing purchase to have joined Hamad Al Jehani after looking a potentially smart colt in just two runs for Kevin Ryan.
He was an impressive winner on his debut at York and improved on that by contesting the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh later in June.
While The Strikin Viking had to give best to Henri Matisse – who looks a very good prospect himself for Aidan O’Brien – he travelled best through the race before going down by half a length.
That form puts him 8lb clear of closest rival Tropical Storm who was runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes last time.
The Kincsem Handicap opens day three of Goodwood and can go to the hat-trick-seeking Midnight Gun on his first outing for new connections.
He won his last couple of starts for Ed Walker, including when heavily backed for his handicap debut at Newmarket in June.
That progressive profile evidently caught the eye of the Wathnan Racing team as he has his first start in their colours for their trainer Hamad Al Jehani.
Heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings by 1 lb with the ‘p’ indicating further improvement to come, Midnight Gun can make a mockery of his 5lb rise in the weights as he steps up in distance.
Tropical Storm’s trainer and Sun columnist Andrew Balding might have better luck in the Gordon Stakes, where Bellum Justum heads the Timeform ratings.
He’s receiving weight from Aidan O’Brien’s likely favourite Jan Brueghel, which is a huge positive.
Jan Brueghel is certainly a threat after winning both his starts but Bellum Justum has smart form to his name too and looks worth another try over a mile and a half after a decent finish in the Derby.
A good third since under a positive ride in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, he could have more to offer back up in trip and is top of the ratings by 1lb.
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