Time to be brave and back Wicklow to topple Big Orange

Goodwood

Big Orange is bidding for a famous hat-trick in the Goodwood Cup, but he had a hard race when winning at Royal Ascot last time and it may be worth going with an each-way alternative like WICKLOW BRAVE (3.35).

The versatile eight-year old, trained by Willie Mullins, has won top-flight contests on the Flat and over hurdles in the last 12 months and produced a solid effort at the Curragh last time out, losing out by only half a length when attempting to give 14lb to the talented three-year-old Rekindling.

He was a respectable fourth in last year’s renewal and could easily get closer this time.

Godolphin have four runners in the Lennox Stakes, including the Hugo Palmer-trained Home Of The Brave, but it is the outsider of the quartet, JUNGLE CAT (3.00), who can come out on top.

Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old has spent most of his career over sprint trips but has enjoyed stepping up to 7f this season.

He was narrowly beaten by Home Of The Brave at Newmarket on his first run at this distance and has confirmed his stamina with two solid efforts since the application of blinkers, easily seeing off two rivals at Haydock last time out.

The big field should ensure he gets a strong pace to aim at and his turn of foot could see him surprise some of his more fancied opponents.

Several potentially useful two-year-olds clash in the Vintage Stakes and MILDENBERGER (2.25) can come out on top.

Mark Johnston’s charge saw off a more experienced rival to win his Haydock debut and produced a stunning performance at Newbury two weeks later, giving weight and a five-length beating to some nice types.

Connections were quick to nominate this as the next likely target and he could be hard to pass if attempting to repeat the positive tactics that worked so well at Newbury.

UAE PRINCE (1.50) can win the opener.

He is still unexposed after just six starts and looked capable of picking up a big handicap when fourth at York last time out.

Having his first start since a two-month break and a gelding operation, Roger Varian’s four-year-old hit the front with two furlongs to go but couldn’t quite hold on and faded into fourth.

He is fully effective on all sorts of ground and that latest outing should have put him spot on for this one.

Yarmouth

RETRIBUTION (2.50) was out the back in three maidens last season, but a midwinter gelding operation sparked a big jolt of improvement as he was beaten just a head on his reappearance at Lingfield last time out.

Making his handicap debut, David Lanigan’s three-year-old wasn’t best away but made relentless progress and lost out by a rapidly diminishing margin.

He can go one better off a 5lb higher mark if continuing his progress on his second run back from a layoff.

HIGHLAND ACCLAIM (5.00) got the better of Huntsmans Close at Epsom recently and can repeat the trick in the 6f handicap.

The David O’Meara-trained six-year-old was well backed in that contest and didn’t disappoint, showing a willing attitude to hold on. He was a cut above this grade at his peak so a 4lb rise seems fair.

BRYGHT BOY (4.30) has had 12 races without success, but a second at Lingfield last time out suggests his turn is coming. Ed Walker fitted new cheekpieces to his four-year-old that time and the new headgear seemed to help, as he stayed on strongly but couldn’t get past the determined filly Arctic Flower, who boosted the form with another win on Saturday.

Beverley

FIRST BOMBARDMENT (3.45) has yet to get his head in front this season, but he has slipped to a workable mark and wasn’t disgraced when fifth over this course and distance last time out.

Market support suggested he was on the way back but he was one-paced when asked for an effort.

David O’Meara’s four-year-old has form on testing ground and might be worth another chance at the scene of his sole turf victory.

Worcester

Peter Bowen has his string in great form and he can add another success with LIME STREET (7.15).

The six-year-old made a successful debut for new connections at Uttoxeter in June and probably ran to a similar level at the same venue last month, staying on for second but failing to catch all-the-way winner Terry The Fish.

This looks slightly easier and he shapes as though the drop back from 2m7f110yds will suit very nicely.

Perth

LAKE MALAWI (9.00) can overcome a lengthy layoff in the finale.

Gordon Elliott’s charge hasn’t run since last summer, but he was in fair form then, with his last outing a third behind top-class duo Moon Racer and Ballyandy at this track when 2m looked on the short side.

That was 313 days ago, but he is well treated if the form is taken literally and he has the bonus of crack amateur Jamie Codd taking over in the saddle.

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