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Graeme Rodway analyses the draw in competitive Stewards' Sprint

Rewaayat - Kieran Shoemark winsTHE HEED YOUR HUNCH AT BETWAY HANDICAPRacing behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lingfield Park 27.6.2020©Mark Cranhamphoto.com
Rewaayat is on a hat trick after wins at Lingfield and SalisburyCredit: Mark Cranham

1.50 GoodwoodUnibet Stewards' Sprint Handicap | 6f | ITV/RTV

There might be only 17 in the Unibet Stewards' Sprint compared to 28 in the main race, but the consolation poses even more of a conundrum than the Unibet Stewards’ Cup itself.

The accompanying graphic shows the advantage a low draw has traditionally been in recent years and, the further your horse is drawn from stall one, the harder the task.

However, there is absolutely no pace drawn low in this race so, for all the historical advantage a single-figure stall has been, that won’t be the case if nothing goes with the speedballs who are drawn higher. It’s a difficult race to weigh up from a tactical perspective.

Tommy G (stall one), Treacherous (three), Dream Today (five) and Call Me Ginger (six) are hold-up performers and will be relying on North Wind (two) or Highly Sprung (four) to keep tabs on the lead likely to come on the other side from One Hart (14) and Secretinthepark (15).

If you like to follow pacemaps you’ll be looking at the high draws, but I prefer simple statistics and will trust the numbers by sticking with those drawn in single-figure stalls.

Jim Goldie's three runners are all related, with Call Me Ginger and Primo's Comet brothers, while Tommy G, who has finished 213 in the race, is a half-brother to the pair.

Call Me Ginger might be the one. He did his best work at the end when second behind Meraas in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton last time after making a mess of the start.

A victory for Call Me Ginger would be a big boost for Meraas in the main race as Mark Johnston’s lightly raced and improving three-year-old was well on top in that Hamilton race.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway


What they say

Charlie Hills, trainer of Rewaayat
He's put two great runs together and it seems like he's improving. He's had niggling problems with his feet but he's over them now. He's always worked like a very good horse.

Paul Midgley, trainer of Saluti
There's speed drawn around him and he's got his ground. He did well to win at Pontefract last time as he's not a five-furlong horse, he's come out of that well and must have a good chance.

Ed de Giles, trainer of Treacherous
He's a legend, he's won ten of his 29 races, four of them this year. He handles the track and should get the proper pace he needs. He's proving nearly as effective on grass and still has a few pounds in hand of his all-weather mark.

George Baker, trainer of May Remain and The Lamplighter
They are two horses who are in good form and won't mind the ground. The Lamplighter has won at Goodwood and course form means a lot there. He ran very well at Newmarket last Friday. May Remain won well at Sandown the other day, that was over five furlongs but he ran through the line well and six furlongs is not an issue.

Tim Palin, director of Middleham Park Racing, owners of Batchelor Boy & One Hart
I hope the ground doesn't get too quick for Batchelor Boy. We've concluded that six furlongs is him playing at home, there's a tiny bit of wiggle room in his handicap and he has a decent profile and an excellent jockey in Ryan Moore. One Hart has been a bit disappointing but loves fast ground and could be suited by returning to six furlongs.

Reporting by David Carr


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Published on 31 July 2020inPreviews

Last updated 06:18, 1 August 2020

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