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Raceday Intel

A top stayer returns from injury and retirement while smart chasers go head-to-head at Perth

Punting pointers for some of Sunday's meetings

Goodwood: Call My Bluff out of retirement as stayers return from long absences

The 2m handicap (4.10) will make fascinating watching, given it will feature three decent stayers returning from mammoth absences.

Call My Bluff was last seen finishing third in the 2023 Chester Cup and will be running for the first time in 758 days when he takes up his entry, while he will give Ben Ffrench Davis his first ride as a professional. 

"He suffered what we thought was a career-ending injury and we'd retired him," said trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis. "I was so happy with the leg and the vet scanned it and said there's no reason why we shouldn't give him another go. He started work in January and we've been very happy with him.

"He loves a bit of soft ground, Ben knows him well and rides him at home, and he's in good nick. We're not expecting him to win but hopefully he returns in one piece and we can look forward to running somewhere else.

"He's come back more enthusiastic than ever. He's showing a proper zest for it, I think the break might have done him good."

The 1lb higher rated Good Show is returning from 708 days away, while Zinc White is another to show good form at Chester in the past and was last seen running in a decent handicap at Galway in 2023. This will be his first run for 678 days. 

Silk
Call My Bluff16:10 Goodwood
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Jky: Ben Ffrench Davis (5lb)Tnr: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Goodwood stat: Eve Johnson Houghton's 67% record

That's the strike-rate for the Oxfordshire trainer who is 2-3 with her juveniles in non-handicap races at Goodwood this season. She runs Canyouhearthedrums (3.00).

Silk
Canyouhearthedrums15:00 Goodwood
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Jky: Charles Bishop Tnr: Eve Johnson Houghton

Punchestown: Spanish Harlem bids for first chase success

Spanish Harlem will likely be sent off an odds-on favourite for Willie Mullins when he bids to score for the first time over fences in the Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase (1.30). 

The seven-year-old has had ten chase starts, most recently when finishing fourth behind Resplendent Grey in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, and has finished third three times.

He was carried out under Brian Hayes on his penultimate start in the Scottish Grand National, a race in which he finished sixth the previous year.

Silk
Spanish Harlem13:30 Punchestown
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Jky: Sean Cleary-Farrell (7lb)Tnr: W P Mullins

Perth: Ryanair Chase runner the class act in feature

The bet365 Perth Gold Cup (3.57) has attracted a strong field of eight, with the topweight Hang In There standing out.

The 11-year-old has achieved his 151 rating by running bravely off high weights in better handicaps than this and he is now down to a mark 4lb lower than when he was last successful at Uttoxeter last June. 

His trainer Emma Lavelle said: "He's been an absolute star. We gave it a crack off higher marks but the Ryanair was obviously a step too far. He made a couple of errors on his next start back at Cheltenham, but I thought he showed he was on his way back at Newton Abbot and I'm really looking forward to running him.

"We don't want them to have too much rain, but he seems really well and he's on a more sensible mark. It's always tough as he's not the biggest and he's giving loads of weight to everything else in the race, but he's a quality horse and he deserves a crack at it.

"He has the same enthusiasm that he's ever had. He bounces into the parade ring and heads towards the fences to say 'let me at them', so we will!"

Gordon Elliott fields two of his rivals in Riaan and Tullybeg, who will make the journey from Cullentra across the Irish sea, while Young Buster and Stan's The Man come into this after winning on their most recent runs. 

Silk
Hang In There15:57 Perth
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Jky: Gavin Sheehan Tnr: Emma Lavelle

Perth stat: Irish trainer has 29 per cent strike-rate

That's Gordon Elliott's lifetime record at Perth, with 221 winners from 770. He is represented by Riaan and Tullybeg in the track's feature chase (3.57).

Silk
Riaan15:57 Perth
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Jky: James Bowen Tnr: Gordon Elliott
Silk
Tullybeg15:57 Perth
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Jky: Carl Millar (5lb)Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Read Sunday's tipping...

'I've been waiting for this filly to step up in trip for some time' - Tom Segal with three bets at Goodwood on Sunday  

Tom Segal's play of the day at Goodwood  

The Punt Acca: Harry Wilson with three tips from Goodwood on Sunday  

Free horse racing tips for Sunday, June 8, at Goodwood  


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