Enbihaar banker only option to keep Goodwood perm manageable

It's never easy to get the Placepot up on Stewards’ Cup day at Goodwood, but at least the third leg gives us the opportunity of a banker.

Enbihaar won this by five lengths last year conceding a stone to Manuela De Vega, and although a lot of that was down to weight for age, the penalty system also means she is now 17lb better off.

She ran well on her return on unsuitably soft ground and, back on a fast surface, should be long odds-on to win again.

The opening leg (1.50) is slightly less competitive than usual with only 17 runners, and you surely won’t go far wrong by sticking in Jim Goldie’s half-brothers Tommy G and Call Me Ginger.

Tommy G has been in the first three for the last three years, while Call Me Ginger ran a cracker when second to Meraas in the Scottish Steward’s Cup two weeks ago.

Laafy is favourite for the next (2.25), but has something to prove on quick ground for me and I’ll be sticking with Mark Johnston pair Themaxwecan and Hochfeld.

Themaxwecan hasn’t had the fast ground he needs yet this year, but he gets it now, and with form figures of 125121 on good to firm ground he is hard to leave out.

Hochfeld was third in this two years ago and is slowly recapturing his form after a year out.

Leg four is the Steward’s Cup (3.35) and I’ll go three-handed here with my main picks Lexington Dash and Kimifive, plus outsider George Bowen.

He was fifth in this off an 18lb higher mark two years ago and showed plenty on his penultimate run when second to Wokingham runner-up Summerghand.

His latest effort at York can be ignored as he completely missed the break.

Society Lion is a worthy favourite for leg five (4.10) after two fine runs this season, the second of which is working out well despite the winner being beaten next time.

I’ll need another for cover, though, and Tomfre, better than he showed in a messy Bunbury Cup, gets the nod.

Johnston’s Golden Flame is the form horse in the closing maiden (4.40), but I’ll also take a flyer on the unraced Il Bandito for Charlie Hills, who has won this for the same owner twice since 2015.

Goodwood Placepot perm

1.50
5 Call Me Ginger
17 Tommy G

2.25
2 Themaxwecan
7 Hochfeld

3.00
2 Enbihaar

3.35
18 Lexington Dash
19 Kimifive
27 George Bowen

4.10
2 Tomfre
8 Society Lion

4.40
5 Golden Flame
6 Il Bandito

2x2x1x3x2x2=48 lines

Don't forget: Members receive Pricewise Extra at 10am daily on racingpost.com