Tuesday 31st July

rossom

5.25 Goodwood

R Woody 16/1 NAP

Really like the look of Robert Cowell's 5 year old gelding who I think should be spot on for his recent reappearance run and who I think has an excellent shot of landing this competitive 26 runner affair. Formerly with Linda Jewell and more recently Dean Ivory, I think R Woody is a well handicapped horse who is ready to strike at a track where he holds a 2-2 record. After making up into a decent animal with Jewell where he landed a shock to win a maiden impressively as a 100/1 shot, R Woody joined former trainer Dean Ivory back in June 2010 and he made up into a very nice sprinter winning 3 times and also running some excellent races in defeat and at the beginning of last year he started off at his peak rating of 93. His last victory came at Goodwood over 6f as a 3 year old back in October 2010 off a mark of 89 and as he races tomorrow off a mark of 85 I think he is more than capable of winning off his current mark.

When analysing R Woody's last win, it came in a Class 3 handicap nearly 2 years ago at the track off a mark of 89. That day R Woody sat just off the pace before he kicked on inside the final furlong to win by 0.75L but he was always holding all challengers. The form of that race looks fine with the 2nd finishing a short head 2nd off the same mark on his only subsequent start. His final start as a 3 year old was a credible effort in a Listed race before he took a 6 month break. R Woody clearly needed his reappearance run and put in a much improved performance on his 2nd start as a 4 year old when finishing a 2L beaten 3rd off a mark of 92 at Windsor. After being settled in the midfield, R Woody came with a run down the outside but he had to settle for a place behind two in form rivals. The form of that race is exceptionally strong and its a bit surprising that R Woody didn't kick on from that effort. In the 4 subsequent starts of the 2nd Medicean Man, he won two, finished a 0.25L beaten 2nd and ran an excellent 3rd in a Listed contest. Moreover, R Woody finished in front of the very talented Addictive Dream and Lui Rei who have turned into extremely good sprinters.

After a couple of mediocre efforts in good races, R Woody put in an improved performance over 5f at Leicester last September off a mark of 90. Awkwardly away from the gate, R Woody was always behind and was detached towards the rear for most of the race before he ran on late in the day to finish a 2.75L beaten 5th. I'm certain that if he broke on terms then he would have gone very close to winning that day. The form of that race is very consistent if not brilliant and considering he missed the break it was a very promising effort. His final 2 starts as a 4 year old and indeed for Ivory weren't the best but he certainly showed a more that satisfactory reappearance 10 days ago at Newmarket. He travelled well for a long way over the 5f trip at soft ground before getting tired on the back of a 9 month break and he should certainly come on an awful lot for his reappearance.

Given that he is 4lb below his last winning mark and he also put in some very good efforts off marks in the 90s last year I definitely don't think a mark of 85 is beyond him. I think its very interesting that he returns to Goodwood after his seasonal debut and I think that Cowell may have had this on the agenda for quite some time. In terms of tomorrow's race, although he is tactically versatile and has won sitting both close to the pace and coming from the rear I really hope instructions will be for him to be prominent and try and utilise his extra stamina late on as he has made his name over 6f, although I think he definitely has the speed for the minimum trip. I'm quite happy with the draw in stall 20 and hopefully its the side to be on as from memory the near side is the place to be. Although Cowell is worryingly 0-20 this month, his horses are running well enough without winning at present so its not a grave concern. A more encouraging note is that Cowell is 2-10 at the track and he obviously is selective with his ammunition at the venue. I'm very happy with the booking of Jim Crowley who has a 17% when riding for the trainer and I think Crowley has really flourished this year and is riding at the top of his game. Although its going to be difficult to navigate such a large and competitive field, I feel R Woody has an excellent chance if things pan out for him and hopefully his unbeaten record at the track becomes 3-3.

MyStubbleItches

I'm on this in my log so great to see it tipped up here too.

Crowley is on fire at the moment, rode a four- timer at Lingfield yesterday so here's hoping.

mike65

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

I'm on this in my log so great to see it tipped up here too.

Crowley is on fire at the moment, rode a four- timer at Lingfield yesterday so here's hoping.

So I have to back this fella twice now do I?

useless

20th