More Joy In Store For Buick At Goodwood

Six of the last eight winners of the Celebration Mile at Goodwood have been three-year-olds but maybe this is another year worth taking on the Classic generation. (4.30)

Toormore Can Oblige for Hannon
Thikriyaat and Zonderland are the only two three-year-olds in the five runner field and both take their place as favourite and second favourite respectively at 7/4 and 5/2. But despite giving weight away to his younger rivals and being without a win since April, Toormore is the pick at 9/2.

A winner over seven-furlongs, Toormore’s best form comes over a mile.

He’s certainly a horse that has been around the block but he has been a good servant for his connections and certainly wasn’t disgraced in the Sussex Stakes last time behind The Gurkha.

Ahead of Toormore that day was Ribchester and the favourite, Thikriyaat, has some solid form to tie in with him as it was the ever improving Ribchester that was responsible for his only defeat at Royal Ascot.

However, while Thikriyaat is certainly going the right direction, he has been busy this summer and may just come on for the experience of taking on a tough, battle hardened horse like Toormore. So we’ll side with the five-year-old to come out on top in the hands of William Buick.

Fill The Bucket at Navan
After winning a handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival, Shake The Bucket returned to the flat shortly afterwards at Roscommon where he was sent off the 4/1 favourite for what looks a very favourable mark on the flat.

He ran well in finishing fifth but can return to winning ways in the Like Navan On Facebook Handicap (3.50) which is run over a mile and six-furlongs; two-furlongs further than that Roscommon race.

Now a nine-year-old, Shake The Bucket has been an incredible servant for the Madden family and is already a 12-time winner for them so hopefully he can bring up the baker’s dozen on Saturday afternoon.

Focus on Heffernan
The Navan Members Handicap (5.35) over 10-furlongs is for three-year-olds only and brings the card to a close in a very competitive manner.

But there’s a horse who shouldn’t go unbacked at a decent price and that is Universal Focus for Ross O’Sullivan and Seamie Heffernan.

Dalton Highway is sure to be popular with Dermot Weld followers after a good run at Galway and Masonbrook Lady represents the red hot yard of Denis Hogan with a valuable 7lbs allowance being claimed off her but Universal Focus has ran a couple of nice races of late at Fairyhouse and Tipperary. And with each-way terms down to four places, he is a horse who should make the frame.

Recommended Bets:
Shake The Bucket – 3.50 Navan
Toormore – 4.30 Goodwood
Universal Focus – 5.35 Navan

*Prices correct at time of publication.