Robin Goodfellow’s Racing Tips: Best bets for Saturday, May 22
Conditions at the Curragh will be brutal even if the course passes an early morning inspection but an extreme stamina test may prove perfect for VAN GOGH (Curragh, 3.20) to enter the Tattersalls 2,000 Guineas picture.
The sizeable son of American Pharoah looked a little all at sea on fast ground on his comeback at Newmarket as the speedsters left him on the canvas. Admittedly, a seven-length defeat at the hands of Guineas winner Poetic Flare leaves the selection with something to find on him and on runner-up Lucky Vega who kept on resolutely all the way to the line at HQ.
However, the prospect of deep ground and a return to a track which suits can see the selection narrow that margin of defeat with Aidan O’Brien’s colts now beginning to find some form.
Sportsmail’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Saturday’s meetings
O’Brien this week suggested his colts were a little behind where he thought they were, so Van Gogh, a big, gross type, may have been in desperate need of the run three weeks ago.
Entered in the Cazoo Derby, last year’s Criterium International winner may not be entirely ground dependent. However, he handles deep conditions better than most and his huge frame has clearly taken time to fill so there is every chance he hasn’t yet finished maturing.
Of the trio of Ballydoyle runners, Ryan Moore prefers Wembley, which is perhaps understandable given the fact that the form of his second place in last season’s Dewhurst Stakes received a handsome boost when winner St Mark’s Basilica landed the French Guineas in style last weekend.
It is also too early to write off Battleground who was backed into favouritism in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before flopping from a high draw.
Given the main protagonists that day raced on the opposite side of the track to Battleground (the first three home were drawn 4, 2 and 3 respectively), there is every chance Chesham Stakes winner Battleground will prove a different proposition.
But Van Gogh has looked a proper powerhouse in some of his victories and is fancied to book his Derby ticket with a big performance today.
YORK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
2.05 Zip
2.40 Believe In Love
3.15 Dubai Instinct
3.50 Mondammej
4.20 Pepperwort
4.55 Northern Express
5.25 Parys Mountain
GIMCRACK
2.05 Tomfre
2.40 Flor De La Luna (nb)
3.15 Live Your Dream
3.50 Makanah
4.20 Hot Diggity Dog
4.55 Maison de York
5.25 Super Den
Northerner – 3.50 Copper Knight (nb); 4.55 Yorkshire Lady (nap).
HAYDOCK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.20 Oman
1.55 Sunset Breeze
2.25 Hiroshima
3.00 Wobwobwob (nap)
3.35 Mujbar
4.10 Liberty Beach
4.45 Cloudy Dawn
GIMCRACK
1.20 Side Shot
1.55 Sunset Breeze
2.25 Frankenstella
3.00 Nebulosa
3.35 Method
4.10 Liberty Beach (nap)
4.45 Cloudy Dawn
NEWMARKET
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.25 Superior Force
2.00 Additional
2.35 Law Of One
3.05 Bilhayl
3.40 Almighwar
4.15 Valparaiso
4.50 Jean Baptiste
GIMCRACK
1.25 My Dubawi
2.00 Additional
2.35 Apparate
3.05 Tacitus
3.40 Lostwithiel
4.15 Valparaiso
4.50 Lucander
Northerner – 2.35 Law Of One (nb); 3.05 Bilhayl (nap).
LINGFIELD
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
5.20 I’m Digby (nb)
5.55 Viola
6.25 Danzart
6.55 Eve Lodge
7.25 Hope Probe
7.55 Dragon’s Fire
8.25 Solomons Judgement
GIMCRACK
5.20 Miss Sligo
5.55 Nicks Not Wonder
6.25 Danzart
6.55 Eve Lodge
7.25 Last Date
7.55 Berkshire Miele
8.25 There’s No Danger
GOODWOOD
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.05 Prism
1.40 Prince Alex
2.10 Al Zaraqaan
2.50 Aldaary
3.25 Hukum
4.00 Asiaaf
4.35 Chiasma
GIMCRACK
1.05 Prism
1.40 Prince Alex
2.10 Al Zaraqaan
2.50 Aldaary
3.25 Hukum
4.00 Asiaaf
4.35 Chiasma
STRATFORD
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
5.40 Restandbethankful
6.10 Go Steady
6.40 Teqany
7.10 Duke Of Navan
7.40 San Agustin
8.10 Flying Verse
8.40 Ultimate Fame
GIMCRACK
5.40 Trailboss
6.10 Go Steady
6.40 Hooper
7.10 Hatcher
7.40 Always Able
8.10 Big Nasty
8.40 Almufeed
