Luke Morris: “This race has been 14 months in the planning for Timoshenko”

NEWMARKET

2.20pm

Tell Me All

He may have a little to find with a couple of these form-wise, but he is a very well-bred colt on the upgrade and I can see him going well.  He showed a good attitude when winning a 1m Ayr nursery last time and the step up in trip promises to really suit, too. He is a big, scopey horse and I think he is very much the type to keep on progressing with his racing. He needs to improve, but I think he can get in the mix here.

4.10pm

Timoshenko

This race has been 14 months in the planning for Timoshenko, ever since his Musselburgh win in August last year. Obviously, I didn’t have a straightforward decision to make as Land Of Oz is clearly a very progressive 3yo who will like the cut in the ground, and he could still be a fair bit better than his mark, but he has had a hard, long summer, and he probably isn’t ideally drawn in 30 of 31, either. As I said, Timoshenko has been targeted at this race and he comes here having been in serious order at home. I know he is stepping down in trip after winning over 2m5f at Goodwood last time but that is a stop-start track, and I think the more even test of 2m2f around here will suit him just as well, if not better. He went up 5lb for that Goodwood win, but that doesn’t concern me too much given Sir Mark has chosen his path here carefully. You have to respect Buildmeupbuttercup, but the one I quite like of the opposition is Sneaky Getaway.

"There's not better man than Sir Mark to produce a horse on the day," says @Luke_Morris88 after victory aboard Timoshenko in our opener #QGF #GloriousGoodwood pic.twitter.com/2YKsPUTBtK

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2019

NEWMARKET

7.00pm

Albanita

She has been running consistently well without quite getting her head in front this season, but the handicapper has been slowly cutting her some slack.  She ran over 1m2f at Bath last time but I think you can argue that her best race this season came over this sort of trip in first-time cheekpieces at Lingfield in August, and that headgear is back on now. She clearly doesn’t have too many secrets from the handicapper and has been tricky to win with, but she hopefully won’t be far away if running her race.

7.30pm

Belle Rousse

She obviously hasn’t shown too much to date, but she should definitely appreciate the step up in trip. However, her future probably lies in handicaps next season when she has strengthened up and matured and can race over even further, as her dam was a thorough stayer, winning over 2m for the stable.

8.00pm

Jack D’Or

This is the first time I have ridden him but he looks to come here with a fair chance after his win at Kempton last time. The handicapper has put him up 2lb for that maiden success, but his earlier handicap form suggests he will be competitive in here in a race that may not take too much winning.