Jalmoud can cash in on a significant drop in grade and land the 1m 4f Group 3 Gordon Stakes for three-year-olds on Glorious Goodwood day 3 this Thursday (15:00).
Trainer Charlie Appleby has won the race twice before, including last year with subsequent Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter.
In Jalmoud, he has a New Approach colt that has run some fine races in defeat recently at an even higher level.
He progressed from novice company when making all at Newmarket over 1m 2f at reappearance, then followed-up in a Listed affair at this trip in France.
Although then trailing in last in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, jockey James Doyle didn’t knock Jalmoud about once it was clear he didn’t act on the soft ground, instead easing his mount and allowed the Godolphin owned horse to come home in his own time.
Jalmoud showed that running to be all wrong when a three-length runner-up in a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud over a trip that was too sharp from him.
He was then beaten just 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp at this distance. While Jalmoud didn’t have any extra close home, this is far easier.
It was a fine effort to get so close to the impressive Royal Ascot winner and Epsom Derby third Japan, and the form reads well in the contest of this lower grade affair.
As one of three colts rated 110 in the Gordon Stakes, Jalmoud is the only one not turning out under a penalty.
Now in calmer water, he looks real value at 5/1 with Paddy Power to resume winning ways.
Constantinople more dangerous than Spanish Mission
That penalised pair for previous successes in the grade are Constantinople and Spanish Mission.
The former is trained by Aidan O’Brien and ran a mighty race under topweight when beaten a neck in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Prior to that, Constantinople won a Group 3 over 1m 2f at The Curragh when he looked value for more than the half-a-length winning margin.
The runner-up, Buckhurst, has since gone one better at this level to give that form a solid look.
It was strange to see Constantinople run in a handicap at Royal Ascot as he also held an entry in the Queen’s Vase. That suggests he is regarded as a St Leger contender by connections.
Constantinople tried to give South Pacific 11lb in the King George V, so his narrow defeat was a massive effort in the circumstances.
Now switching back to group company, he is a dangerous 3/1 market leader with Bethard and feared most under Ryan Moore.
Spanish Mission, meanwhile, won the Bahrain Trophy at the Newmarket July Festival for trainer David Simcock.
This progressive Noble Mission colt got 1m 2f on the all-weather as a juvenile and has improved with each outing this term.
After finishing a tenderly handled fifth at Kempton on reappearance, Spanish Mission was chinned close home and went down by a neck to Private Secretary in a Listed affair at Goodwood.
He then stayed on strongly for a ready four-length victory over the re-opposing Nayef Road in this grade last time out.
Spanish Mission now meets the runner-up on 3lb worse terms, yet is less than half the price of that one at 9/2 with William Hill.
Nayef Road each-way value, Leo De Fury could be anything
That makes Nayef Road look each-way value in the Gordon Stakes at 10/1 with Coral.
Mark Johnston’s runner has placed in both the Bahrain Trophy and Queen’s Vase over further, so is a consistent performer at this level.
Nayef Road now drops back in trip to tackle 1m 4f for the first time and that may suit him better. Like Constantinople, he has run well off big weights in handicaps and stamina is assured.
Another plus with Nayef Road is he looks versatile as regards going. The Queen’s Vase was run on soft ground, yet the Bahrain Trophy on good-to-firm.
Taking all that – and the revised terms he meets Spanish Mission off here – into account, Nayef Road doesn’t have as much to find as an official rating of 104 suggests.
Irish-based trainer Jessica Harrington sends the unbeaten Leo De Fury over, meanwhile, and he fits into the could be anything category after two decisive victories.
After easily winning a Curragh maiden on his debut, this Australia colt stayed on strongly to follow-up at Navan.
Leo De Fury won both his races by five lengths, and left the impression stepping up in trip would be no problem.
You can question what he has beaten, but that doesn’t change the fact his displays were quite impressive.
As he doesn’t have an official rating, Leo De Fury is an unknown quantity compared to the opposition in the Gordon Stakes.
Granted further improvement, he is another to consider each-way here at 10/1 with 888Sport.
Coventry form key to Richmond Stakes
In the Group 2 Richmond Stakes for juveniles over 6f earlier on Glorious Goodwood day 3 (14:25), the second, third and fifth home in the Coventry at Royal Ascot all re-oppose.
That means Threat heads the betting at 5/2 with Unibet for trainer Richard Hannon and owners Cheveley Park Stud.
This Footstepsinthesand colt made a winning debit at Newmarket over the minimum trip before getting within half-a-length of Arizona.
Such form sets a clear standard here as Threat stayed on well to snatch the runner-up spot in the final strides.
Guildsman was just a neck behind in third, but the Archie Watson trained, Qatar Racing owned colt had a chance to advertise the form and didn’t.
While he didn’t get the clearest of runs a furlong out, Guildsman was far from disgraced when beaten just over a couple of lengths into fourth in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket.
Granted better luck in-running, odds of 5/1 with BetVictor are value in relation to Threat. Guildsman has less to find on the Coventry form than that price suggests.
There were also excuses for the fifth home at Royal Ascot, Golden Horde. Trained by Clive Cox, the son of Lethal Force was only two lengths behind the winner.
His rider dropped the reins briefly at a key stage of the race, however, and so had to gather Golden Horde together. It could thus be well worth giving him another chance.
At 15/2 with Ladbrokes, Golden Horde looks solid each-way value in a Richmond Stakes renewal where the Coventry form instructs the betting.
Korcho worth a go in Glorious Goodwood day 3 opener
In the 1m 2f Unibet Handicap for three-year-olds which opens proceedings on Glorious Goodwood day 3 (13:50), Korcho looks weighted to go one better than last time out.
The Hughie Morrison trained Toronado colt bolted up by five lengths on his penultimate start at Windsor off 81.
He was then far from disgraced when beaten a length by the re-opposing Walkinthesand in a valuable handicap at the Newmarket July Festival.
A 3lb rise from his 90 rating he raced off that day looks fair, and he now meets the winner on 2lb better terms. It gives Korcho every chance from a handicapping perspective of reversing the form.
At 13/2 with Betfair, he is solid each-way value in a typically wide-open Glorious Goodwood handicap. David Egan now takes over in the saddle, so Korcho looks worth a go.
There are a host of dangers and the aforementioned Newmarket winner Walkinthesand is up 5lb for his length success.
Although 2lb worse off at the weights with Korcho, bookmakers have the Richard Hannon trained colt prominent at 6/1 with William Hill in the market.
Walkinthesand has twice placed at Listed level and found a mile too sharp for him in the Heron Stakes at Sandown.
Topweight proved no problem at headquarters last time out, so he could defy the handicapper and go in again.
