August 01 / 16.10 Goodwood

16.10

Good To Firm

Phase Eight Handicap

  • Prize money: £38655
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 13 runners
ITV
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Phase Eight Handicap

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1232-6 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
The class angle in this field and has earned top weight on handicap debut, having ended his progressive 2yo season with good efforts in a Newmarket Group 2 (7f, good to firm) and Canadian Grade 1 (1m, firm); a likely danger provided he's back in similar form with Listed reappearance under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(6)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Wild Desert

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Charlie Appleby

Raced four times last year, finishing third in the Group 2 Superlative at this meeting (7f, good to firm) and going close in a Canadian Grade 1 (1m, firm) in September; this is his first run since and William Buick rides Morris Dancer, but it will be no surprise to see a big performance.

5/1

6

(3)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

16:00 Newmarket (July)

Wild Desert

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Won well at Haydock and nearly defied a penalty in C&D contest, narrowly failing to collar a bigger-priced stablemate (newcomer); William Buick prefers Saba Desert but this colt retains potential.

8/1

Form: 2-1687 D

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Commenced career with a record of 221 on AW; far from solid on his Listed/Group form on turf since (peak effort may not be reliable) and has something to prove off his mark; gelded since last run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 21-610 D BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Gelded since finishing last when favourite for the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m); had progressive 7f form previously and recorded a wide-margin success at Newmarket (good) the time before, taking record over this trip to 2211; may still have more to offer and remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

30th

10

(7)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Were Goosers

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Yet to run a bad race as the sixth at Newmarket (1m, good) on handicap debut was a close one; back over 7f there and sent off the 4-11 favourite, he romped home by the thick end of 10l to earn today's 11lb higher mark; that rise asks serious questions, but he has the wind in his sails and Oisin Murphy would have had options for this.

9/1

1st

1

(2)

15th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:53 Newmarket

Were Goosers

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Ended 2025 with an AW win over 7f (made most); thoroughly encouraging reappearance here (1m, good) in April on handicap debut, where he looked likely to reward market support but the race slipped from his grasp late on; major chance off the same mark back at 7f.

10/11

Form: 146051 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Back in his comfort zone at Epsom (7f, good) last time, taking Class 4 record to 3-3; sold out of George Boughey's yard for 28,000gns since; returns to deeper waters off a demanding mark; new headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(10)

1st Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

20:42 Epsom

Utmost Good Faith

9st 10lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Won a turf claimer in Ireland and landed two AW handicaps (1m/7f) for current connections at the start of 2026; has found life harder since but in some good 3yo only races and latest fifth of ten at Sandown (7f, good) in this headgear combination was creditable; respected taking on his elders.

5/1

5th

3

(3)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Sandown

Utmost Good Faith

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Won a turf claimer in Ireland and has added two AW handicaps (1m/7f) for current connections; however, has failed to beat a rival in his last three races and a tongue-tie joins his regular hood; risky.

20/1

Form: -17906 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 11lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Campaigned over shorter this term, posting a useful AW win on reappearance and not disgraced at Newmarket most recently; showed respectable 7f form as a 2yo, including a good effort in the maiden on this card and a success at Chester; still fairly unexposed over this distance; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(5)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Ghost Mode

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Andrew Balding

Emphatic winner of handicap debut on Southwell AW (6f) in March; found Group 3 and Listed races too daunting on next two starts and he made only modest late headway into mid-division over 5f at Royal Ascot (40-1; without regular hood, as today); return to 6f should suit but the same applies to others from that race.

22/1

14th

8

(13)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Ghost Mode

9st 1lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Andrew Balding

Useful 2yo and took his form to a new level with an emphatic win at Southwell (6f, AW) in March; a refusal to settle has compromised him in Group 3/Listed events on his last two starts but this mark is surely in range judged on that Southwell win and he is interesting now dropped to 5f for the first time; hooded every time except today.

20/1

Form: 48-961 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won on the nod at Doncaster (good to firm) last time, looking suited by the step up to 7f and bouncing back to form; unexposed over this trip and may remain competitive, provided he takes to first-time cheekpieces (faced difficult task in blinkers once).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(5)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 3

18:45 Doncaster

Egoli

9st 6lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Ralph Beckett

Highly tried after winning a York maiden (6f, good to firm) and a Newbury novice (6f, good) last season; gelded in November; disappointing this season; first run at 7f.

10/1

6th

5

(3)

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:37 Salisbury

Egoli

9st 4lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Highly tried last term after novice success; never figured in Windsor handicap on reappearance but may fare better with the outing under his belt; check the betting.

10/1

Form: 3-3811 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Took a while to hit the target but he had some notable maiden form, including at this meeting last year, and now bids for a hat-trick after wins under Jack Nicholls at Pontefract (6f, good to soft) and Catterick (7f handicap; good to firm); further improvement is not out of the question; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(4)

15th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

16:10 Catterick

Naval Light

9st 5lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Wore down a next-time-out winner (pair clear) late on when making it seventh time lucky in 6f Pontefract maiden (good to soft) under Jack Nicholls eight weeks ago; will be equally as effective back at 7f and can be made to look well treated on a few of his runs.

5/2

1st

2

(1)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Pontefract

Naval Light

9st 7lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

He has been expensive to follow thus far but he has been consistent in terms of his RPR and this is easier than the Newmarket handicap he contested three weeks ago; cheekpieces experiment quickly aborted; well drawn and he holds strong claims.

4/6

Form: 1-5531 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Versatile sort who held on narrowly from Proud Nation over 7f at Newmarket (good to firm) most recently, adding to his 2yo sprint wins and taking record to 3-7; ran creditably over C&D in May; solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(3)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Newmarket (July)

Ironwill

9st 4lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

2-3 in 2yo campaign and took a step forward from his first two runs of this season when third at Sandown (7f, good) three weeks ago; could do with settling better but he might not be far away.

6/1

3rd

7

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Sandown

Ironwill

9st 2lb

J: J F Egan

T: Stuart Williams

Won two minor sprints last year but fairly well held in 6f/7f good-ground handicaps this term and has only dropped 4lb; others appeal more, especially over this stiff 7f.

7/1

Form: 21-352 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage colt who registered his 2yo success in York maiden and has posted two sound efforts since handicapping, beaten narrowly by Ironwill at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) latest; may do better still; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Newmarket (July)

Proud Nation

9st 5lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Plenty of promise on his first three starts, winning a maiden at York (7f, good) last September on his second outing, and things didn't go his way when fifth of nine on handicap debut at Chester (7.5f, good to soft) three weeks ago; unexposed and could build on that latest performance today.

5/1

5th

7

(4)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:10 Chester

Proud Nation

8st 12lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Odds-on when going close on his July debut and he wasted no time getting off the mark at York (also 7f, good; made all) in September on his second start; extended mile possibly stretched him when last of three at Hamilton on last month's return and he still carries potential into this handicap debut; considered.

12/1

Form: -31127 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Broadly progressive gelding who has form figures of 11127 in turf handicaps, the latest effort best forgiven (met trouble); ran well in competitive field over C&D the time before; still 9lb above last winning mark but Harry Vigors takes off a useful 5lb; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(7)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:10 Chester

Startled

8st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Richard Hughes

Made it 3-3 in turf handicaps when overcoming trouble to win a shade cosily at York in May and it was a good second of 17 in valuable event at Goodwood (also 7f, good) ten days later; still progressing and he holds leading claims again.

4/1

2nd

15

(5)

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:25 Goodwood

Startled

8st 5lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Richard Hughes

Overcame trouble to win a shade cosily under Saffie Osborne at York (7f, good) last week, taking his record in turf handicaps to 3-3 and record since upped to 7f to 2-2; may well show further progress and defy another rise in the weights; respected.

5/1

Form: 5121 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Prevailed narrowly in small field upped to 7f at Newmarket (good to firm) last time, taking record to 2-4; goes into deeper waters but remains unexposed, particularly at this distance; wears first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 075114 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 114, all at Chester (6f and around 7f), since being gelded (maiden previously); not disgraced last time but has something to prove off the same mark switched to a different venue and upped in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 4

15:18 Chester

Start Me Up

9st 6lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Richard Spencer

Improved form since being gelded and he made it 2-2 at Chester when completing a double in a 7f handicap (good) two weeks ago; up another 4lb but he finished well to beat a clear second last time and is open to more progress at this new trip; big player.

2/1

1st

8

(4)

27th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 3

16:10 Chester

Start Me Up

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Richard Spencer

First run since being gelded when off the mark in 6f handicap here (soft) 15 days ago; led late on in a style which suggests he should be as effective back at 7f and the Richard Spencer stable continues in excellent form.

7/2

Form: 218871 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Appears to have his limitations, being 2-2 in Class 5 but 0-5 in higher grades; gained the latest success at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) last week; opposed from 6lb out of the weights in this markedly better race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Betting Forcast

6/1 Wild Desert, 14/1 Aqpan, 7/2 Were Goosers, 16/1 Utmost Good Faith, 7/1 Ghost Mode, 10/1 Egoli, 7/1 Naval Light, 12/1 Ironwill, 14/1 Proud Nation, 8/1 Startled, 12/1 Marengo Storm, 20/1 Start Me Up, 25/1 Ay Up Duck

Verdict

Being 2-2 since partnered by Jack Nicholls and a contender who has Glorious Goodwood form, NAVAL LIGHT may well show further progress and complete a hat-trick. Ghost Mode, who ran well on this card 12 months ago and looks interesting back over 7f, is second pick ahead of We're Goosers who remains of interest despite flopping at Royal Ascot. Wild Desert is a classy handicap debutant, while several others also have possibilities in a typically competitive race of its type.[Steve Boow]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Proud Nation

POSTDATA:

Ghost Mode

SPOTLIGHT:

Naval Light

LAMBOURN:

Marengo Storm