SECURING a profit at Glorious Goodwood is easier said than done, nonetheless backers of the ultra-consistent Beckermet (3.50) seem sure to get a terrific run for their money on the opening day.
Successful in four of his five lower grade starts to date, Roger Fisher's speedy two-year-old has thoroughly earned his crack at the big-time in the Group 2 five-furlong Molecomb Stakes.
Beckermet is due to be partnered by Royston French, formerly based at Newmarket, but now residing in Richmond, North Yorkshire, in order to keep faith with his numerous northern contacts.
French's decision to leave the south means he can easily nip over the A66 to ride out at Fisher's Ulverston base, as well as comfortably travel to the plethora of other trainers in the area from which he regularly picks up a steady stream of mounts.
Beckermet achieved his most recent victory at Chester, where he looked totally awesome by inflicting a two-and-a-half length defeat on Amazin, a useful youngster trained by Richard Hannon.
A repeat of that performance will take him very close today, and there is also the distinct possibility that the Cumbrian juvenile could yet improve a pound or two.
The Godolphin team, doubtless still on cloud nine following Doyen's victory at Ascot on Saturday, have massive strength-in-depth especially amongst their middle-distance horses, a point never better illustrated than by Duke Of Venice's participation in the ABN Amro Stakes.
Duke Of Venice (2.40) ran right away from his rivals in Royal Ascot's Queen's Vase, and with Frankie Dettori once again sure to adopt positive tactics on the three-year-old, it could spark a pillar-to-post triumph for the boys in blue.
Almost certainly due to the sheer competitiveness of the action at the track, race-goers are invariably treated to a series of nail-baiting finishes throughout the course of the five-day fixture.
I don't think the mile-and-three-quarter Tatler Summer Season Handicap will be an exception, although there are three compelling reasons to suggest Mamcazma (4.25) is going to come out on top, albeit by a narrow margin.
For starters the Dave Morris-trained steel grey has been dropped back to a rating of 88, which compares favourably to his 2003 campaign when he manfully toiled off a mark in the mid-to-high nineties for the majority of the season.
Secondly, and equally crucial, Mamcazma shaped as if he was coming right back to his top-drawer form when fourth at York on a slow surface earlier this month. And to complete the triple-whammy of factors with which to bash the bookies, the gelding is far more effective on the fast ground he's now going to encounter, which in conclusion adds up to a rock-solid each-way investment in the £50,000 contest.
Mark Johnston, who normally has at least one winner per day at the festival, is double-handed with Toshi (5.00) and McEldowney for the EBF Maiden Stakes.
The former is marginally preferred on account of some promising homework, however it'll be no surprise if the far more experienced McEldowney confounds that prediction.
Leave the last to What-A-Dancer (5.35), who demonstrated his effectiveness at the Sussex venue when scoring over track and trip last August.
Alan Swinbank's tough miler was unluckily squeezed for room in a Ladies' event at Ascot's weekend King George fixture, a mistake not likely to be repeated by the incomparable Kieren Fallon.
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