WAY TO GO
Head will prove the master of York’s Gimcrack
HEADWAY is fancied to bounce back from a flop at Glorious Goodwood to lift the prestigious Gimcrack Stakes (3.00) at York.
Punters sent William Haggas’s juvenile off at 4-1 for the Group 2 Richmond Stakes on the Sussex Downs, but Headway beat just one horse home behind Barraquero.
However, the rain-softened terrain was to blame for the no-show – Headway had been a different proposition when going under by a head to Rajasinghe in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
That performance came on the back of a three-length score in a Chester maiden and, back on decent ground, Headway can show his true colours.
The upwardly mobile INTELLECT has an attractive profile for the Betfred Melrose Handicap (2.25). After landing a Nottingham maiden at the end of June, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Nathaniel scored by nine lengths in a Newbury handicap over 12 furlongs last month.
The handicapper has had his say with a rise of 12lb, but Intellect has plenty of scope for further improvement and should also thrive for a first chance to tackle a mile and three-quarters.
MONDIALISTE, the winner of the same race two years ago, has excellent claims of a repeat in the Strensall Stakes (1.55) after going under by a nose to Success Days at Group 2 level here four weeks ago.
At Goodwood, LIGHTNING SPEAR should make use of the ease in grade to gain back-to-back triumphs in the Grosvenor Sport Celebration Mile (3.20). Five tries at the highest level since have not borne fruit, but Lightning Spear has made the podium on three occasions and enjoys a class edge.
Having got her career off to a flying start at Kempton at the start of the month, the VERANDAH well-related gets the vote to beat nine rivals for the Grosvenor Sport Prestige Stakes (2.10).
Ultimate Avenue will go off favourite for the Grosvenor Sport Handicap (2.45) but preference is for TRUTH OR DARE.
He stayed on very strongly to beat Noble Peace at the Glorious meeting last time out.