'We've got him in a very good place' - who has high Summer Handicap hopes?

Saturday: 2.10 Goodwood
Coral Summer Handicap (Class 2) | 1m6f | 3yo+| ITV/RTV

The Coral Summer Handicap is another Glorious Goodwood race in which it has paid to follow Mark Johnston. Four victories since 2015 at odds of 20-1, 11-1, 7-2 and 15-2 are testament to that.

Of his pair this season, the market significantly favours Soapy Stevens over Themaxwecan and that is understandable. Four-year-old Soapy Stevens arrives on a hat-trick and is improving, whereas six-year-old Themaxwecan appears to be regressing with recent form figures of 00400.

Soapy Stevens is vying for favouritism and retains handicapping potential off 3lb higher for his Newmarket success 22 days ago, but this is a tougher challenge and negotiating stall 11 could be tricky for Franny Norton.

Drawn lowest in box one is Gold Maze, who has opened up at long odds but might outperform market expectations. Gold Maze ran in the English and Irish Derbys a couple of years ago for Jessica Harrington but faltered and has now found his level.

The step up to a staying trip for just the second time may prompt a resurgence and his pedigree suggests 1m6f is within his compass.

He never got into things in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot behind the chucked-in Candleford last time, but his stable debut in an earlier course-and-distance handicap when fifth to Juan De Montalban was a promising effort.

Next door to Gold Maze in stall two is Bague D’Or, who is unbeaten since moving up to staying trips. He has done only just enough in two strong races for the grade at Newmarket and Ascot recently and has incurred only a 5lb rise for the two successes.

He goes off 88 and a replication of the Racing Post Rating of 99 he produced at Ascot might even be enough. That is an 11lb differential and the last time a Summer Handicap winner ran to an RPR 11lb or higher than their official rating was in 2013.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Saffie Osborne, rider of Gold Maze
The ground has been really nice at Goodwood this week, while the extra couple of furlongs will help him as well. He ran a really good race first time for us at Ascot, but didn't quite get the run of things at the royal meeting.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Boss Power
He steps back up in trip and goes there with an each-way chance.

George Baker, trainer of Cemhaan
He ran well at Ascot when things didn't pan out for him. He won a nice handicap on Guineas weekend before that and we've got Hollie [Doyle] back on board. We think we've got him in a very good place.

Richard Hughes, trainer of Bascule
He wasn't quick enough jumping his hurdles, so we gave him a break after that campaign and he's as fit as I can get him without having a run, but he's in good form.

Chris Wall, trainer of Bague D'Or
For once, I didn't complain about the 3lb rise he got from his last win. It looks like he'll go and win by a long way, but doesn't. That could be because he's lazy or maybe that's as good as he is. We'll find out and I think he's still progressing. The better quality the race he's in, the better he'll perform. The timing of this race suits and he's got a good cruising speed, so the longer he gets a lead the better for him. He's the exception to the rule that progeny of Belardo seem happier with juice in the ground. He wants it fast and I imagine it will be lively enough.
Reporting by James Burn

Saturday previews:

1.40 Goodwood: 'We've frightened a few people off' – which in-form type might take the beating?

2.45 Goodwood: 'She wasn't far behind Sea La Rosa at Haydock' – Lillie Langtry quotes

3.20 Goodwood: 'We've got the right man on top' – who is keen on their Stewards' Cup runner?

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