7:49 Goodwood
A compact Class 4 handicap over the minimum trip at Goodwood on soft ground brings together five three-year-olds, several of whom remain unproven on the surface. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Comic Strip heading the numbers on 60, followed closely by Wedonttelllies on 57 and Saffron Dandy on 56. Recent form is mixed across the field and the lack of soft-ground experience for the majority adds an element of uncertainty to proceedings.
How the race shapes up
With only five runners the pace shape is compact. Comic Strip and Saffron Dandy are both capable of taking a keen hold while Wedonttelllies and Killavia can race prominently from their low draws. Carefree Dream is the one likely to come from further back. The key question is whether the leaders can dictate matters on this soft surface or whether the race will be decided by which horse handles the conditions best in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Comic Strip KTB Selection60/100Comic Strip is a fair 3 year old who has shown useful bits of form this year without quite landing a big one.
- 2Wedonttelllies57/100Wedonttelllies is a fair 3-year-old who has already won over this trip and at this track from his only visit.
- 3Saffron Dandy56/100Saffron Dandy is a fair performer who has won once over this trip from a single attempt but has been below form in three of his last four starts.
- 4Killavia55/100Killavia is a fair 3-year-old who has already won over this 5f trip.
- 5Carefree Dream41/100Modest performer who has won once on soft ground and at this trip.
The contenders
Comic Strip KTB Fit 60/100
Comic Strip is a fair three-year-old who has shown useful bits of form this year without quite landing a big one. He drops back to 5f today having won twice at the trip earlier in his career. The Crisford yard continue in solid form at Goodwood with an 18 percent strike rate and Jack Mitchell takes the ride. He is unproven on soft ground and this is his first run at the track. The KTB Fit Score of 60 marks him out as the top-rated in the race and he arrives as the selection.
Wedonttelllies KTB Fit 57/100
Wedonttelllies is a fair 3-year-old who has already won over this trip and at this track from his only visit. He showed his best form when landing a similar race here in June before running poorly at Newmarket last time out. The Hughes stable and Finley Marsh both have modest strike rates at Goodwood while he remains unproven on soft ground. Dropping in class looks a positive and his course win gives him a clear foothold in the race. The KTB Fit Score of 57 keeps him firmly in the conversation.
Saffron Dandy KTB Fit 56/100
Saffron Dandy is a fair performer who has won once over this trip from a single attempt but has been below form in three of his last four starts. He drops back to 5f having looked stretched at 6f last time and is unproven on soft ground. The Hannon yard’s modest 10 percent strike rate at Goodwood is offset by Joe Leavy’s solid 15 percent record here from limited rides. His KTB Fit Score of 56 leaves him only a touch behind the selection and he cannot be ruled out if the return to the minimum trip sparks a revival.
The rest of the field
KillaviaKTB Fit 55/100
Killavia is a fair 3-year-old who has already won over this 5f trip. He showed useful form when third at this track on his penultimate start last season though he ran poorly on his final two outings. The yard and jockey both have modest strike rates here and he is unproven on soft ground.
Carefree DreamKTB Fit 41/100
Carefree Dream is a modest performer who has won once on soft ground and at this trip. He ran poorly when tried here as a 2yo and the yard's modest record at Goodwood offers little encouragement. The jockey has no previous course experience and he steps up in class.
KTB verdict
Comic Strip is the KTB Selection. He is a fair three-year-old who has shown useful bits of form this year, drops back to a trip at which he has won twice, and represents a yard that continues in solid form at Goodwood. The unproven soft-ground element is the main reservation but the KTB Fit Score of 60 still puts him on top. Wedonttelllies is the obvious danger on the back of his course win over the trip while Saffron Dandy could improve dropped back to 5f.
KTB Selection Comic Strip
This is the narrative read of the 7:49 Goodwood. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Goodwood racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course-and-distance winning form?
Wedonttelllies has won here over 5f from his only visit to the track.
Who is unproven on soft ground?
Comic Strip, Wedonttelllies, Saffron Dandy and Killavia have no runs on soft ground.
Which runner has previous soft-ground winning form?
Carefree Dream has one win from one run on soft ground.
What is the trainer strike rate at Goodwood for the yard of the selection?
Simon & Ed Crisford have an 18 percent strike rate at Goodwood.
Which jockey has the strongest course record among the principals?
Joe Leavy has a 15 percent strike rate at Goodwood from 34 rides.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies