Longshadow

Longshadow did better than the bare form of the race suggests in finishing third in the Goodwood Stakes over two miles and five furlongs at Goodwood on Wednesday.

Jason Ward's horse raced really freely through the early stages of the race, and he was keen again when they steadied it down - as they often do at Goodwood - at the top of the hill before they wheeled around the home turn. Given the amount of energy he had to have expended in so doing, he did remarkably well to keep on as well as he did to finish third. Actually, it appeared for a few strides around the furlong pole, as he made progress on the far side and Maid In Rio started to wilt, as if he might go close to winning.

He will do better if he can settle better than he did here and, even though he was beaten just a neck over two miles and five and a half furlongs at Pontefract in April, it may be that a drop back down to two miles or perhaps two and a quarter miles will bring about further improvement. All his best form is on fast ground.

Winner of three of his previous four races, he is progressive anyway now as a stayer, and he will be of interest wherever he goes now. He hails from a relatively small yard, so it may be that he continues to be under-rated.

30th July 2014

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