Shady McCoy
Shady McCoy did well to finish as close as he did in the seven-furlong handicap at Goodwood on Thursday. Drawn wide, eight of 10, which is rarely an advantage at Goodwood over seven furlongs, and weak in the market, he was restrained early on in behind horses by Silvestre de Sousa.
A little keener than ideal through the early stages of the race, he was stone last of the 10 runners as they straightened up for home. Taken to the outside, it wasn't ideal that the horse immediately in front of him, the 33/1 shot Professor, came under pressure early and couldn't take him further into the race than he did. As a consequence, de Sousa had to take him wide of that rival before they reached the furlong pole. Shady McCoy stayed on well from that point, however. He closed all the way to the line. He was never really going to catch the winner Gossiping, who got a lovely run through the race from stall four and just behind the leaders, and he only finished fourth, but he finished off his race best of all, and he was only beaten a total of a neck for second place.
It was a fine run from Ian Williams' horse in a race that did not pan out for him. He had run well on his previous outing too, in the Victoria Cup at Ascot off the same mark of 89, when he had to make his ground through traffic to finish fourth.
The handicapper left him on his mark of 89, and that is fair. He was rated 91 at the end of last season. This seven furlongs is his trip, and he is versatile regarding ground and course configuration. He goes well at Ascot and he goes well at Newmarket and he goes well at Goodwood. He won a good seven-furlong handicap at Glorious Goodwood last year, and he will be of interest back at that meeting this year, but he will be of interest wherever he goes next. There could be a big seven-furlong handicap in him off this type of mark.
Goodwood, 25th May 2017
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