David Nicholls has a great record at Goodwood and can enhance it with Selective this afternoon. Pango is capable at this level and, along with Lord Links and the in-form San Antonio, is respected as a live danger. The last named has won his last three races in good style and is proving to be versatile regarding the type of track he acts upon. However, the combination of fast ground and a steep rise in the handicap conspire again him this time and he looks to face a stiff test. Lord Links has gone close on a couple occasions already this term and deserves a change of fortune. He is a previous course winner and should make a bold bid if handling the ground. Similar comments apply to Pango, who won a competitive handicap here last summer. He is only 4lb higher in the weights and cannot confidently be ruled out. However, Selective makes slightly more appeal at the likely prices, as he is very well treated on the pick of his past form. The trip, ground and course pose no problems for the Peter Savill-owned gelding and, with a fair price likely to be available, Selective makes the most appeal for a bit of sport in a tricky race to fathom.
Apex 14-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, held near finish, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Gone'n'dunnett (8-8) at Yarmouth 6f hcp (4) gs.
Flushing Meadows (USA) 7-1 (8-6) Raced centre, chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 8l behind Dowager (8-1) at Yarmouth 6f stk (C2) gd in Sept.
Irony (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 13, 10l behind Flowerdrum (9-1) at Salisbury 1m hcp 0-95 (C) gd in Jun.
Lord Links (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, challenging winner when hampered 1f out, soon switched right, ran on close home, unlucky, 2nd of 14, nk behind Violet Park (9-1) at Lingfield 1m stk (4) gd.
Master Robbie 12-1 (9-3) Towards rear, pushed along 2f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 12, 3l behind Mr Malarkey (8-12) at Thirsk 6f hcp (3) gf.
Mr Lambros 20-1 (8-2) Raced far side, led that group over 4f, ridden and stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 30, 3 1/2l behind Indian Trail (8-6) at Newmarket 6f hcp (2) gf in Apr.
Pango 14-1 (8-3) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, some late headway final 2f, 8th of 19, 6l behind Nashaab (8-7) at York 1m hcp (C1) gd in Oct.
Polar Magic 6-4fav (9-5) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Southwell 7f hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Balavista (9-7) by a nk, 13 ran.
San Antonio 7-1 (9-3) In touch on inside, ridden to lead inside final 2f, ridden out and ran on well final furlong, won at Kempton 1m hcp (4) gd beating Granston (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Selective 6-1 (8-12) In touch when hampered after 100 yards, settled in mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 10l behind Ballast (9-4) at Thirsk 1m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Violet Park 3-1fav (9-7) In touch, led over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, faded, 6th of 9, 2l behind River of Babylon (9-7) at Redcar 7f fll hcp (4) gf.
Aastral Magic 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 11l behind Happy Event (8-13) at Bath 6f nov aut stk (E) gs in Aug.
