The class 2 handicap at Goodwood (2.50pm) features the unbeaten Aldaary, who was very impressive at Ascot on his reappearance and is rightly a warm favourite, but at the prices it is worth taking him on with Soundslikethunder.
Richard Hannon’s Night Of Thunder colt showed a good attitude when winning on his reappearance at Doncaster in March and was only beaten a head in novice company at Newbury last time, travelling best but just failing against a filly in receipt of 11lbs.
He turns around quickly relatively here, but that suggests he has bounced out of that latest run and it is interesting that he is the sole representative here in a race in which his yard have done exceptionally well in recent seasons. They won the race in 2019 (when it was last run) with Beat Le Bon winning off 94 and reaching a mark of 110. Oh This Is Us scored in 2016 off 86 and also reached 110 the following season, while Hannon also provided the narrowly-beaten runners-up in 2018 and 2015, both off featherweights. In short, it is a race he targets with progressive, well-handicapped sorts – he also provided a close third in 2014 and the runner-up in 2013.
Including the 3lbs claim of Thore Hammer Hansen, Soundslikethunder is running off just 8st 3lbs today. He has the physical scope to progress, it is reasonable to expect further improvement after just three starts, and he looks overpriced at 12-1 to give his yard a third win in the past five runnings.
2.50pm Goodwood – 1pt each-way Soundslikethunder @ 12-1 (Bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair, Skybet, Boylesports)
