Dark Trooper to storm home at Goodwood

Dark Trooper showed some very progressive handicap form last season and has come back better than ever this term. After a stint in the Middle East in the winter he won back in Europe at Saint Cloud in May before then finishing an excellent 2nd of 25 in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot. Dark Trooper travelled powerfully through the race that day and was only beaten but a pattern class performer in the end. Only 4 years old, there could well be a lot more to come from Dark Trooper and today's race looks to have the ideal set up for him. Dark Trooper rates a 4 star each way Pick.

Since making a winning debut at Haydock last season Purosangue has been exclusively campaigned in pattern class races and has won a listed race and finished 2nd on 4 occasions in listed or group 3 company, so he certainly has the class to go close in today's handicap race. Although only 3 years old (3 3-year olds have won the race in the last 9 years) and perhaps not having some experience in the hustle and bustle of a big handicap, he does get a handy 4lbs weight allowance from his older rivals and is 4lb well in from his revised mark, with Oisin Murphy booked to ride, a big run looks on the cards. Purosangue rates a 4 star each way Pick.