Dave Nevison's Friday tips: three worth backing

Moulin Booj is back over 5 furlongs and slightly lowered back in grade, and with a decent draw this time, all the signs are that he can return to winning form. George Scott has his yard in cracking form and had 3 winners on the spin in the last week of April, and this 5yo is a couple of pounds lower on turf than he has been racing off on the all-weather. Moulin Booj was consistent all last season on turf and won off 80 at Windsor, and I don’t think his mark will stop him. It could be significant that Scott has never sent him north before, so he clearly thinks this race is worth travelling for. 

Tommie Jakes got on well with Toca Madera last time out and his 5lb claim will be very valuable in this tight sprint handicap. Jakes was on board when the Meehan 4yo reappeared at the Craven meeting, finishing second, and he has clearly returned in good form. He runs off the same mark here and it doesn’t look beyond him, whilst he was runner-up in a Group 2 event here as a 2yo and was placed over the course last season, so Goodwood’s tricky nature clearly poses no problem. This looks a decent opportunity. 

I am sticking with James Owen’s recent Irish recruit even though he ran really disappointingly when I backed him on his debut for the crack yard recently. It is possible he didn’t act on the surface at Chelmsford, but it is more likely that he was too fresh and keen and gave himself no chance, so wasn’t persevered with. Sixpack still looks very well handicapped on the best of his Irish form for Johnny Murtagh and, now that he is back on turf and the freshness is hopefully out of him, I am hoping for a much better show. He drifted like the Kon-Tiki in the market before that latest run so a more positive show might well be a strong indicator.