Tom Stanley's Friday fancies: Birchwood can be a beauty at 33-1

1.50 Goodwood: Lord Yeats

Soft ground is surely a big plus for Lord Yeats and I'm convinced that, given his season to date, were he trained by a Gosden or a Stoute he would be a much shorter price than the 7-1 generally available.

This track is sure to suit his front running style and you had to be impressed with the way he battled back last time to get the better of Second Step. He has a bit to find at the ratings but those at the top have achieved such numbers on quicker ground and, much like Here Comes When in the Sussex, Jedd O'Keeffe's improving four-year-old is about the only runner certain to appreciate conditions underfoot.

2.25 Goodwood: Zainhom

Zainhom has become a frustrating animal but I'm a forgiving sort and there is plenty in his favour on Friday afternoon. Nothing more so than a weakish looking Group Three and Zainhom's sole win came with ease in the ground.

He ran a better race than his finishing position in the Greenham when third behind Barney Roy and Dream Castle. He was hampered early and outpaced at Newbury before disappointing up in trip at Sandown.

This son of Street Cry has a fair bit of knee action and I'm willing to think that he's not at his best on a quick surface, as was the case last time. It's probably a case of last chance for Zainhom but he's been freshened up and looks a generous price at a general 13-2.

3.00 Goodwood: Birchwood

It's not the easiest of puzzles to solve but I have to have a dart (or three) in the Betfred Mile. Said dart is Birchwood for Richard Fahey, a trainer looking for his second big handicap win in as many weeks.

Birchwood was a very good two-year-old, winning the Superlative Stakes before an unlucky run here in Galileo Gold's Vintage Stakes when sent off the 100-30 favourite. His three-year-old campaign was disappointing for all he won a Listed contest at Chester in a first time visor on soft ground.

I was half tempted by him in the Wokingham last time, when the blinkers were tried, but the big positives today are a mark of 102, the return to a mile and soft ground. He's well drawn to get handy and a big old price to boot at 33-1 with BetVictor.

5.15 Goodwood: Me Too Nagasaki

I like the look of Me Too Nagasaki in the last at Goodwood. A step up in trip seemed on the card s after last time but three furlongs is quite that step up!

In fairness he's not guaranteed to get it on pedigree but what he's show on the track is most encouraging and an ability to lay up from stall eight over this mile and a half will be no bad thing. He's a heavy ground winner so the ease in the ground should n0t be a problem and he still looks well treated.