4:15 – Goodwood – DISCOVERY FOODS STAKES (HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-105) Soft 1m4f
Cardinal Walter had done little wrong throughout the summer and has run some decent races at this level. He won on easy ground earlier this season and after running well at Goodwood during the Glorious meeting he should put in a good effort today.
Cardinal Walter has run five times this season and won over today’s trip at Haydock in a Class 5 Maiden back in June. He has run three times since then he has contested Class 2 Handicaps on all three starts. His last two runs have been very promising when he finished 3rd at both Goodwood and York. He was slightly unlucky at Goodwood as he was badly hampered after 2 furlongs when the horse in front of him slipped up and was then trapped inside a wall of runners until he was able to get out and run on strongly inside the final furlong. He would have been much closer to the winner given a clearer passage. He was upped in trip to 1 mile 6 furlongs when he contested the Melrose Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting 32 days ago. He again had a rather torturous passage off the final turn but stayed on well again in the final stages although he was probably waited with to long to get to the winner.
The going at Goodwood is Soft and in two runs in Good to Soft Cardinal Walter has won and been placed 3rd. With four of his 6 half siblings winning on Soft ground there is no reason why he should act well enough in the ground today. He has run over 1 mile 4 furlongs three times and has won once and was placed over course and distance on his only run at Goodwood to date. Jamie Spencer rides him again today and in four starts Jamie has won on him once and been placed on his other three runs.
Having decent place form and having won in easier ground along with the decent form he has shown throughout the summer entitles Cardinal Walter to run well today. He was very unlucky the way the race unfolded here two starts back and was probably given too much to do over a longer trip at York last time and definitely looks to have a win in him at this level. He runs in a smaller field today so as long as Spencer can keep him out of trouble he should have a leading chance.
