Swing high, swing low

13 April 2012

You would think that recreational drug users have little in common with the connections of the 30 runners in tomorrow's Vodafone Stewards' Cup at Goodwood. Not so.

It appears that both groups will do whatever it takes to get high this weekend, and those concerned with speed rather than weed were intent on securing a position as close as possible to Goodwood's supposedly favoured far rail at Thursday's post position draw.

Their desire to get a high number is based on the fact that 10 of the last 13 winners of this historic handicap were berthed 16 or higher.

Sprint specialist Milton Bradley used a trusted lieutenant to snap up stalls 20 and 24 for Salviati and Brevity.

Willie Musson chose 27 for Ellen's Lad, while David Nicholls was delighted to see his quartet of Hurricane Floyd, Tayif, Awake and Undeterred sited between stalls 16 and 28. Perhaps the high road will triumph again, but in racing it seldom pays to follow the crowd blindly.

Danetime and Harmonic Way both came up the stand side to win this £85,000 prize before making a splash in Pattern company.

Soba and Lochsong did the same, and Border Subject is selected to follow suit from his No2 stall as he bids to confirm his status as just about the most improved sprinter in training.

Trainer Roger Charlton's Selkirk gelding became a costly horse to follow last season but has taken on a new lease of life since being dropped in trip and treated for a breathing problem.

A win in a Windsor minor event paved the way for a most impressive Newmarket handicap success, and at Royal Ascot last time Border Subject looked better than ever when his bold attempt to make every yard was thwarted only in the final furlong by the strong-finishing Capricho in the Wokingham.

With the ante-post favourite Feet So Fast withdrawn because of the ground, the well-handicapped Hurricane Floyd has attracted support, while last year's second and third Halmahera and Undeterred are both back for another crack.

Trace Clip and Doctor Spin also boast stronger credentials than most, but keep faith with Border Subject as he bids to reach a new high.

The Wokingham form has been franked time and again recently. Border Subject can boost it and, in a Stewards' Cup which doesn't seem to have quite so many strong contenders as normal, he's set to end the meeting on a positive note for his supporters.

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Swing high, swing low

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