Goodwood Tip: Maze

The 5.25 at Goodwood is destined to be a burn up, there are at least four proven front-runners and with a field of 17 no one will get a soft lead. Big sprint handicaps at Goodwood tend to favour horses held up. The downhill start lets the speed horses free wheel before getting caught out on the rising ground at the finish.

Of the hold up horses Maze looks the most attractive option. Once rated in the 100s, he was a precocious juvenile. Things didn’t quite go to plan and he spent three years in the doldrums, struggling off a ludicrously high mark. Since moving to Tony Carroll last summer he is back on the upgrade.

Racing over sprint trips he has improved his performances but it was at Salisbury the trainer found the key. Dropped to five furlongs for the first time in his career, he overcame a tardy start to run out a comfortable winner.

Normally a prominent racer, the switch to more patient tactics have suited the horse. With proven stamina a searing gallop over five furlongs will play into his hands.

David Probert takes the ride, another positive as the jockey is 5-28 at Goodwood on older horses, an 18% strike rate. Proof he rides the tricky course well.

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