Small Fry
The two Joseph O'Brien horses, Aeronautic and Small Fry, can both be marked up on the bare form of their respective runs in the opening contest at Goodwood on Saturday, the one-mile-six-furlong handicap, both were victims of the vagaries of the track, both conceding good positions just behind the pace and towards the inside before getting caught in traffic and having to wait for gaps, which came too late. This was the second race in the last few weeks in which Small Fry could be marked up. He raced in third place early on here, he travelled well for Oisin Murphy, but he got caught in a bit of a cul de sac in behind weakening horses at the three furlong pole and, moved towards the outside and conceding ground and places, he stayed on well towards the near side to take second place behind Hopewell Rock, to whom he conceded first run.
He had run a big race in the Ascot Stakes on his previous run, a race from which the runner-up, his stable companion Defiantly, came out and won the Goodwood Handicap off a 4lb higher mark. He didn't have a great run through that race either, he had to make his ground from the rear in a race in which the pace held up well. He was 17th three furlongs out in the Ascot Stakes, and he was still only 12th two furlongs out. The first two home were both prominent from early and the first four home were second, first, fourth and fifth two furlongs out. He did well to get as close as he got. He stays two and a half miles, so, even though he won three times for Gary and Josh Moore over a mile and a half, he did well to run as well as he did on Saturday, over a mile and six furlongs. He will be of interest wherever he goes now, and he will be of particular interest when he steps back up in trip. He could be a horse for a Cesarewitch, either Irish or English.
Goodwood, 1st August 2026
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