Rakaan has shaping well lately and looks overpriced at 33/1 off a good handicap mark in the 2.45 at Goodwood.
Jamie Osborne’s gelding isn’t the easiest to win with, with his last win coming during a good spell in Dubai last year.
He finished an excellent close up fourth to the classy City Style at Meydan before landing a handicap at the same venue in good style by 1 1/2 lengths.
The five-year-old started life back in handicap company in this country off a mark of 101 after those efforts and didn’t sparkle in his first three runs this season.
However his handicap mark plummeted as a result, and his last two runs off today’s mark of 90 have been far more promising.
He ran a stormer when slowly away and coming from way off the pace to finish a never nearer 5th of 18 to The Confessor (beaten just over 4 lengths) over course and distance earlier in the month and now meets the winner on 4lb better terms.
Given how the race panned out that gives him a chance of turning around the placings, and he also meets the third home in that contest, Ducal, on 2lb better terms.
He then put uup another eye-catching effort last time out at Newmarket when finishing 8th of 14 to Emilio Largo, making good headway from the rear before being unable to find an extra in the closing stages and being beaten just 2 1/12 lengths.
Those runs suggest that he is now weighted to go in again, and although he has a wdie draw to overcome it may not be such a hindrance given his run style.
He obviously needs everything to drop right for him, but it’s interesting that connections are now fitting him with cheek-pieces for the first time and from the foot of the weights I can see him running far better than his odds suggest.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Rakaan (33/1 bet365 – BOG)