Sport

Rely on Rudi's Pet

Step back, breathe deeply and take a fresh view with Rudi's Pet in today's £80,000 Vodafone Stewards' Cup Handicap at Goodwood…

Sat Aug 01 1998 - 01:00

Step back, breathe deeply and take a fresh view with Rudi's Pet in today's £80,000 Vodafone Stewards' Cup Handicap at Goodwood.

Punters have homed in on Nuclear Debate and Surveyor, both progressive three-year-olds, and backed them to head the market for today's 30-runner charge.

Nuclear Debate, trained by Lynda Ramsden, confirmed he is on an upward curve when winning the Gosforth Park Cup in fine style, beating Gay Breeze two and a half lengths.

And John Dunlop's Surveyor went into a host of notebooks after being denied a clear run on his latest start at Newbury, beaten a neck and short-head into third behind Brave Edge.

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It is tempting to go with the flow but this race is going to take some winning and 7 to 1 about either cannot be considered fair value. Rudi's Pet, readily available at 33 to 1, is a much more interesting each-way punt on the day.

A stable companion of Nuclear Debate, he has the credentials to run a big race. Last season, when trained by Richard Hannon, he showed a liking for course and distance, finishing a neck second to Always Alight.

And he went on to win a hot sprint at Doncaster in style, beating Perryston View two and a half lengths. Rudi's Pet has edged down the handicap after making a quiet start for new connections.

But he clearly retains ability, as shown when 12th of 29, not beaten very far, behind Selhurstpark Flyer in the Wokingham Handicap at Ascot.

Rudi's Pet seems to hit form at around this time of year and is drawn in stall five. That is where many of the fancied horses are and could be the area where most pace is injected. He is no folorn hope.

Midnight Line is the sensible choice in the £75,000 Vodafone Nassau Stakes. Henry Cecil's filly finished third to Shahtoush in the Vodafone Oaks, where she seemed to run out of stamina. The only worry is the fact that this is her first run since.

At Thirsk, Spotted Eagle can put up an improved display in the Rocom Group Selling Handicap.

Michael Jarvis will be hoping that Polar Prince can notch his second Group One win of the season in the Grosser Dallmayr Preis over 10 furlongs in Munich tomorrow. The all conquering Bruno Schutz stable rely on the dual classic winning filly Elle Danzig and last year's winner Oxalagu. Kevin Darley rides Italian Group One winner Artan.