Day 2 of Glorious Goodwood begins with a fillies’ handicap over a trip just shy of 10f. The classic generation have won three of the last four renewals and I think they will hold sway again this afternoon.
Roger Varian’s Waliyak (1.10) finished runner up in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot last month over the straight mile and she is bred to appreciate the additional quarter of a mile. A 3lb higher mark looks fair and the selection has yet to finish out of the first two in four career starts. She was backed into 4/1 in a competitive 15-runner handicap last time and she looks open to significant further improvement. The 9/4 with William Hill looked too big on Tuesday morning and the filly is a best priced 13/8 at Unibet.
Godolphin’s Lake Lucerne and the William Haggas-trained four-year-old Ghaziyah look the main dangers in a cracking opener.
In the two-and-a-half-mile handicap which follows, my two against the field are last year’s second and third Seinesational (1.45) and True Destiny with preference for the former who finished half a length in front of Roger Charlton’s stayer last term and is 4lbs better off this afternoon. The ew selection is 14/1 with bet365 and 11/1 with sponsors Unibet who are offering five places. William Knight’s five-year-old is ridden by last year’s winning jockey Luke Morris and carries just 8st 1lb.
I am a big admirer of Gussie Mac and am prepared to give Significantly (2.45) another chance in the Molecomb Stakes having been just touched off by Roger Teal’s juvenile in the listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown last time. The selection has now finished runner up in all three starts but this flying five furlongs looks sure to suit him down to the ground. He is drawn out on the wing in stall one which is a slight concern but the 9/2 available with William Hill looks a fair price.
The Gp 1 Sussex Stakes is the feature race of the whole meeting and it is, in my opinion, the best race of the flat season so far with a clash of the generations involving the Newmarket and Irish Guineas winners and two very good older horses.
Siskin looked particularly good at the Curragh, but I thought Vatican City would reverse the form with Ger Lyons’ colt next time they met in the immediate aftermath of the race. Vatican City subsequently ran in the Derby for some strange reason but returns to a mile this afternoon. We still do not know if he stayed the trip at Epsom because of the way the race unfolded, and the same sentiment applies to Kameko (3.15) although I believe the latter’s Newmarket Guineas success is the best form on offer.
It is possible that the selection’s best trip going forward will be 10f and this sharp mile may catch him out but he did us a big favour last month and the way he travelled on the Rowley Mile suggested he had the necessary pace for today’s test. Andrew Balding’s colt is well drawn in stall two although I am surprised that owners Qatar Racing have not engaged a pacemaker. At 5/1 with Unibet he gets the ew vote with the Marcus Tregoning trained Mohaather considered the main danger.
There is a cracking 3m handicap chase at Bangor-on-Dee and if Bandsman (2.30) is in the same mood as he was at Uttoxeter last time he will be hard to beat. Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old failed to get home over that additional quarter of a mile last time and he would have been a comfortable winner at today’s distance. A 2lbs rise looks more than fair for that run in the Summer Cup although today’s race looks every bit as competitive. The drying ground is a must and a plus. At 15/8 with Boylesports I would be disappointed if he didnt go very close.
Alan King’s Potterman is unexposed at this 3m trip although it was just a moderate three-runner race that he won over 2m 7f at Worcester last summer.
At Thirsk I must give Glen Force (7.00) another chance to break his maiden tag stepped up to a mile for the first time. The selection was easily brushed aside at Ayr last time but do note the winner – Parent’s Prayer – is entered in a Group 3 at Goodwood later in the week and he can finally end his sequence of placed efforts. He is a best priced 6/5.
King’s Charisma is chasing a hat-trick in the concluding 12f handicap but I thought Camahawk (8.30) ran a very promising race on his handicap debut over 10f and he gave the impression this evening’s additional couple of furlongs would see him in an even better light. Trainer Tim Easterby had a treble at Redcar on Monday including Winter Power who is one to follow if she runs at Goodwood under a penalty later in the week. He is 5/2 (from 3s) with bet365.
For all your racing news go to charliemccann.co.uk and follow me on Twitter @charliesbetting
