A mix of good and good to firm ground for the bumper eight-race card for the start of Glorious Goodwood.
1.50 Goodwood
My two against the field in the opening 10f handicap are Bell Rock and CARADOC with preference for the latter who gets the each way vote for Ed Walker and Richard Kingscote.
The selection finished behind market leader Just Fine and Brilliant Light in the John Smith’s Cup at York last time but was constantly denied a run inside the final couple of furlongs and has been dropped a couple of pounds for the run. I think he can reverse the form granted a clear run although we know there will be a number of hard luck stories on the Sussex Downs this week.
The 7-y-old is on a long losing run but has finished runner up in his two starts at the track including back in the spring when behind Moktasaab who reopposes on 7lbs worse terms.
Bell Rock finished third in the corresponding race back in 2020 from a 1lb higher mark and Harry Davies takes off a valuable 5lbs this afternoon. That is his only start to date at today’s 10f trip – a non-runner on account of the ground in the corresponding race 12 months ago -and he stayed on all the way to the line behind Maydanny. Andrew Balding loves having winners at his local track and Bell Rock looks primed to run a big race.
Recommendation: Caradoc EW 7/1 with William Hill 7 places or 8/1 with Coral 5 places
3.00 Goodwood
The Lennox Stakes is one of my favourite races of the meeting and it would be wonderful to see Sir Dancealot win the race for a third time. He missed the whole of 2021 but showed promise for his new yard when runner up at Pontefract over 6f last time. He has his optimum conditions this afternoon and at 50/1 with Bet365 he must be worth a little each way interest.
The filly Sacred is a worthy market leader having been beaten a length in the G1 Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot last month, but she has a moderate draw to overcome in stall nine and may need luck in running given her style of racing. Over a straight seven furlongs she would be a good thing, but this is her first run around a bend, and she is short enough in what is a cracking renewal of this G2 contest.
The last three-year-old to win the prize was Garswood back in 2013 but I do feel LUSAIL has strong claims for Richard Hannon. The colt has finished in the frame in his last couple of starts in Group 1 company and would surely have taken his place in the Sussex Stakes tomorrow were it not for the presence of a certain Baeed.
The selection tried to make all in the St James’s Palace Stakes on his penultimate start but Pogo is likely to forward from stall four and I hope Pat Dobbs does not get embroiled in a battle for the lead. I will be disappointed if he doesn’t run a big race from stall two.
Recommendation: Lusail EW at 9/2 with William Hill 4 places or 5s with Bet365 3 places
3.35 Goodwood
The feature race is the Goodwood Cup,and it is a magnificent renewal of this famous 2m Group 1 contest. This drop in trip should suit Kyprios more than STRADIVARIUS but I do hope to see the brilliant 8-y-old gain a fifth Goodwood Cup. Andrea Atzeni, who is unbeaten in three rides on the horse, takes over in the saddle and I think he can reverse Ascot Gold Cup form with the winner granted a clear run.
Stradivarius is unbeaten at Goodwood given he missed last year’s race when Trueshan won on soft ground. The latter put up one of the great weight carrying performances when winning the Northumberland Plate last time on tapeta but he does need some ease in the ground to be at his very best.
There is the prospect of a shower overnight but nothing significant and the gelding has been taken out of four races at the 11th hour due to the ground in the last 12 months. I would be surprised if he faced the starter.
I hope I am not letting my heart rule my head, but it is one last hurrah for the great Stradivarius – and let’s hope the best horse wins.
Recommendation: Stradivarius at 5/2 with William Hill
5.40 Galway
Jon Snow makes his chase debut for Willie Mullins in the 2m 2f Beginners Chaseand the stable wo the corresponding race 12 months ago. He prepped for today’s race by finishing second in a 2m flat handicap at Listowel but is not exactly bred for fences and the vote goes to Joseph O’Brien’s MIDNIGHT RUN.
The 8-y-old fell on his last start over fences but showed his current wellbeing when winning a 12f Ballinrobe maiden on the level just last week. He looked a smart prospect over hurdles and has bits of form over fences which would suggest a Beginners Chase should be well within his grasp.
Recommendation: Midnight Run at 5/4 with 10Bet
8.30 Perth
I am a big fan of Laura Morgan, and she gives FRIARY ROCK a first start over fences in Britain from what looks an attractive mark given he won a Beginners Chase at Wexford over this evening’s 2m 4f trip on good ground.
The selection has struggled since coming to Britain, but his handicap mark has plummeted as a result, and he showed much more like his old self when fourth at Southwell over hurdles last time. He was very well supported on that occasion, and it was noted that he had been treated for ulcers since his previous start.
He has been raised 1lb for that effort and Brian Hughes takes over in the saddle. There was 2s available with Bet365 first thing but that didnt last long and he is a best price of 5/4 at the time of posting.
Recommendation: Friary Rock at 5/4 with Boylesports