Katie Midwinter (31/07/23)
GOODWOOD – TUESDAY
1:40pm – Class 2 Handicap
Current market leader Raasel sets the standard in the opening race of this year’s Glorious Goodwood Festival. The course-and-distance winner finished a decent fourth at Ascot when returning to handicap company recently, travelling well but unable to find daylight in the crucial parts of the race.
Now dropped 1lbs, 7lbs lower rated than when landing a Sandown Group Three last summer, the Michael Appleby-trained contender can be competitive off a mark of 101 with in-form jockey James Doyle in the saddle.
On his best form, Acklam Express has a part to play in this contest. A third-placed finish in last year’s King’s Stand Stakes is the pick of the Nigel Tinkler-trained gelding’s form, and if he is able to reach that level again, he is more than capable of entering the frame at Goodwood.
Prior to a return to handicap company at Hamilton when last seen, Acklam Express had been competing in highly-competitive black-type races that appeared to stretch his capabilities. The softer conditions predicted could be a negative however, as he was declared a non-runner when last set to run on ground with soft in the description, although he did win a Listed race on soft ground as a juvenile.
First-time cheekpieces will be sported by Stuart Williams’ Existent, a five-year-old that has become increasingly difficult to predict. This term he finished fourth in the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock, but was last seen finishing down the field in a handicap.
Rated 6lbs higher than his last winning mark suggests his current rating of 100 is stiff enough and he may struggle to trouble the main protagonists in this field, however he is more than capable of running on to claim a placed finish, and usually represents value.
Dream Composer is a leading contender off a mark of 97, 1lbs higher than when last seen winning at Sandown earlier this month. The James Evans-trained course-and-distance winner enjoys easier underfoot conditions and is one for the shortlist.
Vintage Clarets got the better of Lihou when the pair met at Chester last month, before landing another success at Newcastle. He was last seen finishing third at Ascot off a mark of 95 with 5lbs claimer Connor Planas onboard, a-length ahead of Raasel.
Claimer Callum Hutchinson reunites with the Richard Fahey representative here, taking a useful 3lbs off his racing weight. The in-form son of Ardad has performed well off a similar mark in the past, and will enjoy easier conditions if the forecast rain does arrive..
The aforementioned Lihou often finds one or two rivals better than him in his races, but he has enjoyed four successes this calendar year, and remains on a workable mark of 84.
The David Evans yard has been struggling for winners of late and, whilst the 0% strike rate is a huge concern, the booking of in-form jockey Saffie Osborne, fresh from a treble at Yarmouth on Thursday and a first domestic Group winner aboard Random Harvest on Saturday, is a positive.
John Butler’s charge Designer could run well off a mark of 92. The four-year-old filly performed well in a Listed contest at Bath on her seasonal reappearance in April, finishing a short-distance behind 102-rated Get Ahead, and ahead of now 104-rated Fast Response.
Alligator Alley is 7lbs lower than his last winning mark but isn’t guaranteed to enjoy softer conditions. The inconsistent gelding has been taken out of three races due to unsuitable ground since joining the David O’Meara yard and, despite being well-handicapped on his best form, he is unlikely to show the best of his ability on slower ground if he does line up on Tuesday.
Progressive four-year-old Navello is up 3lbs for a controversial Epsom success last month. A number of stalls opened fractionally late in the frantic 5f dash on Derby day, with many runners left at a disadvantage, and the performances of horses such as Lihou worth forgiving. Yet Navello was a worthy victor and surprising winner, sent off at odds of 25/1, and is capable of putting in another good performance off a mark of 91.
Whenthedealinsdone sports first-time cheekpieces with Oisin Murphy onboard, back off his last winning mark of 90 but needing to bounce back after a disappointing season so far.
Win selection:
Raasel 9/2 – Michael Appleby, James Doyle
Each-way selection:
Lihou 16/1 – David Evans, Saffie Osborne
2:50pm – Chesterfield Cup (Class 2 Handicap)
Unexposed French-bred Millebosc made his handicap turf debut for William Haggas when last seen, on only his second British start since making the switch from Stephanie Nigge’s yard.
Group One-placed as a three-year-old, the gelded son of Le Havre finished third in the 2021 renewal of the Prix du Jockey Club, a-length-and-three-quarters behind winner St Mark’s Basilica. A classy individual, the well-bred five-year-old is an exciting prospect at this level, and could be well in off a mark of 97 if he is able to perform to the level he has shown previously.
Ralph Beckett is in flying form, currently performing at a 30% strike rate, with beaten runners such as Westover putting in tremendous efforts, showcasing the health and wellbeing of the yard’s residents.
The talented trainer saddles 98-rated Lord Protector, a five-year-old gelding who runs off a career-high mark, 4lbs up for his recent Sandown success. There could be more to come from Rossa Ryan’s mount, and he could still be ahead of the handicapper.
Local trainer David Menuisier enjoys saddling winners at Goodwood and is represented by tough filly Caius Chorister in this contest. A mark of 99 appears stiff enough, yet she is a filly on the up and could still be improving. With two promising handicap performances already this season, the daughter of Golden Horn could bounce back following a disappointing Pontefract run, with the drop back to 1m2f and easier ground conditions giving her an opportunity to get back on the right track.
Gleneagles gelding Eagle’s Way enjoyed an unbeaten campaign last term with four successive victories. He has started this season in good order, finishing second to the talented Cumulonimbus at Yarmouth last Thursday, and could come on for the run after a lay-off, putting him in firm contention ahead of his Goodwood assignment.
Eye-catching grey Haunted Dream will need to reverse form with Pride Of America, running off a career-high mark of 98 for Ed Dunlop. The trip will suit the son of Oasis Dream, and he has the ability to pose a threat at a decent each-way price.
Amy Murphy’s Pride Of America has been defying the odds this term and was recently seen landing the John Smith’s Cup at York, beating seventeen rivals to win at odds of 18/1. The six-year-old has three wins to his name this year to date and must now prove himself off a career-high mark of 110.
Course-and-distance winner Moktasaab now runs off a more workable mark of 90, 2lbs higher than his last winning mark. William Knight’s charge ran well in the race twelve months ago to finish third when rated 5lbs higher, and looks an enticing each-way selection at a double-figure price this time around.
Four-year-old colt Ancient Rome is an interesting new recruit for Charles Hills, making his first appearance for the yard since making the switch from André Fabre in France.
A promising juvenile, he recorded a Group Three win in his debut season, before placing in two Group One contests. He failed to fire at the top level as a three-year-old, but did finish fourth in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, finishing two-and-a-quarter-lengths behind winner Modern Games, a head behind former stablemate Tribalist, a recent three-time Group-level winner in France.
Ancient Rome opened this current campaign with a victory at Chantilly, but has since been performing below expectations and now finds himself taking the handicap route on his British debut. The American-bred son of War Front is a classy type and unexposed, making him an intriguing contender in this contest.
The talented Cadillac has switched yards on three occasions since enjoying a promising start to his career at Jessica Harrington’s, placing in a Group Two as a juvenile, before winning a Curragh Group Three as a three-year-old. Now making his debut for Alice Haynes, his hefty burden of top-weight off a mark of 110 is slightly eased with the booking of 5lbs claiming jockey Christian Howarth.
The softer conditions aren’t guaranteed to suit, but Cadillac isn’t one to discount and faith in him will eventually be rewarded. This may be too tough a contest to see him reign victorious, but it’s likely he will win a competitive handicap in the near future, possibly when running on a sounder surface.
Placed in two Group Three contests as a juvenile, and third in the Irish 2000 Guineas as a three-year-old, Imperial Fighter has appeared a shadow of his former self this term, finishing down the field in each of his four runs so far. Gelded following his final run of the season last year, he is yet to prove he has trained on and a first-time hood is applied.
The Kingsclere yard have been enjoying more success of late, and whilst this could allow Imperial Fighter to rediscover some form, he looks unlikely to trouble the main contenders in this competitive field.
Win selection:
Millebosc 5/1 – William Haggas, Tom Marquand
Each-way selection:
Ancient Rome 20/1 – Charles Hills, Jamie Spencer
3:25pm – Vintage Stakes (Group 2)
Iberian, a 200,000gns purchase as a yearling, puts his unbeaten record on the line, making his second appearance following a comfortable debut success at Newbury. An exciting prospect, the juvenile made light work of his opposition on that occasion but, with the form yet to be franked at a higher level, and with plenty of ease in the ground, could he be a favourite worth opposing on Tuesday?
Whilst the unexposed Lope De Vega colt could well show plenty of progression and take a step forward and assert his dominance, there are many others, more exposed types, that could improve enough to threaten the market leader.
Richard Hannon’s Haatem was unfortunate to bump into a potential superstar in the form of City Of Troy when contesting the Superlative Stakes recently. Best of the rest, Haatem finished a six-and-a-half-length second, over three-lengths clear of the rest of the field, to continue his good run of form. He had previously finished a respectable fifth in the Coventry Stakes, prior to his maiden success at Bath.
The Phoenix Of Spain colt copes with softer conditions and this could be a golden opportunity for him to land his first black-type success.
Ballydoyle representative Mountain Bear must bounce back following a disappointing run at Newmarket. He is exposed but represents powerful connections as well as a masterful trainer and it would be no surprise to see him return to the winner’s enclosure.
Thunder Blue is yet to race on ground without firm in the description, and does appear to have a bit to find to beat the likes of Haatem. With question marks surrounding his ability to perform on softer ground, he may be best watched for now, possibly one to consider when down in Grade later on in the season.
An interesting contender is Richard Fahey’s Golden Mind, half-brother to top sprinter Perfect Power, by Galileo Gold. Frankie Dettori takes the ride aboard the juvenile who wasn’t disgraced when third on debut before landing his maiden success at Leicester. Last seen finishing an excellent third in the Chesham Stakes, Golden Mind is up in class but could be a big danger lurking in the field.
Win selection:
Haatem 11/4 – Richard Hannon, Sean Levey
4:00pm – Lennox Stakes (Group 2)
The forecast rain and wet conditions expected at the track on Tuesday could turn the tables in favour of Ralph Beckett-trained course-and-distance winner Kinross in this 7f sprint. A versatile individual, the six-year-old gelding has amassed over £1million in prize money so far in his career, running over different distances in varying ground conditions.
Most effective on a softer surface, conditions should suit at Goodwood, and he is 3lbs clear of the field on ratings. He receives 3lbs from his closest rival on ratings, Al Suhail, the Godolphin representative who narrowly finished ahead of him in fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Charlie Appleby’s aforementioned charge, a son of Dubawi who cost 1,100,000gns as a yearling, must be respected as a dual Group Two winner. However, he does appear inferior to Kinross on best form, and with the weights favouring the market leader, it’s difficult to see him getting the better of his rival unless he underperforms.
Brian Meehan-trained Isaac Shelby is a progressive three-year-old who landed a Group Two as a juvenile. This season he was fortunate to win the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, benefitting from Chaldean’s early unshipping of jockey Frankie Dettori.
Isaac Shelby made light work of the rest of his opponents, and reunites with Sean Levey here. Receiving weight from his elders puts him in with a chance, but this may be too tough a test at this stage in his career against some experienced, hardened sprinters.
Four-year-old gelding Audience is bidding for a hat-trick of wins, fresh from a recent Group Three success at Newmarket. The son of Iffraaj is a force to be reckoned with at his best, but has 6lbs to find with Kinross and isn’t guaranteed to enjoy softer conditions.
Old favourite Pogo’s form doesn’t read quite as well as it once did. The seven-year-old horse is a likeable type who recorded three successes last year, including two Group Three prizes and a Group Two at Newmarket in which he beat Royal Ascot Group One runner-up Sacred. At his best, Pogo is capable of entering calculations at Goodwood, but does have a bit to find to get the better of the likes of Kinross and Audience,
Jumby is another contender who is more than capable of earning a placed-finish if running to the best of his ability, but better ground would give him an advantage, and it’s unlikely he’ll be suited by the going.
A Group Three winner this term, Indestructible beat Dante winner The Foxes to land a debut success for Karl Burke. The Kodiac colt finished fourth in the Prix Jean Prat when dropped back in trip last time out at Deauville, beating the likes of Shouldvebeenaring, Chaldean and Meditate. Kevin Stott’s mount doesn’t have too much to find with fellow three-year-old Isaac Shelby, but may find one or two too better on the day.
Charlie Fellowes’ Marbaan is an interesting contender, but is another who is unlikely to be suited by softer conditions. The colt is a course-and-distance winner, successful at the track in a Group Two last summer, beating Holloway Boy to claim the plaudits.
This season he has been running over a shorter trip of 6f, with the pick of his form a close second in a Listed contest at Salisbury, where he finished ahead of Khaadem and Rohaan.
Completing the line up is Andrew Balding’s Holguin, a Listed winner at Chester when last seen. The softer conditions could bring him into play and, if others struggle on the ground, he could be the best of the three-year-olds in this field. He has been running consistently well throughout his career to date, finishing among the first three past the post in 80% of his races, including two victories.
Win selection:
Kinross 5/4 (NAP) – Ralph Beckett, Frankie Dettori
Each-way selection:
Holguin 18/1 – Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy
4:35pm – Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)
A new line-up is set to contest the prestigious staying race, with the absence of four-time winner Stradivarius, as well as reigning champion Kyprios, and Trueshan.
The market is headed by a horse representing a trainer-jockey partnership that certainly knows how to land the prize, as they have done on many occasions before, in John Gosden, now with son Thady, and Frankie Dettori. The unbeaten Courage Mon Ami is bidding for a fifth successive win, fresh from his first Group One success in the Gold Cup.
The progressive, lightly-raced four-year-old son of Frankel was electrifying at Royal Ascot, unexposed and up in class but comfortable and professional in his performance. He is an exciting prospect that appears the perfect type to pick up the baton left by Stradivarius at Clarehaven, and go on to dominate in these marathon contests. Living up to his name, he has shown plenty of courage so far, and has already beaten many of his opponents at Ascot.
The drop back to 2m could allow the likes of Coltrane to see out the trip more effectively, yet the Andrew Balding-trained gelding must compete with an improving type who has already won in a battle between them.
Coltrane is a horse deserving of a Group One prize, yet so far it has evaded him. Now a six-year-old, it’s difficult to see him improving enough to compete with some of his younger rivals, yet he is a tough horse, and will fight until the end.
Emily Dickinson receives the fillies’ allowance, and will benefit from any rainfall. She ran well at Ascot to finish fourth, bouncing back from a disappointing Leopardstown appearance. A Group Two winner when last seen, the soft ground appeared to suit over 1m6f at the Curragh, and a stiff stamina test is what she requires to be successful.
St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov must improve on his Ascot performance if he is to land a blow on the favourites here. Perhaps the marathon trip tested his stamina capabilities in the Gold Cup, and a drop back to 2m could allow him to be more competitive, but he must improve to reverse form with those ahead of him in the Gold Cup, as well as Yorkshire Cup winner Giavellotto.
Versatile seven-year-old Broome has amassed over £2 million in prize money with many valuable wins, including the Dubai Gold Cup this year. He has proven his staying prowess when stepped up in trip, but may have found the 2m4f a step too far when last seen at Ascot.
A drop back looks certain to suit, and it’s difficult to rule this tough horse out. William Buick takes the ride aboard Aidan O’Brien’s apparent second string, who is level on ratings with market leader Courage Mon Ami.
Win selection:
Courage Mon Ami 9/4 – John & Thady Gosden, Frankie Dettori
GOODWOOD – WEDNESDAY
2:25pm – Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3)
A softer surface will suit the Karl Burke filly, Fast Response, as she searches for her first Group level success. She must reverse form with White Moonlight on Musselburgh form where she gave 3lbs to her older rival, now running off level weights on an easier surface.
The daughter of Fast Company is yet to prove herself over 7f and faces tough opposition in this field, but should give a good account of herself for an in-form yard.
Saeed bin Suroor’s White Moonlight is bidding for a hat-trick of wins and has winning form on ground with soft in the description. She is back up in class following two Listed victories and a placed effort in a Group Two this year.
Jumbly hasn’t been seen over this trip since finishing second in a Newbury Group Three last term for her former owners and trainers. Now based at Carriganóg Racing, the four-year-old filly opened her campaign for Joseph O’Brien with a placed effort in a Group Two, before struggling to see out the trip strongly enough to threaten in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, run over a mile at Royal Ascot.
The drop back to 7f could allow her to use her speed more effectively, and forecast rainfall shouldn’t pose any problems as she has previously won a Listed contest on soft ground.
Three-year-old filly Breege was last seen finishing second to Coppice in the Sandringham Stakes at Ascot. She has little to find on ratings with her elder rivals, receiving the weight-for-age allowance, and could be dangerous if she copes with the step up in open company.
Dream Of Love could only manage seventh in the aforementioned Royal Ascot race, and has plenty to find to reverse form with Breege. She did finish a short-head second to Mawj earlier this year however, and if she is able to perform to that level she may be in with a chance of making the frame.
Cheekpieces are sported once again by Irish-raider Matilda Picotte, who should enjoy significant ease in the ground. Third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Sioux Nation filly makes her first start over 7f.
French-raider Sicilian Defense is a Listed winner this term, last seen finishing fourth in a Group Three at Longchamp.
Last season she finished third in the Group Two Prix de Sandringham, a neck behind runner-up Life In Motion who was just held in the Group One Prix Rothschild on Sunday. If this daughter of Muhaarar is able to perform to the level she has shown in France, she could outrun her huge odds in this very open contest.
American Kestrel finished half-a-length behind Sicilian Defense in the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr last autumn, before making the switch to Ireland and disappointing at Naas.
Now back with David Menuisier, the four-year-old filly has plenty to prove at this level, but was a narrow second to Tribalist at Saint-Cloud last season, the André Fabre colt that is three from three this year, with a Group Two and two Group Three victories to his name.
Win selection:
Jumbly 11/2 – Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Ryan Moore
Each-way selection:
American Kestrel 40/1 – David Menuisier, Christophe Soumillon
3:35pm – Sussex Stakes (Group 1)
Exciting Siyouni colt Paddington is bidding for his seventh consecutive victory, and fourth successive Group One, for Aidan O’Brien. Upped in trip for the Eclipse at Sandown, he battled well to see off the challenge of formidable filly Emily Upjohn and claim the prestigious prize.
Now back over a mile, he is sure to be many punters’ banker of the week, set to continue his rich vein of form and extend his winning run.
A classy individual, he is versatile and has emerged as one of the stars of the season. A big, imposing type, he is an impressive looking, strong three-year-old that will be very difficult to beat.
Inspiral has become difficult to trust of late, failing to see out her races effectively enough when expected to win. Her seasonal reappearance came in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she just failed, beaten by one of the outsiders of the field in Triple Time.
Prior to that she was seen stumbling late out of the stalls on Champions Day, struggling to make an impression after giving her rivals a head start and eventually finishing sixth. The classy filly is a force to be reckoned with on her day, but may find improving youngster Paddington too tough an opponent at Goodwood.
William Haggas’ Aldaary has plenty to find on ratings and form, but will enjoy softer ground conditions which could bring him into play if others struggle.
Win selection:
Paddington 8/15 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
GALWAY
TUESDAY
6:40pm – Premier Handicap
Casanova 16/1 (EW) – Adrian McGuinness, Ronan Whelan
Course-and-distance winner Casanova often threatens to land a big handicap, and is usually available at a big price, making him an enticing each-way selection. He doesn’t appear well in off a mark of 96, without a claimer onboard, but he copes well in softer conditions and could be good enough to make the frame.
WEDNESDAY
6:10pm – Handicap
Hallowed Star 16/1 (EW)– John Joseph Hanlon, Gavin Ryan
This eight-year-old son of Sea The Stars sports first-time cheekpieces at a track he often runs well at. Soft ground should suit, and a mark of 77 could allow him to be competitive in this field.
All runners/prices are correct at the time of publication.
Photo by Mike Kotsch on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 