Tronador entitled to Max respect in Stayers Handicap August 22, 2023 IT QUITE often pays to follow National Hunt trainers in the big staying handicaps on the Flat. Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson regularly win races like the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, and another leading Jumps handler looks to have a big chance of winning the Stayers Handicap (4.10pm) today. [...]
Blue Rose Cen looks Head and shoulders above Nassau rivals August 2, 2023 PANAMA hats, strawberries and cream, and overseas raiders are the three certainties of Glorious Goodwood year-on-year. And despite this year’s persistent rain which has kept ribboned headwear and fruit bowls away, international runners have still hit our shores to try and take a swing at the best we have to offer. However, in this year’s [...]
I spy a soft ground lover in Espionage August 2, 2023 STAMINA will come to the fore at Goodwood on Thursday. The usual sight of sun beating off the rolling Sussex Downs at this time of year has been replaced with grey clouds and lashing rain, and that’s seen track conditions quickly deteriorate. Having started the five-day meeting on the good side of good-to-soft, the going [...]
Emaraaty can leave Alice in wonderland after Richmond August 2, 2023 GOODWOOD was blasted with heavy rain yesterday which will ensure the ground will be testing again this afternoon. That poses a challenge for the two-year-olds lining up in the Group Two Markel Richmond Stakes (2.25pm). Sketch, one of the market leaders, is yet to race on anything slower than good, while plenty of the others [...]
Beckett’s Promoter looks box office in Goodwood opener August 2, 2023 IT’S ANYONE’S guess what the ground will be like ahead of the opening Kincsem Handicap (1.50pm) today, but it’s almost certain that it’s going to be hard work. It looks a very tricky puzzle to solve, but I think I’ve found one who ticks plenty of boxes in the form of PROMOTER. Ralph Beckett is [...]
Profit from Balding’s Bermuda instead of Sussex Stakes duel August 1, 2023 YOU DON’T need a bet in today’s Group One Sussex Stakes (3.35pm) to enjoy what should be a thrilling battle between this season’s top three-year-old, Paddington, and classy four-year-old filly, Inspiral. Earlier in the week, Inspiral made a bit of appeal as an each-way bet-to-nothing at 9/2, but that quickly disappeared and she’s a best-price [...]
Pic Dream to deliver in Oak Tree puzzle August 1, 2023 GROUND conditions are one of the imponderables facing punters at Goodwood today and the going will be testing should the forecast heavy rain arrive, so it looks a day to tread carefully. Finding the winner of a competitive 16-runner Group Three Oak Tree Stakes (2.25pm) doesn’t look a task for the faint hearted and the [...]
Well-bred Amleto holds obvious chance in opener August 1, 2023 BIG-PRICED handicap winners have been a regular occurrence during this year’s Flat season from start to finish. Rebel Territory in the Victoria Cup, Saint Lawrence in the Wokingham Stakes, and Baradar in the International Stakes on Saturday prove the point. However, sometimes a favourite has such an obvious claim that they can’t be ignored, and [...]
Johnston’s charge can finally emerge from the Darkness August 1, 2023 THE seven-furlong World Pool Handicap (5.20pm) at Goodwood today is a tricky race to solve with its large field and numerous choice runners, but it is the perfect opportunity for a World Pool Quinella. URBAN SPRAWL, a classic Charlie Johnston horse, likes Goodwood, having won over course and distance in a similar handicap in May. [...]
Emily Dickinson set to brighten up damp Goodwood July 31, 2023 THERE aren’t many more exciting horses in training than Courage Mon Ami, who managed to win the Group One Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on only his fourth ever racecourse appearance. The son of Frankel took the huge step up in trip in his stride and made it a perfect four from four, sparking memorable [...]