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 [...]
EP: 219 Glorious Goodwood – Thursday August 2, 2023 Glorious Goodwood is the venue for many top races this week, but the much-anticipated Qatar Nassau Stakes on Thursday will, for many, be the highlight of the festival. Brilliant young French trainer Christopher Head runs his very exciting filly Blue Rose Cen in this Group 1 contest and he is our special guest on today’s [...]
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 [...]
Riddiford to Lord it over Goodwood rivals once again July 31, 2023 HORSES for courses is a term often bandied around in racing, but it certainly rings true when it comes to John Quinn’s LORD RIDDIFORD. The eight-year-old, who takes his chance in the opening Coral Handicap (1.40pm), will be bidding to win this race for a third straight year and at the Qatar Goodwood Festival for [...]