The sizzling summer meeting that is the Glorious Goodwood festival begins on Tuesday as five top quality days of racing gets underway at the Sussex track. The highlight of the opening day of action is the Goodwood Cup where the great Stradivarius will once again be on show. There is also a seriously good undercard and we’re attacking the Tuesday card with three bets.
1.50 Goodwood: Unibet Handicap
Preview
The opening race of the 5-day Glorious Goodwood meeting sees a competitive looking field of 17 go to post for a 10 furlong handicap.
Godolphin saddle the likely favourite in Setting Sail who is running well but has another rise in weights to contend with, this time a 4lb rise after finishing 2nd to Pivoine last time out. Mountain Hunter is the other Godolphin runner who is potentially well handicapped on his Meydan form but there are some question marks as to how strong that form is.
Soto Sizzler loves a downhill track and is dangerous but this trip looks to be on the sharp side. Instead, I’m looking at the form from the 10 furlong handicap held at Sandown over 3 weeks ago. That day Jazeel won on the nod but may struggle to frank the form with the runner up who he faces again today.
Betting
That horse is Beringer who would probably have won in another few strides and he’s now 1lb better off with the winner. He’s a tough improving type who stays 10 furlongs well but has also showed plenty of dash over a mile. This season he opened up with a good looking 3rd in the Lincoln before winning at Newmarket on his next start. He’s had excuses on his next 2 starts (hold up types weren’t favoured at York whilst the ground was against him at Royal Ascot) but he improved and showed his true colours back at Sandown. He’s drawn low enough for it not to hinder and hopefully this big field will guarantee a strong pace. Conditions look ideal and, with bookies paying 5 places, he looks to be a very solid each way bet.
Tips
PLACED AT 10/1 Back Beringer (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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3.00 Goodwood: Qatar Lennox Stakes
Preview
This 7 furlong race has attracted 10 runners and there’s a good prize on offer for the winner of this Group 2.
At the prices, I cannot be having the favourite Zaaki who is in form but steps back in trip and probably won’t have enough speed on this sharp track. Hey Gaman is a better alternative as he’s been in excellent form over this trip.
Betting
However, I’m keeping it simple and siding with last year’s winner Sir Dancealot. Quite simply, he has his conditions. In the last 12 months (since Royal Ascot 2018), he’s raced 11 times. 4 of those have been over this trip and he’s won 3 of those, his only failure being in a Group 1 which is a step too far anyway as all but 1 of his defeats in that time came at the highest level. He also hates extremes of ground too which accounted for his other defeat in that period. Taking a bigger sample, his career has seen him win 6 of his 13 starts over 7 furlongs and just 2 of 15 at other trips whilst he’s 5 from 10 on good or good to soft ground in comparison with 1 of 16 on extremes of going. He’s going to be difficult to keep out of the frame.
Tips
WON – Back Sir Dancealot (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 7.50 888sport BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
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3.35 Goodwood: Goodwood Cup
Preview
The big race of Day 1 is the 2 mile Group 1 Goodwood Cup which has a small but select field of 8 runners.
The race revolves around the staying champ Stradivarius who won the Ascot Gold Cup. His 2 main rivals look to be Cross Counter (4th at Ascot) and Dee Ex Bee (2nd) but we’re not going to get rich backing any of the 3.
Betting
So, I’m looking for something to split the 3 and that comes in the form of Aiden O’Brien’s Southern France. He’s been campaigned over shorter trips and he’s plenty of speed which should help on this track. He was 2nd to Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup 3 starts ago but has since put in 2 average efforts. That said, the race weren’t run to suit on either of those occasions. O’Brien saddles 2 more so I’m sure he’ll try to dictate the pace and set this up for Ryan Moore’s mount. The only worry is whether the rain arrives; if it stays away, I’m expecting a massive run and, although I don’t think he’ll beat the favourite, I do think he could have the measure of the other runners so a bet without Stradivarius is recommended.
Tips
Back Southern France (e/w) in the ‘w/o Stradivarius’ market for a 0.75/10 stake at 10.00 Bet365 ((¼ odds 1-2)
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