The penultimate day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting headlines the racing action on Friday when another set of great races take place at the Sussex track on a day where the weather might play more of a part than we would like.
Among the excellent races on show at the meeting is the Qatar Stakes. We’ve picked out a bet in that race but there is also an excellent handicap which precedes that and we have a selection in that one as well.
3.00 Goodwood
Preview
Always one of the best handicaps of the season, the Golden Mile has attracted a maximum field of 20 and is full of quality. This has long been recognised as one of the most draw-biased mile handicaps of the year &, usually, anything drawn in double figures can be instantly dismissed. The favourite is Godolphin’s Path Of Thunder & he has a very nice draw in 3. This 4 year old is improving with form figures this term of 3-2-2-1, winning a Newmarket handicap last time up by 3 lengths & raised only 3lbs here. He’s going to be tough to beat but this is by far his hardest task to date. Magical Morning beat some of this last time out & is another with a chance given his good record at this trip but he’s drawn wider than ideal in 11, whilst Rhoscolyn (drawn 8) & Johan (drawn 2) could go well.
Betting
However, I like the chances of Maydanny who is drawn in 5, likes to go forward & won at this meeting last term. He was withdrawn from the mile & a quarter handicap on Tuesday due to heavy ground so the quicker ground today will suit & personally, I have no issues over this trip given he’s equally adept over a mile or slightly further. At this meeting 12 months ago, he demolished a good field when winning by 5 lengths in a 18 runner handicap. Since then, it’s not quite gone as well albeit he’s twice finished 2nd this term from just 3 starts. 2nd on reappearance at Newmarket, he then disappointed at Royal Ascot before looking like his old self when just under a length behind winner Magical Morning at Sandown. He was drawn very wide that day so did well to grab the lead & finish so close at the line. He’s actually 3lbs lower here & 6lbs better off with the winner so is weighted to turn the tables and must surely go very close here.
Tips
Back Maydanny (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
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3.35 Goodwood
Preview
13 runners head to the start for one of the best races of the week, the 5 furlongs Group 2 Qatar Stakes which sees the great Battaash bidding to get back in the winners enclosure after finishing only 4th in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot. He’s won this race for the last 4 winners so goes off a worthy favourite but that Ascot showed some chinks in his armour & I’d prefer to take him on. Dragon Symbol certainly deserves to win after finishing an unlucky 2nd in his last 3; 2nd in the Group 2 Sandy Lane at Haydock, he was then first past the post in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup before losing it in the stewards room & then was edged out by Starman in one of the highest quality races of the whole year, the Group 1 July Cup. The key issue is whether he’s quick enough now stepping back to the minimum trip. Art Power hasn’t won for a while but is 2 from 3 over 5 furlongs. He should run into a place without being quite good enough.
Betting
I’m going to take a chance on the French raider, Suesa. This 3 year old filly won her first 4 starts, all at Chantilly, including a pair of Group 3 events earlier this term. Her first 2 wins were on heavy but she looked better on slightly better ground when winning by over 3 lengths in both of those Group races on soft & good to soft. She came over to these shores for the Commonwealth Cup & was made the 9/4 favourite but ultimately disappointed in 8th. The ground was heavy that day & I’m sure she’ll be better on different ground whilst she wasn’t drawn well on the far side. She took a hold early doors & probably didn’t get home on the stiff Ascot track but this quicker track & shorter trip should suit here. She has the assistance of William Buick who is the top jockey here this week & should go well, providing the biggest challenge to Battaash.
Tips
Back Suesa (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back her here:
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