Dave Massey is back ahead of Day 2 of Glorious Goodwood, giving his leading fancies ahead of another top class day of flat racing.
1.50 Goodwood – 1m4f Handicap
Blue Hercules is worth a look here, a paddock eyecatcher at Royal Ascot in that aforementioned King George V Handicap, I loved him in the paddock; that was all too much for him and he was well beaten, but he was beaten just a neck in a 0-105 at Ascot last time and the handicapper has been very generous with just a 2lb rise. He looks well in here; he isn’t the only one, of course, but he’s another to add some spice to a very tricky opener.
3:00 Goodwood – Oak Tree Stakes
Zanthos is an interesting all-or-nothing one here. She has some of the best 2yo form on offer, having beaten 1000 Guineas fourth The Prettiest Star in the Rockfel at the back end of last year, but two efforts this season have been poor, in truth, and the question of whether she’s trained on or not now has to be asked. However, there are also easy excuses to be found for both those efforts; a mile on good to soft ground at Longchamp first time wouldn’t have suited, and she then looked short of speed dropped back to 6f for the Commonwealth Cup last time (and stall 1 was no help, either.) This looks a more suitable test than either of those; I’d not bother with the each-way, she looks win-or-bust, but on last season’s form she’s a big player here.
4:20 Goodwood – 1m Sussex Stakes
I wonder whether we haven’t given full credit to Ten Bob Tony for winning the Queen Anne last time, it wasn’t a fluke and was merely a progression on his John O Gaunt win the time before, the step up to a mile not only proving no issue but a catalyst for improvement. He looks the each-way value to me in a race that might be a bit more open than the betting suggests.
5:00 Goodwood – Coral Charlton Handicap
Arduis Invicta was one of the paddock picks at York last time and ran a solid race to finish fourth, not getting the best of runs through but stayed on once in the clear; the winner was clearly chucked in, but the third and fifth both ran at York this weekend, the former beaten narrowly and the fifth a winner, plus the sixth also improved on next start so it looks decent form for the grade.
5:35 Goodwood – 7f HKJC World Pool Handicap
I suppose we have to start with Goodwood specialist Rhoscolyn, winner of this in 2023 and has no doubt been laid out for this again, a last-of-five at Hamilton last time not really representative of the form he might be in for this (hampered, and would have been a lot closer). The worry is going to be the ground; he prefers cut, but gets away with good ground, whether he wants it quicker than that is another thing entirely. He’s fared well with the draw, stall 3 fine, and Oisin Murphy has been booked; all the clues are there, so as long as it’s been well-watered for Wednesday, he’s the one to beat.
By Dave Massey
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