The headline action from the Flat this week has been Glorious Goodwood. ITV Racing have broadcast the best races from all five days of the meeting in West Sussex and they’ll be in attendance once again on Saturday as will around 4,000 fans in a test event to see how crowds can be managed at race meetings. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly!
The Stewards’ Cup is the standout race of the day at Goodwood. There are several other handicaps and the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes to enjoy whilst the pick of the action from Newmarket’s Saturday card will also be covered by ITV Racing. To give you the best chance of ending the weekend in profit, we’ve gone through the ITV races and picked out our best bets from them all – and here they are!
1:50 Unibet Stewards’ Sprint Handicap
Highly Sprung each way – 25/1
The first ITV Racing contest of the day is a consolation prize for horses who were not able to make the cut for the Stewards’ Cup. The field is full of experienced horses who are used to competing in this sort of big field contest as well as a selection of progressive three-year-olds. We like the look of two horses, both at similarly appealing each way odds.
Those looking to back experience should consider the very generous 25/1 available about Highly Sprung’s chances. Les Eyre’s seven-year-old comes alive in this type of race and will not give up. If it’s a younger, well treated horse you’re looking for then One Hart could run better than his odds of 25/1 suggest.
2:05 European Bloodstock News British EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap
She’s So Nice to win – 9/4
Just six fillies line up for this nursery handicap which takes place over 6f but it has had some good horses pass through in recent years and hopes are high at the Karl Burke yard that She’s So Nice will kick on to have some real success. We think she will and she’s the one for us in the second race of ITV’s action.
She’s So Nice could only finish second on debut when but still caught the eye so it was no surprise she was backed into favouritism for her run at Newmarket in July. She made sure that connections did not have to wait any longer for a first win as she controlled the contest from start to finish and was a better winner than the bare form suggests. She does have some tough opponents, most notably Famille Rose and Ocean Eyes, but She’s So Nice looks the one the others have to beat.
2:25 Unibet Summer Handicap
Laafy to win – 5/2
There are some very tempting options available throughout the betting markets of the various handicaps on the Goodwood card on Saturday but things are different in the Unibet Summer Handicap. That’s because we have a strong and worthy favourite in the shape of Laafy.
Sir Michael Stoute and connections were broadly happy with what Laafy achieved as a three-year-old but they came to the conclusion that he would be best served by a gelding operation over the winter. That decision reaped instant rewards when Laafy won a strong handicap at Newbury before running well again in narrow defeat in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock. He is expected to be even better when taking the step up to 1m6f and will be tough to stop in the Unibet Summer Handicap.
2:40 It’s Not Rocket Science At MansionBet Handicap
Baashir to win – 9/4
ITV Racing switches back to Newmarket next for the It’s Not Rocket Science At MansionBet Handicap. This 7f contest for three-year-olds will feature seven horses which is less than the organisers initially hoped but connections of Baashir won’t be concerned as it gives their charge a better chance of winning.
Charles Hills has only saddled Baashir twice but he emerged from both runs with real credit and won in convincing style last time out. His win was actually the fastest 7f time on the day’s card at Salisbury confirming suggestions that he could be a smart horse as he continues to improve. Giving him a run in a handicap and keeping him at 7f is an interesting decision from connections and could well pay off with another win.
3:00 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes
Enbihaar to win – 11/10
The Lillie Langtry Stakes is the only Group level race on the card at the final day of Glorious Goodwood so it is undoubtedly a shame that only four horses have been confirmed for the run. Still, the field does include some real quality, even if it will be a surprise to see any of Manuela De Vega, Snow or Cabaletta get the better of last year’s winner, Enbihaar.
John Gosden couldn’t help but be a little disappointed with Enbihaar’s showing on her first outing of the season at Newmarket earlier this month. She lacked the pace to challenge on the day but the soft ground she encountered was against her and most horses are allowed a second chance if failing early on given how strange this season has been. Enbihaar is certainly deserving of another chance and should return to winning ways on ground that received a serious baking on Friday.
3:15 British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes
Katara to win – 9/4
It took Katara three attempts to get her first win under her belt but connections are clearly happy with the progress that she’s made so far. Sir Michael Stoute saw enough in her win in a novice event over 1m3f last time out to take the step up in class to the Listed Chalice Stakes and that’s a slightly risky move that could be rewarded.
That win at Kempton was her second performance of the summer. Those runs and her breeding suggest that the 1m4f trip of this race could bring even more out of her and that the bookies therefore have the correct favourite with Katara a general price of 9/4, which looks solid enough to us.
3:35 Unibet Stewards’ Cup
Lexington Dash each way – 14/1
The Stewards’ Cup is the big handicap of the entire meeting at Glorious Goodwood and is regarded as one of the best betting heats of the summer. Speed will get horses a long way in this 6f sprint but timing, some stamina to hold on when the pressure gets turned on in the closing stages, and a certain amount of luck are all required to land the big prize on offer.
For a long time three-year-olds struggled to make much of an impact in the race but that has changed in recent years and there are some very appealing younger horses in the betting for the 2020 renewal. Lexington Dash is one of those to stand out for an each way bet at 14/1.
Connections took things nice and easily with this son of Siyouni early in the season before entering him in the 17-runner bet365 Handicap in the July Festival at Newmarket. He showed a really likeable attitude and plenty of speed that day, enough to suggest he could be a real player at Goodwood on the sort of firmer ground that should bring the best out of him.
3:50 Gloriously Simple With MansionBet Further Flight Stakes
Withhold to win – 2/1
Withhold has been a good horse for owner Tony Bloom but there is some disappointment that the seven-year-old has never been able to win against anything more than Listed company. He has been given chances to shine again this season but never looked to be doing anything more than making up the numbers in either the Ascot Gold Cup or the Henry II Stakes.
Dropped back down to a Listed race though and he should be much more comfortable. We know Withhold will have not issues with the 1m6f trip of the Further Flight Stakes and the 2/1 available about his chances in a distinctly winnable four-runner race is more than fair.
4:10 Qatar Handicap
Cold Front to win – 9/2
When looking through a handicap to try and pick out a winning bet it’s always worth examining the claims of horses who are making their handicap debut. Doing that in the Qatar Handicap may well provide some profit as Cold Front has every chance of winning at a tempting price of 9/2.
It took this well-bred three-year-old longer than many (including the bookies) thought it would to win but he got off the mark last time out and there is still a suspicion that he could be a very smart performer in the fullness of time. The handicapper is another to have respected Cold Front’s ability but he still looks well treated off a mark of 91 in his first handicap. If he shows his class he could easily prove too good for the rest of the field and he’s our final tip of the day.