Bestofbets Glorious Goodwood Previews – Friday 29th July
13:50 Coral Goodwood Handicap – 2m4½f
An open handicap to kick off proceedings on day four and for those who fancy taking a chance at long odds, then Baasem, who was absent for well over a year before a respectable hurdles run in May, is interesting at 25/1.
He’s back on the same Flat mark of 80 from which he last won in 2019 and the Dr Richard Newland-trained gelding has few miles on the clock for a six-year-old. He could still have more to offer now stepped up to an extreme trip and, although he has that sort of stamina to prove, he might be worth a small each-way play.
Like Baasem, Super Superjack has it to prove at this level but he stays at least 2m1f and may even be capable of pulling out a bit more now going up to a marathon trip. He is on the same mark as when a close third at Salisbury last time and this consistent stayer could make the frame from an unchanged mark of 82.
RESHOUN is a very good staying handicapper who is in the form of his life aged eight. He’s up another 3lb for a career-best win in a Class 2 Newbury handicap last time. He was the runner-up over slightly further than this in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last month, he goes on any ground and he lots going for him.
Solent Gateway is another to prove he gets this far but is nonetheless and confirmed stayer and is respected from this mark, while the consistent-in-defeat Mellow Magic is arguably a little more exposed and could run well without being able to win.
Withhold and Make My Day can both have cases made and are not dismissed lightly.
14:25 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3) – 1m
Berkshire Shadow is a class act who was placed in Listed company last time, having finished less than 2l behind Coroebus in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes the time before. Already a Group 2 winner, it would be no surprise if he gets back to winning ways at this level.
Bayside Boy was just behind Berkshire Shadow in the St James’s Palace Stakes. He had to wait a while to get the breaks that day but he still had time to make more impact than he eventually did, once in the clear. Ryan Moore is booked this time and he enters calculations.
Checkandchallenge has been installed as the pre-race favourite after this Newcastle Listed winner made significant improvement when a close second in a good Sandown Park handicap on his debut in one of those events (1m, good to firm) earlier in the month. He is feared now back in Group company.
However, the value in this race appears more likely to be with ROCCHIGIANI. The son of Time Test has already won in Germany at this level, last year. His last two starts have seen him finish second in the German 2,000 Guineas (Group 2) and Royal Ascot’s Jersey Stakes (7f, good to firm) last month.
Admittedly, he has a few pounds to find if the aforementioned trio run up to their best but this colt is double or even triple the prices of them and at 8/1 he can be backed each-way, particularly if you can find a layer to give you three places.
He looks more than capable of making the first three and could even better that.
15:00 Coral Golden Mile Handicap – 1m
A maximum field of 20 head to post for this and it’s another tricky one. The Turpinator looks interesting after scoring here (7f, good) in a first-time tongue-tie last month. He’s already won over a mile and, given his latest success was a career-best and that the front pair were 3l clear, there could be more to come from him now back up in trip and with a 5lb rise.
Blue For You is another who makes some each-way appeal at a working man’s price. The gelded son of New Approach is still on an upward curve and has run well when finding just one too good in successive York handicaps over 1m (both good to firm), including a week ago. He could prove a big player here at 14/1 and is a small stakes suggestion for each-way players.
Sinjaari won a good Sandown handicap (1m, good to firm) last time, while Jimi Hendrix produced his best performance to date when scoring at Newmarket’s July Festival (1m, good to firm) and he is up just 3lb. He merits respect, along with Montassib and the unbeaten Shining Blue.
However, having put him up and watching him duly oblige on his first run since being gelded, I’m sticking with NOBLE DYNASTY (Nap). A Dubawi gelding, he had endured the unkindest cut prior to that reappearance win and it was the authoritative manner of that 2l defeat of Echo Point that suggests he has very strong claims from 3lb higher (he is due to go up by 6lb).
15:35 King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) – 5f
There’s a fascinating renewal of rivalries here between Mitbaahy and RAASEL and it’s the latter who is taken to just edge it again, much as he did at Sandown Park on Eclipse Day.
The five-year-old has won three of his last four and, initiated by a C&D win in a Class 2 handicap in April. Connections have been careful not to go back to the well too often and they were rewarded with that Group 3 success at the Esher track last time, when James Doyle produced him at the perfect moment to challenge in winning fashion.
He still looked to have a little up his sleeve that day and he is 1lb better off with Mitbaahy this time, so there is no obvious reason why that form should overturned if they both run to their optimum.
Mitbaahy is 2-4 this season and clearly also thriving. If Raasel does not bring his ‘A’ game then the Roger Varian-trained colt looks the most likely to take advantage.
The pink and green colours of Fitri Hay could also be to the fore in this contest as she is double-handed with Khaadem and Equilateral. Again, there is little to choose between this pair, with the Charlie Hills-trained former, who got back to winning ways in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes last time.
Equilateral hails from the same stable and is officially 1lb lower than his ‘box buddy’. That is probably fair enough on recent achievements but his recent Group 2 third in Ireland should not be underestimated.
16:10 L’Omarins Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes (Group 3) – 1m4f
It took a little while for REBEL’S ROMANCE to get back to where he’d been after an absence but, in winning the Listed Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival, the Charlie Appleby-trained gelding showed that he retains all his ability.
Well backed into market leadership that day, he travelled well in a prominent position after an awkward start and won decisively, by 3¾l. Already a Group 2 winner in Meydan at three, this son of Dubawi could not really kick on and make further progress, beginning with this Group 3 contest.
Sir Michael Stoute saddles Regal Reality, who ran with credit in both the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and even more so when a 1½l second to Passion And Glory in the Listed Gala Stakes at Sandown at the beginning of July. He could make further progress now stepping up to this trip and is respected.
The dual Listed winner Fancy Man produced a career-best in a Haydock Class 2 handicap last time. He has been placed several times at Group 3 level and should be involved at the business end.
However, the big danger to the selection could be his stablemate Global Storm, who was outfaced when taking on Yibir at Newmarket last time but still put up a very creditable effort to be third. He looks well worth an each-way play and could be the one for forecast backers.
16:45 Coral Beaten By-A-Length Free Bet Nursery Handicap – 6f
EXPLICIT has won a couple of valuable sellers and ran well behind Star Of Lady M at Musselburgh last time. His best efforts would entitled him to be heavily involved here and he looks too big a price to overlook at 20/1. He looks to be a sporting selection and can be backed wach-way.
Bolt Action has been put in as the favourite and arrives for his nursery debut totally unexposed, having won at Leicester (5f, good) on debut and also run with credit last time in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. There’s no denying that he has more potential than the selection but he will also need improvement to defy this initial mark. He’s the clear market leader.
California Glen is seeking a hat-trick after successes in maiden/novice events at Ripon and Beverley (both 5f, good). Her latest success was a big improvement and she is feared, along with Felix Natalis, who scored at Newbury (6f, good to firm) last week and is very much heading the right way.
Remarkable Force is another of interest at a double-figure price.
17:20 Oliver Brown Handicap – 1m3f
An open handicap to conclude day four and the in-form Caius Chorister attempts to make it a five-timer and will be high on many lists after sluicing up 19l at Epsom Downs on his penultimate start and then by 12l when back there last time (1m4f, good to firm). He has gone up 23lb for those last two successes and is a major player.
Also unexposed, even less so, is the Sir Mark Prescott-trained OMNISCIENT, who has improved with every run this season. Despite being the beaten favourite on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton earlier this month, he made a big step up on that when dotting up in a maiden handicap at Yarmouth (1m2f, good to firm) last week.
He steps up in trip again and the maestro, Sir Mark, can again come up with the good with an improving performer in this type of contest.
Youthful King is a respected hat-trick seeker, having scored at both Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) and Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) on his last two outings. The latter was particularly eyecatching, and for those looking for some each-way value, he looks a tasty proposition at around the 8/1 mark.
Night Of Luxury is another with claims, having won two of his three turf starts. He is up 6lb for the latest of those at Epsom and can’t be ruled out now going up again in trip.
Those preferring a longer-odds play could do worse than Paradias. Alan King’s colt was too bad to be true on soft ground at Haydock last time. If you are prepared to put a line through that, then the form of his Yarmouth success prior to that suggests that, at 14/1, he is overpriced.
