It’s the midsummer horse racing event of the season. Glorious Goodwood is back, with five days of incredible racing on the Sussex Downs. Today it’s the Stewards’ Cup as the sprinters, once again, take their turn to thunder down the hill on the Sussex Downs. So don your Panama’s and let’s go racing.
Glorious Ghost
1:50 – Glorious Stakes (Group Three) – Phantom Flight @ 11/4 (BetVictor)
A small contest, with plenty of tactics. But, due to the lack of firm ground performers I settle with Phantom Flight. He’s the only horse with firm ground form, and beat Al Aasy on it too. Aimeric also acts on good ground but has never won it and neither Lion’s Pride nor Relentless Voyager have either. Ground preference is crucial, particularly when five horses are separated by a point in the market.
Fair Weather
2:25 – Summer Handicap – Fairbanks @ 3/1 (General)
Fairbanks has come alive this season in handicaps. Two wins and a second in five runs shows how consistent he is. If you add on his sixth start, a one-and-a-half mile handicap on firm ground make it three wins. He’s consistently on the upgrade and, despite a six pound rise, shows great promise stepping up to a mile-and-six.
Charlie Johnston has only managed one winner at Goodwood this week, with Arisaig in a class three fillies handicap. However, if he wants to carry on his father’s tradition of winning big handicaps at Goodwood this is his last chance. He has two in this race, and I favour what the market determine as his weaker horse, Knightswood. He won twice last season, including once on firm ground. He’s dropped a pound after finishing fourth to Fairbanks at Newmarket, but his weight in the race in near the bottom, which makes him competitive at 12/1 (William Hill, BetVictor).
Course Choir
3:00 – Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group Two) – Caius Chorister @ 100/30 (William Hill)
Two years ago, Caius Chorister sent punters flying when she won five-in-a-row, culminating in a handicap at Goodwood. She then went and finished second in a Melrose at York, but since then she’s morphed herself into an underestimated, staying filly. Dropping well back to 14 furlongs will suit her better than the marathon trip of two-and-half miles, and she has firm ground which she loves. That win in 2022 at the Glorious meeting also gives her another positive.
Grateful only had one race as a two-year-old, but has had three wins at three, including a Group Three over the distance. Her pedigree is astonishing. By Galileo and out of a six time Group One winner Tepin, who won the Queen Anne, Woodbine Mile and Breeders’ Cup mile, she has some expectation. To see her priced at 10/1 (William Hill, BetVictor, Boylesports) is frankly an insult to her bloodline.
Goodwood Gallop
3:35 – Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) – Purosangue @ 11/2 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports)
Purosangue is made for this race. He’s won on firm ground before, and Andrew Balding has experience of winning the race with a three-year-old before. He ran a great race, just pipped by Makarova at Sandown. He’s handicapped well, despite having a rating of 101. Drawn right in the middle of the track, he has plenty of options to decide where the pace lies. Particularly with Oisin Murphy on board. A brilliant combination.
Lethal Levi came second last time out over seven furlongs, but is a sprinter at heart. He won over six furlongs back in May at Newbury. Since then he’s gone up seven pounds in four runs, which is respectable and reapplies the blinkers again today. He hasn’t won off a mark of 98, but he’s low in the weights and has acts on firm ground. Player at 11/1 (William Hill).
Rumstar came second back in May at Newbury and wasn’t impressive at Royal Ascot this season. He unseated in this race last season, but has won at Goodwood in a nursery on firm ground. So long as he doesn’t trip out of the stalls, he should have a good chance. Particularly when drawn next to a key area of pace. Value at 20/1 (General).
The very best of luck!
