Glorious Goodwood is one of the highlights of the flat
season and the five-day meeting begins on ground that was described as good –
good to soft in places – on Monday morning. There was the possibility of light
rain on Monday evening but that is the last of the forecast rain with
temperatures set to soar later in the week.
The classic generation have won the four renewals of the
opening fillies' handicap over a mile and my two against the field are both
three-year-olds Wasaayef and Tomorrow's Dream (1.10) with marginal preference
for the William Haggas-trained filly who has been raised 3lbs for finishing
runner up at Newbury last time. I felt she would have won with a clear passage
on that occasion and Tom Marquand, who was in the saddle when she scored at
Chepstow on her penultimate outing, takes over in the plate.
Wasaayef just failed to give 6lbs to Queen Daenerys at
Newmarket on her final start as a juvenile and that filly is now rated 103.
With that in mind John Gosden's filly, who makes a belated seasonal
reappearance today, could be well treated although she may will get another
couple of furlongs in time.
I hate to desert Cape Cavalli in the following 10f handicap
but a draw in stall 17 is likely to make things very difficult for Simon
Crisford's progressive four-year-old who was so impressive at York last time
from an 8lbs lower mark. The excellent Cieren Fallon takes off a valuable 3lbs
but that draw is a negative.
My two against the field however are top-weight
Walkinthesand – 16/1 with William Hill 6 places – and Fifth Position (1.45)
with preference for the latter who is blinkered for the first time having
finished third in the John Smith's Cup last time at York. His draw in stall 10
is moderate but I have thought he was potentially group class since he beat
Space Blues at Nottingham on his second start last year. The ew selection is
10/1 with Boylesports who are offering five places.
The Lennox Stakes (2.45) is a tremendous race and the form
of Space Blues recent Longchamp win was given a boost by the runner up
stablemate D'bai who was a ready winner at Haydock earlier in the month and he
opposes today. Space Blues must go close but a draw in stall 10 – of 13 – is a
concern and I hope to see duel winner of the race Sir Dancealot (2.45) land the
hat-trick for David Elsworth.
This is, arguably, a better renewal of this prestigious
Group 2 contest than the last couple of years, but Sir Dancealot clearly loves
the track, is well drawn and the drying ground is in his favour. He was posted
out wide with no cover in the July Cup last time, but this is his track and
trip. The ew selection is 13/2 with William Hill who are betting four places.
Stradivarius was visually very impressive in the Ascot Gold
Cup last time but I'm not convinced the champion stayer beat a great deal –
second favourite suffered a career ending injury – and I think he will do well
to give 15lbs and a beating to the recent Irish Derby winner Santiago (3.20) in
the feature Group 1 Goodwood Cup. Nayef Road will appreciate this better ground
over two miles, but it is hard to see him reverse Gold Cup form with
Stradivarius.
Stradivarius has won this corresponding race for the last
three years and was the last three-year-old to win this contest, but Santiago
was an impressive winner of the Queen's Vase prior to his classic success and I
think he can serve it up to the brilliant Stradivarius at the weights. The 11/4
with bet365 on Monday morning was fair.
I like backing three-year-olds against their elders at this
time of the year and at Yarmouth I hope to see Kimberley (5.00) make a winning
handicap debut for James Fanshawe. The selection was no match for Godolphin's
First Winter at Windsor last time on her first start at 10f, but I felt she ran
a very promising race and may even get further than a mile-and-a-quarter in
time.
Dermot Weld's love affair with Galway is widely documented
and I hope to see Mostaqqer (5.15) make it third time lucky in this evening's
7f maiden. The selection finished runner up at Roscommon last time and might
have been an unlucky loser as the gap never opened in time for Oisin Orr.
For all your racing news go to charliemccann.co.uk and
follow me on Twitter @charliesbetting
