Ben Morgan’s Glorious Goodwood tips – Day 1 – Gold Digger to shine on Tuesday

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for the action across day one of the 2026 Glorious Goodwood Festival.

1.50 – Doyle to start the week as he means to go on 

The opening race of Glorious Goodwood 2026 looks a tough place to start for most punters but I’m not sure how deep this race actually is.

There aren’t too many lurking down the bottom like previous years and a good solid handicapper lurking around their last winning mark would have a good chance here.

I’ve fallen on QUAI DE BETHUNE who suffered a luckless run at York last time out but has now dropped to a mark of 97, only 4lbs higher than his mark when he won at Royal Ascot last season.

Not seen since then until a reappearance at Epsom on Derby day, he has clearly had his problems but he should be somewhere near back to full fitness after a couple of spins this year.

James Doyle endured a horror week at Royal Ascot despite riding a few winners as picked the wrong horse more often than he picked the right one and I think he will be primed for a good week here. 

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4.10 – Lexington set to Blitz them in 5 furlong tear up

Course record times could be at risk here as there are plenty of ‘speed balls’ here who love to go along from the front.

It will probably suit a horse who can sit just behind the pace and pick them up late.

LEXINGTON BLITZ did just that when winning over 5f here earlier in the season as his stablemate, who reopposes here, Democracy Dilemma took them along at a good clip.

The selection was able to travel with him and then pick him off late and has since shown further speed in the Dash where he got picked off late after front running.

A change back to the tactics that served him well here previously might just see him go a few places better.

I have a few on the shortlist in all honesty so I have to put another up at a bigger price and that is TATTERSTALL who seems to be crying out for a return to a real fast 5 furlongs.

This downhill test will be right up his street and I can see him hitting the frame at the very least.

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5.55 – Gold Digger set for windfall in day 1 finale.

My eye was initially drawn to Machadadrop here but I‘m not sure she is crying out for this drop in trip in all honesty.

She has been well found in the market since declarations but I would much rather back something at a price here as it looks mighty competitive.

GOLD DIGGER ticks all the boxes for me and I think the drop back to handicap company will see her produce a season best effort.

The step up to 6f will also be a help as she has been strong at the finish in all her races at the highest level over 5f.

The fact she has been deemed good enough to run in those races suggests connections think she is better than a mark of 92 and she was by no means disgraced in the King Charles last time out.

Saffie Osbourne is riding out of her skin at the moment so I really can‘t see any negatives for her.

Just before I started to write this piece I also read that owner Phil Cunningham hopes this is his best chance of the week and connections certainly know how to target a meeting like this so that must be a big positive as well. 

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