I am not going into Goodwood on particularly “glorious” tipping form, but there have been some near misses, for example Dan Chillingworth who was 2nd at 12/1 today.
Goodwood is never easy as some horses just don’t handle the track, which makes previous course form an important factor. If we look at the opening race at 2.15 I see that Mr Aviator has form figures at Goodwood of 122. He comes here on form having won the Royal Hunt Cup and he has won on good and good to firm. He is 5 lbs higher than when winning at Ascot so it is possible that the weight will beat him but he is well drawn and must have a chance. Illustrious Blue has a marvellous record at Goodwood. His form figures at the Sussex track read 31311114. All his 7 career wins have come on good ground and he is now on a mark 2 lbs lower than his last win. Sir Mark Prescott’s Caraval is the bottom weight and should be all the better for a recent 3rd at Sandown. Championship Point won the race last year but is only 1 lb higher in the ratings and is another to consider. I would go for the course specialist Illustrious Blue.
Conduit only went down by three parts of a length to Campanologist in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot and that form should be good enough to see him win the 2.50.
There are 3 runners from my list to follow in the 3.30. King of Dixie is yet to finish out of the first 3 in his career. He takes a step up in class in the Lennox Stakes at 3.30 but is certainly not out of it. Stimulation is a tough sort that has been running consistently well but may find this just a little too hot for him. He may well run into a place however. Infallible deserves to get her head in front. She finished 4th to Natagora in the 1,000 Guineas, and runner up in both the Coronation Stakes and the Falmouth. 7 furlongs looks to be her ideal trip and she gets my selection.
I have been following the fortunes of Mrs Kipling this season, partly because she is by the first season sire Exceed and Excel. She duly won a little race at Lingfield but then came last in the Cherry Hinton. She runs in the 4.05 and might not want the ground too firm.
Milne Graden is unbeaten in his 3 starts and comes into the “could be anything” category. He is trained by Jeremy Noseda whose horses may be coming back into a bit of form and he would be my suggestion in the 4.40. The remarkable Birkside also lines up in this. He has won an amazing 13 races since last May and seems to run a couple of times a week. The other one I quite like is Sandbuch who appeared to not quite see out the 2 miles at Ascot earlier in the month. This drop back to a mile and three quarters could be ideal.
Mountain Pride did my list to follow a bit of good when he won at 20/1 at Sandown in June. He could be a major player in the 5.15 although there is a slight doubt about his ability to handle fast ground. The Fifth Member is another to have done this column proud this season justifying my selection twice. Both those wins came on the all weather at Kempton but he has run well at Goodwood before and certainly comes here in good form. Swop is a 5 year old but has only had 3 runs in his life. He is a good looking sort that may just be a blot on the handicap as the assessor does not have much to go on.
Up at Beverley I fancy Bryan Smart’ 2 year old filly Positivity in the 3.10 at Beverley while the other one I like at the East Yorkshire course is Richard Fahey’s Trip the Light in the 4.20. The stable won this race a couple of years ago with Halla San.
Pictures are by kind permission of Ann Duffield Racing
Good luck
ahorse 