Glorious Goodwood Friday Preview

A poor day for the blog at Goodwood yesterday, with none of the selections running well. There is more high quality action to come today, and below are my thoughts on the day's action.

2.00 Glorious Stakes (Group 3) 12F

Luca Cumani has a good recent record in this event, and his Connecticut is one of the market leaders in this race after hacking up by 16 lengths in a listed event at Pontefract last time out. This is another step up in class today but if he progresses again he looks to have every chance.

The Corsican is the current favourite at 15/8 for Jim Crowley and David Simcock, and he also has an obvious chance. He is unbeaten at the track, over 10F admittedly, and he ran a lovely race in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales at Royal Ascot. This is a drop in class today, but the only worry has to be this trip of 12F. He has won over it before, but his very best has come at two furlongs shorter.

At a bigger price Windshear has the ability to run well, and he went close at the meeting last year. He was tried over 20F last time out, and it proved to be a bridge too far. A repeat of his effort behind Arab Spring at Newbury back in April (12F good to firm), when subsequent Group 1 winner Pethers Moon  was in close proximity, would see this colt go very close. He is the each way suggestion for Hannon and Hughes.

Selection: Windshear (16/1) each way.

2.35 Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3) 8F

After going so close on his last run behind Gleneagles in the Group 1 St James' Palace at Royal Ascot  (8F good to firm) Latharnach is a worthy market leader for Godolphin. He beat Time Test in his maiden, and that form was franked by the runner up in impressive fashion at Ascot. The one to beat.

Moheet could be the one to chase him home. He is highly thought of by connections, and big things were expected from him this season. However, it hasn't gone to plan and he clearly didn't appreciate the 12F trip in the derby. Dropping back to a mile should show him in a much better light, and he is of interest each way.

Convey falls into the 'could be anything' bracket, and he hacked up in his maiden last season. This is his first run since though, and whilst he is highly rated by connections there are too many inponderables for him to be considered today. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Selection: Latharnach (7/4).       Danger: Moheet (9/1)


3.10 Goodwood (Handicap) 8F

A chance is taken on The Rectifier here in a typically competitive big field handicap. He is only two pounds higher than when lowering the colours of Magic City, an impressive performance given he was conceding 7lb to the Hannon horse. He is off level weights with that rival today, although Tom Marquand takes off a handy 5lb on Magic City.
He has run well on his only previous visit to the track, he showed signs of a return to form last time out at York off this mark and is well drawn. Timmy Murphy has been booked (2/11 for yard), and a big run looks to be on the cards.

Selection: The Rectifier (25/1) each way.

3.45 Goodwood (King George Stakes) (Group 2) 5F

A tricky puzzle to solve, and a race where it has paid to side with the older horses, with only one 3yo winning since 2005. That was Moviesta back in 2013, and he returns to try and repeat the dose after going close last year too. He is an obvious starting point and Eddie Lynam's charge can currently be backed at 13/2.
Take Cover won this last year, and he has been written off by the bookies in his attempt to follow up. It would be no surprise to see a big run, even if his last effort was extremely disappointing. His run behind Goldream at the Royal meeting was not devoid of promise, and that came at Group 1 level.

 He will blast off in front and try to hold them off, and his draw in stall 9 shouldn't be too much of a hindrance once he breaks well. Could outrun his odds of 22/1 and is a tentative each way selection.

Selection: Take Cover (22/1) each way.

4.20 Goowood (Nursery Handicap) 6F

No strong opinion here. Sandahl is lumbered with top weight, but he had Tasleet in behind for his maiden win and that horse ran very well here yesterday at Group 2 level. Can prove to be better than his mark of 88 and is a decent price too.

Selection: Sandahl (15/2)

4.55 Goodwood (Oak Tree Stakes) (Group 3) 7F

Osaila is comfortably the highest rated filly in the field, and she is a confident selection having proved her well being with a last gasp victory in a quality handicap at Royal Ascot (8F good to firm).
She is already a winner at this level, beating today's rival New Providence in a tight finish at Newmarket (7F), and the only blot on her copybook is a below par performance in the 1000 Guineas earlier this season. She should take all the beating.

Selection: Osaila (3/1)

5.30 (Handicap) 11F

No strong opinion here. Darebin looks a huge price given that he went very close last time out, and the horse that beat him won a handicap off a mark of 80 on his next run. He has been allocated a mark of 78, and promising young claimer Hector Crouch takes off a handy 7lbs too. He is up against some promising and well bred types, but at his current odds of 33/1 he looks worthy of a little each way support.

Selection: Darebin (33/1) e/w