It's panama hats, pimms, plus strawberries and cream galore at the end of July with the 5-day Glorious Goodwood Meeting (Tues 27th July to Sat 31st July). As always, the West Sussex track can expect monster crowds throughout the week with a whole host of top-notch contests each day for punters to get stuck into.
So we'll be on-hand throughout the whole meeting to take you through the key trends for each day’s LIVE ITV races.
We get going on Day One with five LIVE ITV races, including the Vintage Stakes and Lennox Stakes, plus the recently upgraded Group One Goodwood Cup.
2021 Glorious Goodwood Trends
DAY ONE - Tuesday 27th July 2021
1.50 – Unibet You’re On’ Chesterfield Cup Handicap Cl2 1m1f192y ITV
18/19 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
17/19 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
16/19 – Had won at least 3 times already during their career
15/19 – Had 4 or more previous runs that season
15/19 – Carried 8-11 or more
13/19 - Returned 12/1 or shorter in the betting
12/19 – Unplaced last time out
11/19 – Had run at Goodwood before
11/19 – Unplaced favourites
11/19 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
6/19 – Trained by Mark Johnston
3/19 – Won their last race
4/19 – Winning favourites (1 co-fav)
2/19 – Trained by Mick Channon
2020 Winner: Maydanny (5/1 fav)
10 of the last 15 winners came from stalls 9 or higher
9 of the last 15 winners came from a double-figure stall
TQ VERDICT: A tricky 18-runner handicap to get things going but with 18 of the last 19 winners aged 4 or 5 this will at least knock out some of the 6 year-olds - Caradoc, Cockalorum, Johnny Drama, Victory Chime, Breath Caught, Bugle Major, Data Protection and Plantadream. Those drawn in double-figures have done well in recent years too - winning 10 of the last 15, while 15 of the last 19 winners carried 8-11 or more in weight - if this weight stat is to be continued then horses 14-18 (included) would have this to defy. It’s also a Goodwood race that the powerful Mark Johnston yard have targeted with a lot of success over the years so their entries Maydanny (n/r), Dream With Me (n/r) and SKY DEFENDER (e/w) must all be considered. With two of the Johnston runners non-runners now that leaves Sky Defender as their only chance, but he’s still worth having an interest in. Yes, recent runs have been below-par, but he’s gone well on softer ground in the past and he’ll get that here. He’s 3lbs lower than his last run too and certainly starting to look well-handicapped at the moment and is also back down to his last winning mark (99). Of the rest, MIGRATION returned to the track last time after a break to run well at Salisbury and with the expected improvement looks a big player too. With that last run coming off a 600+ day break you fear about the dreaded ‘bounce-factor’, but he’s still fairly lightly-raced and even though this will be the softest ground he’s encountered, he’s handled a bit of give before to suggest he’ll be okay on it. Victory Chime and Lucander are others to note, while expect the front-running and consistent Cockalorum to make a bold bid from the front, but might just set things up for something to pounce on him up the long Goodwood straight.
2.25 – Unibet Vintage Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 7f ITV
18/19 – Had won over 6f or 7f before
18/19 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
18/19 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
16/19 – Had 2 or 3 previous career runs
15/19 – Won last time out
14/19 – Placed favourites
13/19 – Winning favourites
12/19 – Won by a March or later-born foal
10/19 – Ran at either Newmarket or Ascot last time out
8/19 – Had won 2 previous races
4/19 – Had run at Goodwood before
4/19 – Trained by Richard Hannon
3/19 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori
23/19 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (3 of the last 7)
3 of the last 11 winners came from stall 9
2020 Winner: Battleground (13/8)
TQ VERDICT: With the Aidan O’Brien yard having won three of the last 7 runnings, their The Acropolis has to enter the fray. But you feel that this Ballydoyle runner isn’t one of their real superstars in the making after two G2 defeats in recent runs. One of those came in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and the winner of that - BERKSHIRE SHADOW - is back for more here too. This Andrew Balding runner is 2-from-2 after winning a maiden at Newbury the time before his Ascot win, but was impressive in beating another runner here - Eldrickjones - last time to suggest he can uphold that form despite having to give 3lbs away this time. Oisin Murphy rides and his running style suggests this step up to 7f will be fine. Angel Bleu might attract interest with Frankie riding, while Austrian Theory and Secret Strength look to have a bit to find, so the main danger can come from the Richard Hannon runner - Lusail. This juvenile is the top-rated in the field (by a pound) and also has to give 3lbs away to all barring Berkshire Shadow due to his G2 July Stakes win earlier this month. He only just scrambled home that day by a head so even though he’s won over 7f in the past that wasn’t in a class of race like this. He can run a big race, but I’ll stick my neck out on the Balding runner - Berkshire Shadow - remaining unbeaten.
3.00 - Unibet Lennox Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 7f ITV
19/19 – Had won at least 2 times before
17/19 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
17/19 – Had 2 or more previous runs already that season
16/19 – Had won over 7f before
16/19 – Previous Group Race winners
15/19 – Had previously won a Group 2 or 3
12/19 – Had run at Goodwood before
12/19 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
8/19 - Winning favourites
7/19 – Ran at Ascot last time out
3/19 – Trained by Richard Hannon
10 of the last 12 winners came from stalls 7 or lower
3 of the last 10 came from stall 5
2020 Winner: Space Blues (2/1 fav)
TQ VERDICT: 12 months ago we saw the Godolphin runner - SPACE BLUES - win this race well and it can be more of the same this year. He beat another runner here - Duke Of Hazzard - by 2 lengths that day and heads here having won 8 of his 15 starts. Yes, he needs to bounce back from a poor run as beaten favourite at Meydan in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, but the return to Goodwood and back to 7f (that last race was over 6f) will help. He’s the clear top-rated in the field at 120 too. The only slight negative is possibly the high draw (12), but he’s the class act in the race and can defy that. But with 10 of the last 12 winners coming from draws 7 or lower, then it could pay to have another onside too. Those drawn low are Fundamental, Creative Force, Safe Voyage, Prince Eiji, Happy Power, Pogo and Real Appeal. Of that bunch another Godolphin runner - Creative Force - looks a big player too. Recent winner Kinross, who scored well at Haydock in the G3 John Of Gaunt Stakes, can go well too and expect a bold show up with the pace from Safe Voyage, who also won well last time. But the other pick is another CD winner in the line-up - HAPPY POWER (e/w). This Andrew Balding runner is also ridden by Ryan Moore and on the form on his fourth in Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot would have a big say. He ran too free over 1m last time at Ascot, but back in trip here to 7f will help and has also handled a bit of cut should more rain come.
3.35 – Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 1) Cl1 2m ITV
17/19 – Placed last time out
15/19 – Had 2 or more runs already that season
15/19 – Had won a Group 1 or 2 race before
14/19 – Aged 5 or older
13/19 – Had won over at least 2m before
12/19 – Ran at Ascot last time out
12/19 – Returned 7/2 or shorter in the betting
12/19 – Had run at Goodwood before
11/19 – Winning favourites
11/19 – Won their previous race
4/19 – Won by a Godolphin-owned horse
4/19 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori
2/19 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
2/19 – Trained by Michael Bell
All of the last 17 winners had run in the last 45 days
Stradivarius won the race in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
Trainer John Gosden has trained the last four winners
8 of the last 24 runnings were won by a previous winner of the race
12 of the last 13 winners came from stall 10 or lower
2019 Winner: Stadivarius (4/5 fav)
TQ VERDICT: He’s not quite the invincible force he one was, but I’ll take the four-time winner of this race - STRADIVARIUS - to get back to winning ways. This John Gosden runner is still only a 7 year-old and having got a bit stuck in a pocket last time at Ascot in the Gold Cup (4th), can hopefully make amends here. His record at Goodwood reads 1-1-1-1, plus he won’t mind any give in the ground if the track gets more rain in the build-up to the race. He’s still the top-rated in the field (121) and even though he faces some tough challengers again, he’s taken to make it win number five in this race. Nayef Road was runner-up in the race 12 months ago, but seems to have lost his way this season and his last three runs have been poor - he’s a big price though if able to bounce back. The 2020 third - Santiago - is also back for more and should run his race again - he’s one of three for trainer Aidan O’Brien, with Serpentine and Amhran Na Bhfiann his other two. The main players against Strady though look to be Trueshan, Spanish Mission and Sir Ron Priestley. Trueshan wasn’t disgraced carrying a big weight in the Northumberland Plate (6th) last time and back off level weights is dangerous - he stays this trip well, but it is his first run at the track so that would be an unknown. Spanish Mission was third in the Ascot Gold Cup - one place ahead of Strady - but was also only 6th in this race 12 months ago and his overall record at the track is 2-3-6, so has a bit to prove at the course. So, that leaves us with SIR RON PRIESTLEY (e/w). This Mark Johnston runner bounced back to winning ways last time at HQ in the Prince Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes (1m4f) and looks well worth a crack over 2m for the first time. The other plus is that he’s won twice (3 runs) here at the track, so no issues on that score and doesn’t have a lot to find on the official ratings - just 3lbs with Stradivarius.
4.10 – Back To Goodwood Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105) 5f ITV
Six previous runnings
6/6 – Unplaced last time out
6/6 – Carried 9-0 or less in weight
5/6 – Returned 14/1 or bigger in the betting
5/6 – Drawn in stalls 9 or lower
5/6 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
5/6 – Rated between 88-98
5/6 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
4/6 – Won between 3-6 times
4/6 – Won over 5f in the past
3/6 – Ran at Goodwood before
2/6 – Ridden by PJ McDonald
2/6 – Came from stall 6
2/6 – Ran at Ascot last time out
0/6 – Winning favourites
Only Spoofing (14/1) won the race in 2020
TQ VERDICT: Just the six past runnings to go on, but with 5 of the last 6 winners drawn in stalls 9 or lower then this is a trend that is starting to build up. Those with a plus here are Glory Fighter, Recon Mission, Lord Riddiford, Zargun, Ishvara, Only Spoofing, El Astronaute, Rewaayat and Pettochside. With 5 of the last 6 winners also aged 4 or 5 years-old then this is another stat to have onside - of the 17 runners, King Of Stars, Desert Safari, Recon Mission, Sunday Sovereign, Glory Fighter and Ishvara tick the box. We’ve also got last year’s winner in the race - Only Spoofing, who is well-drawn in 4, but is also rated 6lbs higher this time and only won by a neck last time. The 12 year-old Pettochside loves it here at Goodwood and if the ground got any softer this would help his chance too. He’s still loving his racing despite his advancing years - this will be his 109th run. The useful Mollie Phillips rides and takes off a handy 7lbs and he’d be a popular winner. Expect Ornate to blast out as he only knows one way of running - however, has been out of form of late so would need to bounce back. Rewaayat has been popular in the betting but was actually beaten 2 lengths by Pettochside last time at Ascot and having the tendency to race a bit free in his races, this would be a worry if the ground got any softer. The two I like, therefore, are the 2017 winner of the race - EL ASTRONAUTE (e/w) and the Mick Appleby-trained KING OF THE STARS. The former is slowly dropping back down the ratings and is starting to look dangerous again off a mark of 103 - had been as high as 111 a few years ago. Softer ground is fine and he should find this drop back into handicap company easier after running in Listed races the last twice. King Of The Stars is a fast-improving sprinter that has been placed in the top four in all his last six races. He returned from a 3 month break las time to run a close second at Newmarket and even though up 5lbs for that, he’s in a better class of race here so only has 8-10 to carry. He’s also handled softer ground in the past well when trained in Ireland, while James Doyle booked to ride is the icing on the cake.
4.10 – Back To Goodwood Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105) 5f ITV
Six previous runnings
6/6 – Unplaced last time out
6/6 – Carried 9-0 or less in weight
5/6 – Returned 14/1 or bigger in the betting
5/6 – Drawn in stalls 9 or lower
5/6 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
5/6 – Rated between 88-98
5/6 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
4/6 – Won between 3-6 times
4/6 – Won over 5f in the past
3/6 – Ran at Goodwood before
2/6 – Ridden by PJ McDonald
2/6 – Came from stall 6
2/6 – Ran at Ascot last time out
0/6 – Winning favourites
Only Spoofing (14/1) won the race in 2020
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