Glorious Goodwood Festival Day 1 Betting Tips
The Flat season rolls on with the Glorious Goodwood Festival taking centre stage this week.
The action kicks off on Tuesday with a top-class eight-race card that includes Group 1 action in the form of the Goodwood Cup.
We have picked out selections for all eight races on day 1 of the Goodwood Festival including a last-time-out winner who looks capable of going in again.
13:20 – Goodwood - Handicap
Ancient Rome is seen at his best when he gets a strong pace to aim at and that looks all but guaranteed in the Festival opener on Tuesday.
This son of War Front shaped as if he was back in form at Sandown on his penultimate start and while things didn’t pan out at York after that, they probably didn’t go hard enough for him that day. Expect him to bounce back and in Jamie Spencer he has the right man on board for his running style.
Selection: Ancient Rome
13:55 – Goodwood - Vintage Stakes
It’s a slight surprise to see that the unbeaten Zavateri isn’t vying for favouritism in this contest and he looks like the value play at the odds.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge followed up a Salisbury novice success by going markedly up in class and winning Newmarket’s Group 2 July Stakes and he’s bred to be better over this sort of distance. He can confirm the form with runner-up Do Or Do Not.
Selection: Zavateri
14:30 – Goodwood - World Pool Lennox Stakes
There’s plenty to like about the claims of Kinross as he bids to gain compensation for last year’s defeat in this contest. He certainly wasn’t seen to the best effect that day, but he got his head back in front at Doncaster next time out, proving he retains all of his old ability in the process.
After running a cracker on his reappearance when only narrowly denied at Haydock, the eight-year-old can go one better over a course and distance that he loves, being a previous dual winner of this contest.
Selection: Kinross
15:05 – Goodwood - Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes
Aidan O'Brien's Illinois didn’t see out the closing stages of the Ascot Gold Cup on his first attempt at 2m4f last month, but expect him to bounce back over two miles.
Last year’s St Leger runner-up has some top-class form to his name, despite never winning at Group 1 level, including narrow defeats to Los Angeles, Sosie and Jan Brueghel last term, and he can go one better against these rivals.
Selection: Illinois
15:45 – Goodwood - Handicap
This can go the way of Shagraan, who is drawn on the right side for this competitive five-furlong handicap. He ran a cracker at Group 3 level last time out when hitting the frame despite being left with plenty to do and looks feasibly treated back in a handicap.
Selection: Shagraan
16:20 – Goodwood - British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes
Karl Burke excels with his juveniles and he has a cracking chance of landing the maiden with Naval Light. He was hampered in running at Royal Ascot when last seen and sets a solid standard on form.
Selection: Naval Light
16:55 – Goodwood - Ridgeview Fillies' Handicap
It’s easy to see why Dash of Azure finds herself at the head of the market. She gained compensation for some narrow defeats when winning a fillies’ event at Kempton on her seasonal return and then met some trouble in running in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot; she could be ahead of her mark.
Selection: Dash of Azure
17:30 – Goodwood - EBF Fillies' Handicap
The finale can go the way of Woodhay Wonder who has come back down to a very workable mark. Not much has gone right at Ascot on his last couple of outings and he’s only 1lb above his last winning handicap mark as a result.
Selection: Woodhay Wonder
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation