Glorious Goodwood starts Tuesday on the main ITV network and I’m very much looking forward to being part of the team on each and every day.
There’s lots of top-class action to enjoy, so let’s get straight to it and see what damage can be done on Day 1.
Here is what I fancy at the West Sussex track:
Goodwood 13:10 – Wasaayef
John Gosden’s WASAAYEF could be a Group horse lurking in a handicap for the master trainer and can get the five-day festival off to a flyer for us.
Goodwood 13:45 – Fifth Position
The coverage starts on ITV with a handicap over 1m 2f and it’s a wide open and competitive heat. FIFTH POSITION has quite a weight to carry off a mark of 104, but he ran well at York last time with that rating and from stall 10 has a decent enough draw to work from.
He should at the very least give us a good run for our money for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni.
Goodwood 14:15 – Battleground
Next, we are in Group 2 company with the Vintage Stakes over 7 furlongs. There’s no doubt BATTLEGROUND looked a monster at Royal Ascot.
He’s a big War Front colt and stayed well to land the Chesham Stakes by nearly 3 lengths. With normal improvement, he should take some stopping for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Goodwood 14:45 – Sir Dancealot
Group 2 class again here, but for older horses with the Lennox Stakes over 7 furlongs and this is quite tricky. SIR DANCEALOT has not done much the last twice, but he is the defending champion and absolutely loves this course and distance.
Stall 3 is a good one to attack from and with Gerald Mosse riding, there is every chance the David Elsworth-trained gelding can run well. Have a few quid on each-way.
Goodwood 15:15 – Stradivarius
Now for the big one of the day, the Group 1 Goodwood Cup over 2m. I’m in no doubt here that STRADIVARIUS will prove too good for Santiago, even though the latter gets over a stone in weight.
Quite simply the brilliant Ascot Gold Cup hero has a turn of speed that I don’t believe Santiago can match, so come on Frankie Dettori and John Gosden!
Goodwood 15:45 – Recon Mission
This is a handicap over 5 furlongs and good luck here! RECON MISSION is the winner of a big handicap at York off his mark here of 97 and ran well with that rating last time.
Everything is set for another big effort for Tony Carroll and Tom Marquand. I just wish the horse had run at Goodwood before.
Goodwood 16:20 – Alkumait
ALKUMAIT ran well on debut at Newbury and will come on a lot for that experience. Jim Crowley takes over in the saddle and we all saw what he did at Royal Ascot aboard the Hamdan Al Maktoum runners.
Goodwood 16:55 – Time Voyage
TIME VOYAGE has an each-way chance with step up in trip to 1m 4f likely to suit and he’s hovering at the foot of the weights in the opening day’s finale.
You hear me Paddy?
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Matt Chapman’s tips summary:
Goodwood 13:10 – Wasaayef
Goodwood 13:45 – Fifth Position
Goodwood 14:15 – Battleground
Goodwood 14:45 – Sir Dancealot
Goodwood 15:15 – Stradivarius
Goodwood 15.45 – Recon Mission
Goodwood 16:20 – Alkumait
Goodwood 16:55 – Time Voyage
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