GG editor Dan Corbally guides us through his selections for curtain-opening day of the Glorious Goodwood Festival. They include a Classic placed horse, an old favourite for The Horsewatchers, a handicapper with unfinished business at the meeting and one for the Johnston stable who have targeted this meeting down the year.
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*Odds correct at time of publishing – 2pm 30th July*
RAASEL (5/1)
Coral Handicap – 1:40pm
We kick-off the festival with Mick Appleby’s Raasel. The six-year-old is without a win in twelve runs but has a good record over course and distance, with two wins from three attempts. The only loss in that sequence was a neck defeat to this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner, Khaadem in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at this meeting last year. He’s been mainly kept to Group & Listed races since that effort and signalled his turn may be near with a good effort at Ascot last time out.
He looked to appreciate the drop to handicap company when fourth on his latest start in a competitive handicap and suffered interference two furlongs from home. He’s been dropped another pound since then and with regular rider James Doyle available to keep the ride he should be very hard to repel today with a clear run.
MOKTASAAB (12/1)
Coral Chestefield Cup – 2:50pm
Much like the previous selection, an ex-Shadwell horse with good form at the track & connections of Moktasaab may feel they have unfinished business at this meeting. He was a good third in this contest off a 5lbs higher mark and previously won over course and distance. He hasn’t set the world alight in runs so but it’s not a far-fetched theory that this was always going to be the aim at the start of the season.
His most recent run leaves him with plenty to find with Lord Protector but he was slowly away that day and never really landed a blow having been impeded late-on. A 2lbs ease in the weights brings him down an aggregate 7lbs in four runs and you don’t have to go back far to find some smart form, with his penultimate run of last season yielding a second behind the smart handicapper Sam Cooke.
ISAAC SHELBY (5/1)
Lennox Stakes – 4:00pm
A very smart horse on his day for Brian Meehan and an agonising second in the French Guineas, Isaac Shelby. He hit the front inside the final two furlongs before just getting run out of it late in the day. That run confirmed his aptitude for juice underfoot and perhaps his preference, which should hold no disadvantages for him in this contest. He also won on Good to Firm ground as a juvenile so has proved versatile in that regard and this seven furlong trip looks ideal.
Today’s rival Kinross is a respected competitor, perhaps he should be arriving to this contest as the defending champion after a luckless run last year. His latest run in the St. James Palace Stakes was somewhat of a backwards step but there was no shame in losing to Paddington. He was rather keen that day so this drop back to seven furlongs can be just what the doctor order to get his head back in front and potentially set up a tilt at the Prix de la Foret.
ESPRESSOO (11/1)
Coral Fillies’ Handicap – 5:05pm
The Johnstons have enjoyed some big days at this hunting and while this race has eluded them in recent years it’d come as no shock to see Espressoo right than wrong. She may have been let in lightly off 88 and remains totally unexposed at the mile trip having done most of her racing and all of her winning at a mile. She pushed Sandringham Stakes winner within a neck last year.
Narrowly denied by the 92 rated Dha Leath in a Listed contest at Pontefract last time out, the handicapper has been somewhat lenient leaving her on an unchanged mark especially with 109 rated Purple Pay just behind. The ground does pose a slight question mark as she seems at her best on a sound surface but anything with Good in the description should be fine. She drops back to handicap company today and with Joe Fanning onboard, should have every chance of bossing them from the gate to line.
LUCKY 15 SELECTIONS
- RAASEL – 5/1
- MOKTASAAB – 12/1
- ISAAC SHELBY – 5/1
- ESPRESSOO – 11/1
£1 E/W Lucky 15 returns £9082 with Bet365
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