The opening day of Glorious Goodwood looms large on Tuesday and Matty Sutcliffe has picked out his best bets for the opening day. His top tips include a whopping 100/1 shot in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes…
1:20 Goodwood – Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+) – Ancient Rome 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
ANCIENT ROME landed this contest in 2023 and all roads this season have surely led to regaining his crown. The War Front gelding popped up at 33/1 here on yard debut for Charlie Hills, and proved it was no fluke having won at Keeneland G3 next time but before hitting the frame in G2 company at Longchamp.
A revised mark of 110 forced his hand out of handicaps last season, and while he was 0-5 he was rarely disgraced, finishing a 1/2L second to Quddwah in the G2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot before a two length third to Nation’s Pride in G1 company at Colonial Downs, and he ended the season with a four length fourth to Lead Artist in G3 company.
Two visits to Meydan didn’t work out this term, but he was an eye-catcher on the wrong side of the track at Newbury back on these shores before finishing third his group of seventeen when tenth in the Royal Hunt Cup. He again stayed on well from rear at Sandown in a competitive 0-105, but the protagonists failed to fire and I doubt the plan was to finish that close, with Billy Loughnane not all that strong in the finish.
They then ran him at York a week later in the John Smith’s Cup, and the market told the story there with the plan likely to shave off the 2lbs acquired at Sandown, which was successfully executed.
He now comes back here 5lbs lower than when winning the race in 2023, and it would be very surprising should he not be on the premises with this valuable race likely to have been the plan all season.
1:55 Goodwood – Coral Vintage Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo) – Laureate Crown 16/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
Connections had Wolf Of Badenoch finish second in this contest last season having come off the back of a successful winning debut, and they bid to go one better with a similar type in LAUREATE CROWN.
The daughter of Victor Ludorum was relatively weak in the market at Ascot, but despite being held up third last for most of the way she cruised through the field under a confident Jamie Spencer who was sat motionless at the two furlong pole before being nudged out to lead close to home. Visually, it was a serious performance considering the next four home had all raced prominently, and while he takes on horses with proven group form, the yard are no strangers to success in this race having landed it with Galileo Gold in 2015 who was coming off the back of a Haydock novice success.
2:30 Goodwood – HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Intrusively 100/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Quinault, Audience and Witness Stand generally need to make all to be seen to best effect, and with other prominent racers involved, this looks set to be run at a serious clip.
INTRUSIVELY is the lowest-rated in this field by some way, but he does receive a handy 7lbs 3yo allowance to negate some of that and a race of this nature, where he can settle off a strong gallop, could see him dramatically improve.
The Territories colt had some smart form as a two year old, finishing second to the subsequent Vintage Stakes winner on debut and despite being rated 21lbs inferior to some, he was a huge eyecatcher when a length third in the Richmond Stakes here last season.
He capitalised on an easy maiden success next time out, before staying on well to finish a three length fifth in the 300k 2yo Stakes race at Doncaster. Intrusively made his handicap debut off 97 at Newcastle in June, and was again an eye-catcher in rear having been short of room a furlong out, staying on strongly under hands an heels once the winning chance had gone and the gap opened up.
He shaped as if seven furlongs would suit there, and he stayed on well at Haydock over the trip despite being fairly. He’d have to drastically improve on that, but the yard equip first time blinkers here and the fact they have declared him despite an entry in a 0-95 handicap here on Wednesday perhaps suggests they clearly believe he has the ability to figure at this level.
3:05 Goodwood – Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Dubai Future 33/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
The staying division lacks the likes of a Kyprios, Stradivarius or Big Orange, who’ve won eight of the last ten renewals of this contest between them. Illinois had a minor excuse for his Gold Cup defeat as he wasn’t trained for the race, but if the yard were entirely confident on his chances then they mightn’t have sent the promising Scandinavia here.
That pair are feared most, along with French Master who deservedly graduates out of handicap company on the back of his Royal Ascot success, but should one of them falter then DUBAI FUTURE looks overpriced for frame possibilities.
The Dubawi gelding is doesn’t have youth on his side like some, but ran a fair race in defeat in the Gold Cup to finish seven lengths behind Illinois over a trip you couldn’t be sure he stayed. You’d only have to go back three runs for his last win, which was a career best effort on RPR’s (118) when comfortably winning in Meydan with Trawlerman four lengths in behind, so he’s more than worth chancing on that form.
Since being gelded, his form on these shores read 2341333 which further bodes well for a place, and if some of these are put out of their comfort zones then he’ll be bang there to pick up the pieces, staying on late over a more suitable trip.
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