With so many shocks having happened so far at Glorious Goodwood, there is no better time to follow our value man Matty Sutcliffe. He has four selections for you to back on Friday.
1:20 Goodwood – Coral Goodwood Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) – Vino Victrix 16/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Hughie Morrison won this with Star Rider in 2016 and while VINO VICTRIX has been well beaten in the last two running of this contest, he’s 11lbs lower than the first one and the latter came on unfavourable quick going, so the return to a softer surface and his lowest mark since 2021 may see him in a better light here.
The Sir Percy gelding is a course winner, and he shaped as if the return to this trip would suit here on his penultimate run having stayed on to rally for sixth beaten two lengths, with that form franked by the second and third.
His comes here off bottom weight with Hollie Doyle retaining the ride, and with the yard going well of late if would be no surprise should be make it third time lucky in the contest.
2:30 Goodwood – Coral Golden Mile (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Ebt’s Guard 11/1 1pt EW 5 places
EBT’S GUARD has developed into a competitive force in these Premier Handicaps this season, beginning when landing the Spring Cup at Newbury on seasonal debut in a race that has typically worked out well.
He failed to back that up when dropping to seven furlongs next time out, but he proved it was no fluke when a length third to My Cloud giving him 6lbs back at Newbury in a competitive 0-105, with the winner now rated 104 having landed the Royal Hunt Cup next time out.
That form’s been franked elsewhere with the second winning next time out and the fourth landing a 64k handicap at Sandown now rated 6lbs higher.
Ebt’s Guard was perhaps covered up for too long when staying on too late at Epsom next time out for all the winner had already flown, but it was a solid effort and he backed it up again when a four lengths seventh in the Royal Hunt Cup having finished second in his group of seven, with the winner of that group subsequently taking the John Smith’s Cup at York.
The drop back to seven was an unobvious move given how well he stays he mile, but he wasn’t disgraced in the Bunbury Cup beaten four lengths in to fifth and while he is 1lbs out of the weights here, he’s a pound lower than the latest trio of efforts and a repeat of any one of them would see him run close here, with proven course form a plus.
3:05 Goodwood – King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Khaadem 20/1 1pt EW 4 places
Options are wearing thin with KHAADEM as his years continue to advance, but that hasn’t stopped connections landing back to back renewals of the QEII in 2023 and 2024. Both of those wins cam second time of for the season having been beaten in listed and G2 company, so given he was beaten in G3 company on seasonal debut this term (missed this years contest), he’s likely to be primed for the King George.
He dusted the cobwebs off in the Hackwood Stakes last time out having travelled well into the contest before blowing up late and while this is a rare return to five furlongs, he shaped as if he can cope with the drop back and it’s worth noting he landed this race in 2022, taking his Goodwood record to 2/2 having landed the Stewards Cup in 2019.
He’s likely to be granted a strong pace with Night Raider and Frost At Dawn drawn on either side, so any stamina reserves he has will be deployed late on and this classy gelding can serve it up to the younger brigade.
4:20 Goodwood – Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (2yo) – Logi Bear 20/1 1pt EW 4 places
Richard Hannon won this in 2015 with Belvoir Boy who’d been beaten in the Super Sprint en route and while LOGI BEAR finished last in that race last time out, he was hampered at the start and never in contention though the 6/1 SP suggested better was expected.
He was taken off his feet on firm ground over five furlongs at Royal Ascot, but prior to that his form read 3214 in some valuable contests. He was an eye-catcher when running green on debut at Leicester having stayed on strongly to be beaten a length into third behind the subsequent Coventry Stakes third Coppull now rated 104, then he bumped into Havana Hurricane here giving him 2lbs for a two length defeat, with that one now rated 100 after taking the Windsor Castle and finishing second in the Super Sprint.
Logi Bear belatedly landing a Newmarket Novice with ease when stepped up to this trip for the first time under Jamie Spencer, and he ran a solid race in defeat in the Woodcote Stakes to be beaten two lengths into fourth, this time only a length behind Havana Hurricane.
If we can forgive his latest two starts which had plausible reasoning to do so, then he’s potentially thrown in off a mark of 83 and the return to six furlongs on an easier surface at a track he’s handled are all strong positives.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.