Saturday heralds the final day of Glorious Goodwood 2024. Matty Sutcliffe aims to end the week on a high with four best bets.
1:50 Goodwood – Coral Glorious Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Lion’s Pride 11/2 1.5pt WIN
LION’S PRIDE has always been held in high regard by the team at Clarehaven, and has been brought along steadily with a view in mind for a career over staying distances. The half-brother to Courage Mon Ami comfortably dispatched talented stablemate Middle Earth last July, but evidently still remained a work in progress when keen in his next two starts, before finally regaining the winning thread when drawing well away from Godolphin’s Measured Time, who subsequently won multiple graded races abroad, including two grade ones.
He’s fared well in both starts over an inadequate 1m2f this season, firstly when shaping as if needing the run behind subsequent G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud winner Dubai Honour with subsequent G3 winner Okeechobee two lengths ahead. He was then outpaced over 1m2f at Sandown after a 95 day lay-off, but ran on strongly to the line suggesting he’s ready for a crack at staying trips. Although yet to win on turf, this trip should bring out the best in him and he’s bang there on ratings with a small field to suit.
2:25 Goodwood – Coral Summer Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) – Knightswood 10/1 1pt EW 4 places
The Bet365 Trophy has often been a good pointer to this contest in recent seasons, and I’m confident that KNIGHTSWOOD can reverse the form from that race with Fairbanks with a seven pound swing in the weights for a two length defeat.
Fairbanks had a perfect sit in behind the leaders on the rail and the 2nd/3rd were also both well positioned in sitting in behind Fairbanks. Knightswood was a touch slowly away and had to be waited with in rear with the three ahead of him getting first run. That was his first crack at this distance and he recorded a career best on RPR’s, so it’s plausible to suggest there’s plenty more improvement to come over this trip and given some of his best form has come around the sharp/ right handed nature of Ripon (112 there since being gelded), Goodwood should suit him well this time around for a yard who’ve took four of the last ten renewals of this contest.
3:00 Goodwood – Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) – River Of Stars 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
The draw has been a pivotal factor in this contest within the last decade, with only 4/5F Wonderful Tonight (highest rated winning horse in this contest,) winning from a stall higher than four (7). Stall one has taken three of the last ten renewals, including last season and the runner up RIVER OF STARS can go one better this time around in her birth in stall one with quicker conditions to suit.
Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Sea The Stars was beaten eight lengths by Sumo Sam who was given an enterprising ride from the front by Marquand on heavy ground, and while she was arguably below her best when winning a Listed contest at Pontefract in June, she will have been campaigned with this race in mind. She better her RPR in the G3 Bronte Cup Stakes at York in May despite finishing third after she’d won the race on seasonal debut last season, failing to reel in Term Of Endearment and Night Sparkle having been keen and shaping as if needing the run.
She returns from a small layoff and is a month fresher than she was this time last year which is a positive given her tendency to go well fresh, and should Rossa Ryan get her positive early on from her inside draw then hopefully she can kick clear once the gap opens up on the cutaway.
3:35 Goodwood – Coral Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Seven Questions 25/1 1pt EW 6 places
The 2020, 2019 and 2018 winners of this contest had all prepped in group company last time out, including the three year old Khaadem and Gifted Angel who found the G1 King’s Stand too hot, so SEVEN QUESTIONS has a typical profile for a handicap of this nature, including his rating of 100+.
The Kodiac gelding was an excellent winner for us in the Palace House Stakes in first time cheekpieces when gamely getting up from Vadream, with subsequent winners Beautiful Diamond, Kurdsos, Mitbaahy and Tees Spirit all in behind. Soft ground was potentially against him in the Temple Stakes next time out but he rallied well to take third from subsequent King’s Stand winner Asfoora. While not entirely disgraced when well beaten in the King’s Stand, he was a big drifter on the day and G1 company was perhaps a step too far for the three-year-old at this stage in his career, though I’d be adamant that as he ages and matures then we’ll see him contesting G1’s in the future.
He drops back into handicap company for the first time since taking a Leicester Nursery off a monstrous top weight, fairly bolting up with ease. The step up in distance, where his record reads 11323337 can suit as he shaped on his first two efforts this season as if a return to 6F will be fine, particularly on a sharp track like Goodwood where you have to travel strongly on the bridle. He has multiple bits of graded form and if he can remain calm in the prelims then this looks the perfect opportunity for him to get back on track, especially given he’s proven against his elders.
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.