The Placepot has proven a devilishly tricky competition to win so far at Glorious Goodwood and Friday’s is likely no different. To guide you through the opening six races at Goodwood on day four, here are GG’s selections for you to follow.
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Leg 1: 1.20pm Goodwood – Coral Goodwood Handicap
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Kyle Of Lochalsh
This is a much smaller field compared to last year and Kyle Of Lochalsh stands out as having an excellent chance of improving on his fourth-placed effort 12 months ago in a stronger renewal. Hughie Morrison excels with his flat stayers and his five-year-old was extremely consistent in handicaps last season, finishing third in the Ascot Stakes and at Newbury, as well as fourth here, while he was also third at Listed level at Saint-Cloud in October. His return was below par at Southwell, but he probably needed the run and he is back down to the mark he was fourth off last season.
Leg 2: 1.55pm Goodwood – Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3)
Leg 2 Selections: (4) Opera Ballo
Any significant rain could throw the result of this Group 3 into jeopardy, with Diego Ventura the only horse proven to demonstrate equal or improved form on soft. However, he is well below the top two in the market on form and given Cosmic Year disappointed on soft in France last time out, preference is for the progressive Opera Ballo. The Godolphin runner has cleared away for convincing Listed successes the last twice and looks potentially high class, while his half-sister was perfectly adept with give underfoot.
Leg 3: 2.30pm Goodwood – Coral Golden Mile
Leg 3 Selections: (1) Skukuza, (4) Arisaig, (9) Lattam
A highly competitive renewal of this handicap. Three are chosen with uncertainty about the ground; neither Skukuza or Arisaig are proven on softer than good, but the former won easily in Listed company last time and is 8lb well in at the weights with Ryan Moore aboard, while the latter should have won at that level earlier in the campaign with a bit of luck and enjoys racing over course and distance.
Lattam is the third choice at a bigger price as Julie Camacho’s six-year-old, while not a regular winner, does enjoy some cut in the ground, finishing second in a soft going renewal of the Lincoln last season, as well as in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day in October.
Leg 4: 3.05pm Goodwood – King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2)
Leg 4 Selections: (3) Kerdos, (10) Big Mojo
There is almost an overload of early pace on here, but unlike stablemate Big Evs, Big Mojo is slightly more adaptable. After his excellent second in the July Cup over 6f last time, he should be able to lay up just in behind the lead here and pounce, as long as the ground proves okay. Should it rain enough, Kerdos has a significant verdict over Asfoora on soft at Haydock last season and has been fourth and fifth in 5f Group 2s in the last 12 months. If anything near his best, he should be in the mix.
Leg 5: 3.45pm Goodwood – Regent Seven Sea Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes
Leg 5 Selections: (3) Fox Legacy
Although he would still have to progress further, Fox Legacy is in superb form, with two cosy handicap wins as well as a big run at Royal Ascot in between in which he was the first home of the group up the centre. This might be his ideal distance and he looks like one capable of making a mark against this level of opposition now.
Leg 6: 4.20pm Goodwood – Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap
Leg 6 Selections: (7) Try Storm Cat
Rising Power could prove a class apart, but conceding 3lb and more all round in a nursery where so much could be lying in wait could be tricky. The most appealing is Try Storm Cat for Charlie Johnston, with his form of 321 showing the improvement expected by those figures. All of his starts have been over 6f and he won quite impressively at Pontefract, so should be able to make his presence felt off a lenient enough mark.
