The opening day of Newmarket’s Guineas meeting is televised on Friday. As well as broadcasting four races live from HQ, ITV Racing are hosting three races from Goodwood on an exciting day for terrestrial TV punters.
2.25 Newmarket – William Hill Newmarket Stakes (Listed Race)
Both Whip Cracker and Caviar Heights run here after solid efforts in the Listed Feilden Stakes at this track, but the first three home were the three leaders, so there may well have been a significant pace bias that day. Of course, both could perform a similar trick again, but they might not be talented enough to hold off ENDLESS VICTORY.
The Godolphin runner, a full brother to Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter, needed every yard of this trip to get up in a novice event here in April, but that was under a penalty on just his second career start. That he still managed to win was impressive, and the third has since won by 13 lengths at Southwell, so there is further substance to that form.
2.40 Goodwood – British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes
The form shown by those to have raced in this novice event is distinctly surpassable for the newcomers. Couple that with Eve Johnson Houghton’s fine start with her juveniles this term (four winners from 11 runners), and GOLD MEDALLIST looks a good price to live up to his name on debut.
Though his half-brother needed nearly 1m2f to win as a two-year-old, Gold Medallist is by the speedier Acclamation while his damsire is Group 1-winning sprinter Oasis Dream. There would be a slight doubt about how he will handle heavy ground on debut, but another of the stable’s juvenile winners so far did so comfortably on soft, so he may well take to it.
3.00 Newmarket – William Hill Epic Boost Handicap
Noble Dynasty is a standout for numerous reasons, but not necessarily betting ones. Having been off for well over a year, he ran well in Dubai on his comeback, but he is now a six-year-old remaining off a steep enough mark. He is taken on with the more reliable DARK THIRTY.
Richard Hannon’s charge won at this venue on his seasonal debut last month with a bold showing. That takes his form at Newmarket, whether the July Course or Rowley Mile, to 32311, and the 3lb rise does not look harsh given he beat 17 rivals that day. The step up to 7f should not bother him too much either and his trainer looks to have found the key to tapping into his significant potential.
3.15 Goodwood – William Hill Epic Value Handicap
There’s a chance that relative veterans Spanish Star and Live In The Moment could go well here, but BISHOP’S CROWN returned in form too irresistible to ignore and he may well prove a progressive sprinting handicapper to follow this year. He was largely a frustrating follow at three, placing on six consecutive starts before eventually nosing to the front at Doncaster to conclude his campaign.
That he won that day on soft ground bodes well for his aptitude for heavy ground in this contest. He is now 6lb higher for securing back-to-back successes in taking fashion at Windsor on his return, so the winning mentality may have clicked. There should be more in his locker.
3.35 Newmarket – William Hill King Charles II Stakes (Listed Race)
You could make a more than reasonable case for most of this Listed field, but preference is for BOLD STYLE to overturn recent form with Boiling Point after their second and third places at this track on return. Roger Varian’s charge had the stronger previous form, but appeared to have fewer excuses for his defeat, whereas the selection raced alone for most of that conditions event.
The Godolphin horse also comes here less exposed after just three career runs, so it would be no surprise were he to improve past his reopposing rival anyway. Both Alaskan Gold and Indian Run’s most recent efforts came in Group company though, so neither should be underestimated.
3.50 Goodwood – William Hill Epic Boost Handicap
It is easy to see why last year’s winner Dream Composer is popular at the head of the market given he arrives here off a 5lb lower mark than 2023’s success. However, the heavy ground might scupper his chances of a repeat, while he has also been in poor recent form.
Indeed, the ground is a sticky issue for at least three of the five runners, leaving just the two outsiders, King’s Lynn and DESPERATE HERO. The latter has won on heavy, while the former did so on soft back in the day, but the selection gets the verdict for doing his winning more recently. He is likely to improve for his recent return run, and may just put his aptitude for underfoot conditions to good use.
4.10 Newmarket – William Hill Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)
Ready preference is for the Juddmonte mare TIME LOCK, whose two runs on the Rowley Mile have resulted in victories by 6½ lengths and 4¼ lengths, the latter over course and distance at Group 3 level in September. She may have needed a few runs to come into her own last season, but she looked a more polished article whenever she raced on top of the ground last autumn.
Her defeat in Group 1 company on soft to end the campaign is easily explained, and she can extend her unbeaten run at this track. Both Castle Way and Astro King also have good records at Newmarket and can chase her home.
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