Glorious Goodwood Day Five Preview 2021

Dark Shift gets a tentative vote in the opener for in form trainer Charlie Hills who is operating at a 20% strike rate across the last 14 days.

The son of Dark Angel went off as favourite for the York heritage handicap upon fast ground before subsequently leaving himself with too much to do at Ascot last time out.

Based on that evidence the runner should relish the first time step up to 7f whilst he runs with just 8 stone 6lbs on his back for the contest.

He has winning form over soft underfoot conditions in the past and looks a likely improver being well related to some high level Group horses within his breeding.

Royal Scimitar found himself on the wrong part of the track last time out on the drop back to 6f at Newmarket.

The son of Territories finished 1st of 12 in the group running upon the nearside of the track and he's now taken to improve again at the trip upon softer conditions.

Progeny of Territories are known to enjoy soft ground whilst they also boast a highly impressive, albeit a small sampling, 6 placings in just 8 runs at Goodwood, showing high suitability to the Goodwood track.

The Clive Cox team are operating at a respectable 15% strike rate across the last 14 days whilst Adam Kirby's 20%+ return is a level of form he'll be hoping to carry into the contest.

To give us a selection in this big runner field on the opposite side of the track, Boundless Power, looks a smart enough play for the in-form Michael Appleby team.

Boundless Power proved competitive at this class 2 level last time out in the Heritage Handicap at Ascot without quite having the pace over the 5f distance.

The son of Slade Power should now improve for the step back up to 6f, which he has only been tried over once in the past for his new yard.

He has winning form over soft in the past and should run his race with in-form Silverstre De Sousa on board.

David Menuisier has a highly impressive 26% strike rate at Goodwood and holds leading claims through race favourite, Nuits St Georges.

Nuits St Georges has won his last 2 races, including a C&D win upon soft ground and his most recent run was a fairly cosy 2 1/4 length beating of Just In Time when dropping back down to class 3 level.

The runner, like trainer, remains in good form and a repeat of his last 2 runs puts him right in the mix in this with Sean Levey, last times winning jockey, retained on board.

Simon and Ed Crisford are in flying form currently with a 30% strike rate in the last 14 days and will be hoping to carry through that level of form into the Summer Handicap with Aaddeey.

Aaddeey remains unexposed at the 1m 6f trip and was impressive when beating Rodrigo Diaz by 4 1/2 lengths at Newmarket over 12f.

He coped with heavy conditions at Ascot at this level on his penultimate run without making too much of a mark on the leaders before keeping on for the drop back to 10.5f last time out, showing he wanted further.

The manner of past runs has shown the step up to 14f may just suit and should he improve for the new trip, upon suited softer ground, he looks a definite player.

David Menuisier has a 26% strike rate at Goodwood and is in great form currently, saddling another well fancied favourite in Wonderful Tonight for the Langtry Stakes.

The runner is on a bid for a straight 4 timer and should relish soft conditions come race day.

The daughter of Le Havre was a dual Group 1 winner on her final runs last season in France and at Ascot and returned to action with a comfortable 1 1/2 length win in the Hardwicke Group 2 at Ascot.

She's entitled to improve for that comeback run and given she isn't stepping up into Group 1 company on her 2nd run back, a 3lb penalty doesn't look enough to stop her from recording another comfortable win.

Fresh, the four year old son of Bated Breath seemed to take to 6f round Ascot, especially with cut in the ground and for that reason he could have the edge on some of these.

Back in October 2020 he finished a good second over course and distance on soft ground and then backed that up at Newcastle with another solid runner up performance.

He returned this year needing the run at Kempton, but next time out over 6f at Ascot he got off the mark for the term when taking an 18 runner handicap in good style.

The gelding was sent over the same course and distance last time out at Royal Ascot and finished a narrow second to the Group Two winning Rohaan.

Having soft ground and big field experience, he looks an obvious each way bet in this field, and only 3lb higher than his latest second makes him a big player.

Ring Of Beara, despite being on debut, looks a solid proposition in the maiden on Day 5.

Richard Hughes, the trainer of Calling The Wind who won Friday's Glorious Goodwood opener, has the only newcomer in the race who has a future Group race entry thanks to a Group 2 Champagne Stakes entry in Doncaster mid-September.

This shows us the high potential Ring Of Beara has as a newcomer whilst progeny of Wootton Bassett also boast a fantastic 25% strike rate and 33% place rate at Goodwood.

The eye-catching booking of Ryan Moore on board adds further fuel to the fire based around the colts chances in this.

Rebel Territory ran a good race here at Goodwood upon soft conditions on his penultimate start to finish runner-up and improved once more on the step up in grade next time out at Ascot.

That run has proved Rebel Territory's capabilities to be competitive at this level whilst the manner of his keeping on 3rd has shown clear potential for a big run now stepped up to the 9f trip.

Progeny of Territories often love the soft ground conditions whilst boasting a 75% place rate whilst running at the track.

Rhys Clutterbuck is a fairly experienced apprentice in this field, however is one of those still given a further boost of a 3lb claim, paying further dividends to his mounts chances.

Calcutta Cup poses an interesting proposition in the race for in form trainer Andrew Balding, returning from a 301 day break.

The runner won comfortably on his step up from 7 to 7.5f on his penultimate run last season at class 3 level however only managed 5th on his most recent run last October when shipped off to France for a heavy ground contest, although did keep on at the distance.

He's clearly had something about him at home for Balding to send him to France last year and if having made improvements during his off-season and returning in good shape, he may be competitive at this level, especially given he's unexposed.

Another son of Territories who should relish soft ground conditions, usual Balding apprentice, William Cox, takes the ride on board the runner who also appears well weighted at just 8 stone 11lbs for the contest.