Glorious Goodwood Day Four Preview

On day four at the Sussex based meeting we kick off with the Class 3 TDN Australia Handicap over 1 mile 3 furlongs and Celestran for John Gosden looks a tough and gritty three year old.

The lightly raced colt has shown that he holds plenty of ability, finishing third on debut as a juvenile at Newmarket and then getting off the mark on his second start.

As a three year old, again he has shown useful form finishing second behind a well-handicapped rival clearly on a going day last time out and that run was promising in first-time blinkers and he wears them again here.

He was third behind Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat the start before which looks decent form and at double figure odds looks an attractive each way angle on the race.

We step into our first Group race of the day in the Oak Tree Stakes over seven furlongs and One Master for William Haggas is the clear favourite to take the event.

The six year old mare has been a shining light for the yard over the last few years and although not being at her best in both her runs to date, this drop in grade should see her get back to winning ways.

Having shown in the past her clear ability and pace, winning back to back renewals of the Prix de la Foret and also placing in events like the Champions Sprint Stakes and Falmouth Stakes, she is the one to beat.

One of the most anticipated races on the Friday is the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes over a mile and although only having five runners all of them have a highly progressive profile.

Khaloosy for Roger Varian will have to be at his best in this field taking on impressive last time out winners My Oberon and Tilsit.

However, the manner in how the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned runner landed the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot was eye-catching and he deserves his chance in group company.

He will be sure to improve for that run and looks as if sky is the limit for this three year old off the back of his sectionals at the royal meeting.

The Golden Mile Handicap sees a huge field go to post and with that in mind we have two big priced, each way angles starting with Bless Him for David Simcock.

The six year old was out of his depth in Group Two Summer Mile when 9½ lengths behind Wednesday's Sussex Stakes winner Mohaather.

However, he takes a class drop after two tough assignments this season, and was last successful in this sphere when holding off Lord North, who's form speaks for himself.

Getting back into a big field will help and the booking of the inform Tom Marquand looks a big bonus.

Our second selection at a similar each way price is Blown By Wind for Mark Johnston who has won this race a number of times, and boasts a nice record at this meeting.

Although not really being at his best this term, the four year olds penultimate start caught the eye, racing 3lbs out of the handicap and denied a clear run 1f out, which makes him interesting if getting a clear view on the day.

The yards runners often bounce back well from a blip and he already has form tied in with the second favourite Montatham, beating him at Musselburgh when conceding 5lbs in October.

Battaash at the age of six looks to be just as good and now seeking his fourth straight win in this Group Two event, he can not be overlooked

The Charlie Hills trained gelding had a superb 2019 racing five times over his preferred five furlongs and landing some big events including the Group Two temple Stakes at Haydock and the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York's Ebor meeting.

He could only finish second again behind his nemesis Blue Point in the King's Stands Stakes at Royal Ascot but managed to land a hat-trick of wins in this race which he loves.

Coming back this season, he managed to land that elusive Group One King's Stands Stakes at Ascot and seeking his fourth win in this race looks a formality if at his usual best.

The L'Ormarins Queen's Plate Glorious Stakes looks to be full of nearly horses and dropping back into a Group Three could be the making of many of them.

Desert Encounter for David Simcock has been a superb gelding for the yard over the years and even at the age of eight still has plenty of ability.

The veteran has past Group One winning form in Canada and also landed this event last season, under a great ride by Jamie Spencer.

Having hit a bad patch of form he got back to near his best when third at Newmarket in a Group Two and improving from that sees him go close again.

The penultimate event of the day is the six furlongs Nursery Handicap and Perotto for the Group One winning trainer Marcus Tregoning looks an interesting runner.

The two year old has already shown useful form, finishing third on debut behind the Coventry Stakes runner-up Qaader, which has a strong look to it.

Opened account on just second start over C&D. Despite only being three-runner event, the second has won since so that form has some substance and he faces similar conditions now.

The final event on the Friday is the Maiden Fillies' Stakes over six furlongs and Ventura Diamond for Richard Fahey has the best form entering the race.

Oisin Murphy has four winners from five runners for the yard and has already landed a winner at the meeting this week.

The juvenile showed clear promise on debut, beaten only two lengths in fourth behind yesterdays narrow winner Miss Jingles and kept on well over 5f suggesting this step up to 6f should bring out more improvement.