Glorious Goodwood Day One Preview

Bell Rock was well punted at this meeting last year when running over C&D, 12/1 into 15/2, finishing an eventual 3rd behind Maydanny off a 6lb higher mark than what he runs from today when equating in the jockey’s allowance.

That was his first and only try at the 1m2f trip and he remains unexposed and open to improvement at the distance now returning a year on.

His last win came under a 5lb claimer at Newmarket off 1lb higher when reversing the form with Maydanny over a furlong shorter, and he has since run some good races in defeat in Group and Listed company.

5lb claimer Harry Davies step up today for the drop back into handicaps, who has only twice finished outside the front 4 in 8 runs at Goodwood thus far.

Balding is in terrific form heading into the festival with a 26% strike rate across the last 14 days, his runner can look to race prominently from stall 4 and looks to have a great chance of being involved off this lowly weight.

*Be sure to take advantage of the bumper 7 places offered at Skybet and William Hill.

Hold up tactics may just count against Holloway Boy here and the form of his debut win hasn’t exactly looked bulletproof given the 2nd and 5th have both turned out since and finished dead last.

Appleby is 47% (7-15) with his 2YO’s at Goodwood across the last 5 years, he teams up with William Buick aboard Mysterious Night who was a good 3 length 3rd behind Persian Force at Newmarket last time out, keeping on at the finish.

The step up 7f is strongly in favour here and 4/1 appears generous given his lto run is the best form on offer.

Dear My Friend is another worth mentioning, a winner on debut over 6f at Carlisle, who improved markedly second time up to run out an eased down 5 length winner at Beverley last time out.

He made virtually all from the front that day and has been given a lengthy 6 week break in order to come here fresh.

The son of Starspangledbanner holds potential for plenty further improvement, especially now switched to a C&D at which progeny of his sire boast a tidy 14% strike rate, outperforming their expected winners by 1.2x.

Across 13 of the last 14 runnings of the Lennox Stakes the fav has finished either 1st or 2nd, almost immediately instilling confidence for a big run in this years favourite, Sacred.

William Haggas’ filly beat Saffron Beach in the G3 Nell Gwynn last season before landing the G2 Hugerford Stakes on her final start of 2021.

She returned to action at Royal Ascot, a 15/2 2nd favourite for the drop back to 6f to land a highly competitive renewal of the Platinum Jubilee stakes, finishing 5th, barely a length off the winner.

This daughter of Exceed And Excel can strip fitter for the returning run, will appreciate the step back up to 7f, and drops back into a Group 2.

Connections chose to bypass the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in favour of a run here, they’ll be hoping it pays off.

Kyprios may just represent a new star of the division in Stradivarius’ swansong race, representing top pairing Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.

The son of Galileo is 3 from 3 this season, most recently landing the Gold Cup over 2m4f at Royal Ascot ahead of Stradivarius.

He won over 1m6f 2 starts back and the step back down to 2m should not inconvenience.

He’s an improving 4YO, and on the faster ground rates a much more solid proposition than the likes of Trueshan - who it’ll be interesting to see if chanced by Alan King.

Night On Earth looks interesting here for Michael Appleby, down 2lbs for a 5th placed finish last time out, 2 lengths behind re-opposing rival Celsius, and within 3/4 of a length behind race favourite Dusky Lord last time out.

What's interesting about his run is that he raced completely alone against the nearside rail and very much had to set his own fractions in a run that can be very much upgraded.

The application of Frederik Larson gives Night On Earth a 7lb swing with his market principle Dusky Lord, yet he is twice the price.

Crystal Caprice was off the mark at the third time of asking last time out at Yarmouth, dispatching her field by a 7 length margin and running on at the finish.

She hit an RPR of 92 that day and now marks her handicap debut off a more than attainable rating of 87 whilst also making a step up in trip that promises to unlock further improvement.

Ryan Moore is back on board to ride.