Glorious Goodwood Day One Preview - 28/07/20

Glorious Goodwood opens with a 1 mile class 3 handicap for fillies.

The eye-catcher of those declared is Wasaayef for John Gosden and Jim Crowley. The 3 year old hasn’t been seen for 311 days but posted some incredibly strong form in her last 2 starts during her 2 year old campaign. Beating now 103 rated Alpen Rose and narrowly being beaten by also 103 rated Queen Daenerys.

If she’s fully wound up she can readily exploit a handicap mark of 93.

Two Selections for the second race of the festival as it’s an 18 runner 1 mile 2 furlong handicap.

Tinandali lines up here after competing in the John Smith’s Cup at York on his last outing. David O’Meara’s 4 year old ran a huge race at a big price finishing 5th despite not having a clear passage.

With more luck in running, he looks to be one who can go close again off an unchanged handicap mark of 102.

Selection 2 is Maydanny.

He disappointed when odds on last time but we are willing to forgive that one effort. Going back to his run before that at Ascot, he ran a great race to be 7th in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup despite being drawn on the un-favoured side of the track.

The yard excel at this meeting and have a great record in this race. De Sousa booked.

The first group contest of the festival see’s the season’s 2 year old form tested. Battleground looks to follow up his Ascot win but Youth Spirit is preferred for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.

The colt was only beaten 2 lengths by re-opposing Devious Company on debut and won under Murphy next time out at Newmarket despite showing signs of greenness.

He looks to be one who can keep building on those solid early performances and turn the form around with Devious Company now he has more experience under his belt.

The 7 furlong Lennox stakes continues the group action at the festival.

Duke Of Hazzard was a winner at this festival last year as a 3 year old and he actually claimed 2 races at Goodwood to finish off last season. His first run of this season saw him well beaten behind Circus Maximus in the Queen Anne Stakes but dropping to group 2 level last time out saw him finish a respectable 3rd behind Mohaather.

Coming back down in trip to 7 furlongs will suit more and his best runs have come at this course. Another big run looks on the cards.

The Goodwood Cup Stakes over 2 miles is headed by none other than Stradivarius, the king of the stayer’s division. John Gosden casted doubt that soft ground would blunt his turn of foot at Ascot, yet he powered away from Nayef Road for an emphatic 10 length victory.

The clear standard setter, the 6 year old is looking to claim this contest for the 4th year in a row.

A tricky looking 2 year old maiden is headed by Alkmuait. Marcus Tregoning’s colt made a strong impression on debut recently at Newbury over 6 furlongs despite having to warm to the task.

He was incredibly green through the early parts of the race but rattled home late when the penny dropped to snatch 4th.

Now with a clearer picture of the job that’s at hand he should be hard to beat. Jim Crowley takes over in the saddle and he looks likely to shed his maiden tag here.

The finale of Day 1 is a 1 mile 4 furlong fillies’ handicap. The betting is headed by rapid improver Dancing Approach.

The Roger Charlton representative has won her last 2 starts, clearly relishing a step up to 12 furlongs. A comfortable win at Haydock last month was well backed up by another striking performance despite a 6lb rise in the weights.

The handicapper has thrown another 8lbs at her but he might not have her sussed just yet. Thomas Greatrex claims a handy 3lbs off her back again and the nearby drawn Torbellino should hopefully provide a perfect tow into the race to complete the hat trick.