Goodwood selections Saturday 2nd August
We reach the climax at Goodwood of five high class days and as is now tradition, the Stewards Cup headlines the final day of action. I am getting stuck into all four big field handicaps on the card. We had a near perfect day on Friday, finding the winners of all three races we played in. Kyle of Lochalsh landed the opener (SP 5/1), Rhoscolyn the Golden Mile (advised 9/1) with Ebts Guard second for the e/w bet (advised 16/1) and then JM Jungle landed the sprint SP 14/1).
Goodwood 1.55: Aeronautic & Sam Hawkens
He has already been on the mark at both Goodwood and Galway this week and Joseph O’Brien can claim another success with AERONAUTIC.
He produced a solid first effort in the UK with fifth place over this trip at Ascot last month, having taken a bit too long to get out for his challenge having been stuck in behind horses. He can race off the same mark of 96 here and the drying ground will be a help, as should the inside draw.
His last win saw him defeat Barnso by 4l at Leopardstown and he is actually 2lbs better off here, so from a handicapping perspective he has strong claims.
SAM HAWKENS looked a bit awkward last year and rough round the edges. However he is a typical William Haggas improver who is showing plenty more as a 4yo. Having needed the run on his first outing of 2025 at Ripon, he has not looked back since.
He was a cosy winner on the AW surface at Newcastle in May and backed that up with a battling success at Hamilton last time, a race run with a bit of cut. The runner up that day Savrola has franked the form by winning the Northumberland Plate consolation.
Goodwood 3.05: Get It & Purosangue
Two class acts can come to the fore in the Stewards Cup.
GET IT was a surprise and dominant winner of this race off 2lbs lower last year. Getting the near rail and an immediate 2l advantage and simply staying there. Any thoughts that it might have been a fluke were dispelled when he did the same in the Wokingham at Ascot, a stiffer track where making all should be tougher.
He has a 4lb rise here, but back on a sharper track, he has the draw on the near rail to get to the front and stay there once again. Slightly softer ground is an unknown, but at least things are drying out nicely now.
PUROSANGUE was a well beaten favourite in this race last year, but ruined his chances by getting upset in the stalls. In any case he is probably a better horse on softer ground and gets that opportunity today.
His form has been solid if unspectacular this season, finishing a respectable ninth in the Wokingham. He is dropping a bit in the ratings though and hopefully this cut in the ground will bring improvement. He has shown what he can do on softer ground in the past with a listed win at York and a second to Abbaye winner Makarova at Sandown in a Group 3.
Goodwood 3.45: Consolidation & Mudbir
A low draw seemed an advantage on the fresh ground yesterday and could be of importance again here.
CONSOLIDATION has a middle draw, but has the pace to get into a decent early position. He is the choice of James Doyle of the Wathnan runners and is forgiven a midfield finish at Ascot as the stiff mile might have stretched his stamina.
Prior to that he was progressive, notably when winning over course and distance here in May. He had impressively beaten a useful Godolphin yardstick in Fifth Column prior to that at Kempton.
MUDBIR does have the inside stall, so provided Jim Crowley can manufacture a clear passage, he has the best ground in theory to run on. He is a strong traveller too, cruising into contention before fading at Doncaster over a mile in June.
He showed that 7f was his trip when winning at Sandown last time and is still very unexposed after only four outings.
Goodwood 4.55: Boyfriend
Just the one selection for the finale in BOYFRIEND.
Richard Hannon’s 4yo has been ultra consistent this season, narrowly failing to make all in a good Newbury handicap, when collared close home by subsequent Hunt Cup winner My Cloud. He made no mistake next time in a small race at Nottingham and was only beaten a length in a good race at Newmarket last time.
Whilst drying ground is probably a help, he did win his only attempt on soft ground at Newbury as a juvenile. An extra furlong here is a slight unknown, but a low draw will be a help.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Aeronautic – 1.55 Goodwood – 13/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – San Hawkens – 1.55 Goodwood – 11/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Get It– 3.05 Goodwood – 9/1 BetVictor, Ladbrokes (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Purosangue – 3.05 Goodwood – 16/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Consolidation – 3.45 Goodwood – 12/1 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Mudbir – 3.45 Goodwood – 9/2 Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Boyfriend – 4.55 Goodwood – 11/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
