Glorious Goodwood selections Wednesday 28th July
The ground is beginning to dry at Goodwood and we have a real spectacle for the Sussex Stakes with some top class 3yo’s expected to dominate the feature race of the entire week. On a strong card we have selections for three races. We found the opening winner in Migration yesterday (advised 3/1).
Goodwood 1.50: Kings Prince
Trainer Mark Johnston has made the 3yo middle distance handicaps his own at this meeting in recent years and in KINGS PRINCE he has a likely sort to produce another winner.
He won his two novice races with ease, including at Pontefract last month. However it was his win at Haydock last autumn on testing ground that probably holds more significance for today given the prevailing conditions.
He was made a warm favourite for the listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, but came up short there. This might turn out to be more his level, but the fact he seemed to be feeling the fast ground at Pontefract, despite storming clear, suggests we will only see the best of this horse on going like today.
Goodwood 3.35: Alcohol Free
A really fascinating renewal of the Sussex Stakes and Poetic Flare has to be the one to beat after his imperious win at Royal Ascot. However he has reserved his best performances for top of the ground and does not look value at such short odds. The two fillies merit huge respect but I suspect ALCOHOL FREE can come out on top on this sharp track.
I was not sure about her ability to stay a mile before the Coronation Stakes win at Royal Ascot, but she lasted well around that round mile on testing ground that day. She was forced to make her own running in the Falmouth at Newmarket and nearly made it to the line, but was a target for Snow Lantern to catch in the end.
I think she will be better getting a lead today and the track, plus ground conditions might blunt Snow Lantern’s turn of pace late on. As such this might play tactically into the hooves of Alcohol Free.
Goodwood 5.20: Magical Wish
Second in this race in 2020, MAGICAL WISH is weighted to go one place better today.
He suddenly hit form having shown nothing earlier in the summer off a mark of 94 here, then went on to win a competitive race at Doncaster before finishing second again back here on soft ground in August from a rating of 97.
He has struggled since to defy his mark, but has started to drop down the ratings and is now off 90. He had two solid runs here earlier in the summer, and I thought his third at Lingfield showed promise given the race was run at an unsuitably slow tempo for him. Stall eight is a decent draw and a big field handicap at Goodwood is just about his ideal circumstances.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Kings Prince – 1.50 Goodwood – 16/1 Betfred (¼ odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Alcohol Free – 3.35 Goodwood – 4/1 general
1pt each-way – Magical Wish – 5.20 Goodwood – 16/1 general (Skybet 1/5 odds 1st 6)
