Over 100,000 racing fanatics will flock to this year’s Glorious Goodwood meeting and with five days of sensational action on offer there is sure to be plenty for fans of the festival to sink their teeth into.
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Glorious Goodwood plays host to the finest stables, jockeys and thoroughbreds in the sport and all the leading trainers will be represented at the meeting as they look to take a team fit for battle on the Sussex Downs.
The highlight of the week looks set to be Frankel and Canford Cliffs’ clash in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday afternoon, but there is plenty to be getting excited about on Tuesday.
The
bet365.com Stakes (2.00) kicks off the day’s action and John Smith’s Cup second Modun (10/3,
Paddy Power) will be a warm favourite in the opener as Sir Michael Stoute looks to get the week off to winning ways with another one of his lightly raced four-year-olds.
Raised only 2lbs for his performance at York last time out, he bumped into the very useful Green Destiny on the Knavesmire and the handicapper looks to have been very lenient with a horse that could genuinely turn out to be a leading St Leger contender in just over a month’s time. He certainly looks the one to beat, but a chance is taken on
FORTE DEI MARMI (11/1,
William Hill) who could finally get back to winning ways after a luckless season on the track in 2011.
Luca Cumani’s superstar signed off the 2010 season with a victory in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes Handicap at Newbury and he looked a pattern performer in the making after a highly profitable campaign. However, all has not gone to plan this season and though he was back to something like his best when chasing home Await The Dawn at Chester in May, there is a feeling that he is yet to do himself justice this year.
He certainly doesn’t look like one to give up on just yet and with a sedate early gallop playing against him on a number of occasions this season; he could be seen in a different light in a race run at a true pace.
Fiorente (11/10,
bet365) will be a warm order in the
Gordon Stakes (2.35) and Sir Michael Stoute will be hoping that he has another St Leger candidate on his hands after he won the Group Three with Harbinger in 2009 and Conduit in 2008. Sure to be popular, Fiorente will go off a well backed favourite but the value has gone and it looks best to concentrate on the Lennox Stakes.
It is in the
Lennox Stakes (3.10) that we could well have the best bet of the day and
STRONG SUIT (nap) (11/4,
William Hill) looks a fantastic price in a race he looks more than capable of winning. Hopes that Richard Hannon’s colt would turn out to be a Guineas contender were short lived after the superstar was thumped by Frankel earlier in the season, but a successful wind operation has seen last year’s Coventry Stakes winner bounce back to his best and he hasn’t looked back since.
An impressive victory in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot proved that Richard Hughes’ mount retained all his ability and tried over a mile in Group One company at Chantilly last time out, he responded well under Hughes’ guidance to take third (after being caught on the line) behind two high class colts.
The form of that race looks strong and though Delegator represents formidable opposition, there are plenty of reservations about the Godolphin inmate, one of which will be his ability to give 11lbs to the selection.
It is the in-form Richard Hannon stable that we rely on for a winner in the final Channel 4 race of the day and
CROWN DEPENDENCY (9/2,
Ladbrokes) can justify his big reputation in the
Molecomb Stakes at 3.45.
The selection looked a juvenile to stay on the right side of after his exciting debut success at Goodwood in May and the son of Acclamation was the first string on jockey bookings in the Norfolk Stakes at Ascot last month. He managed to finish third that day despite needing a few reminders early on and Hannon was quick to point out the he had been bumped – something that may have cost him the race.
He has always been highly regarded and though it is strange he hasn’t been stepped up in trip, he could make it a memorable opening day for Richard Hannon at Glorious Goodwood 2011.
Nick Wilby’s selections:
