Glorious Goodwood Festival 2020 Tips - Day One

One of the most hotly-anticipated weeks of the flat racing calendar is upon us, as the five-day Qatar Goodwood festival takes place.

More commonly referred to by its traditional name of Glorious Goodwood, the meeting features three Group 1 contests, in addition to a number of excellent pattern races, and high class handicaps.

On the opening day, the headline act is the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, which superstar stayer Stradivarius is looking to win for a fourth consecutive year.

Frankie Dettori celebrates success in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Stradivarius last year.

With eight races being staged in total, Matchday FM regulars Harry Reynolds and Ben Wignall preview all of the action.

13.10 - British European Breeders Fund EBF Fillies' Handicap

Harry Reynolds – I can’t help but be drawn to the pedigree of WASAAYEF. By Kingman out of a Shamardal mare, her form figures read 212, and both of those defeats were by a neck. John Gosden can get them ready first time out, and she could be pretty smart.

Ben Wignall – An open-looking handicap to start the festival, and I’ll take a chance on one of the younger horses in the form of WASAAYEF. John Gosden’s three-year-old only had Listed race-placed Queen Daenarys in-front of her last time out, and a horse that ran well in the Ribblesdale Stakes was back in fourth. This is a high-enough mark for her handicap debut but she looks like the most exciting in the field, and it’s also her first start of 2020.

13.45 - Unibet You're On Handicap

HR – This should be a cracking race, with plenty of likeable horses involved. I’ll take CAPE CAVALLI to follow up his win from York last time out when he was particularly impressive, and he’s won over course and distance before. Cieren Fallon takes off three pounds, and trainers Simon & Ed Crisford are operating at a 41% strike rate in the last fortnight.

BW – We all love trying to work out a big-field handicap, and providing he came out of the John Smith’s Cup at York fine, then FIFTH POSITION may be the best horse in this race. The Dark Angel gelding only found two others too good on the Knavesmire last week and he may be able to make amends here.

14.15 - Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (Group 2)

HR –I’ll oppose the favourite Battleground with DEVIOUS COMPANY. This horse has the best form in the race and is the highest rated, and trainer Tom Dascombe has had a couple of winners in the last 48 hours, so the yard could be about to return to form.

Devious Company (left) has proven form at this level.

BW – I can only see one horse winning this and that’s BATTLEGROUND. Tom Dascombe’s Devious Company has a higher Racing Post Rating having finished as the runner-up in the Superlative Stakes, but Battleground won impressively at Royal Ascot in the Chesham, and his pedigree is immaculate – a son of War Front out of Arc-winning mare Found.

14.45 – Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2)

HR – I backed SPACE BLUES before the final declarations as I couldn’t believe he was as big as 4/1, and he definitely won’t be that price on the day now Limato doesn’t take his chance. Charlie Appleby’s colt has top class form from last season, including in Group 1 company behind Too Darn Hot. He has won his last two starts, accounting for Safe Voyage at Haydock before Group 3 success in France, and I think he is seriously talented.

BW – Safe Voyage impressed me when breaking the track record at Epsom on Derby Day, however he was behind SPACE BLUES earlier in the season at Haydock. The Godolphin horse has always been very classy, and backed up that win in the North West by going to France later on in June and picking up Group 2 honours. It’ll be interesting to see how Pierre Lapin does though, a horse who was highly fancied for the Commonwealth Cup but finished last.

15.15 - Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)

HR – STRADIVARIUS is getting better with age judged by his astonishing demolition job in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. His only serious rival in this race is Irish Derby winner Santiago, and although he must give that rival 15lbs, he’s just too good. I expect him to land this contest for the fourth successive year convincingly.

BW – This won’t be as easy for him as the Ascot Gold Cup was, but STRADIVARIUS should pick up his fourth Goodwood Cup in succession. Santiago poses a completely new challenge having won both the Queen’s Vase and the Irish Derby, however you have to believe that John Gosden’s super-stayer has more than enough in his locker to get the job done.

15.45 - Qatar Handicap

HR – Having been very slowly away, CELSIUS did remarkably well to finish as close as he did to the eventual winner when second at Newmarket last time. He was quite keen that day too so will have to settle better, but he is a fast horse and the track will suit him, and is unexposed compared to the rest of the field.

BW – He may now be 11 years of age, but CASPIAN PRINCE proved last month he’s still got it by taking the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle. He may not have fired in a Group 3 race since, but now back in handicap company, the Prince may be ready to win again. He carries the top weight but he’s won Class 2 handicaps with the same weight on his back in the past, so there’s no reason why he can’t do it again.

Caspian Prince was not for catching as he landed a surprise success at Newcastle last month.

16.20 - British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes

HR – Most of the entries in this are yet to see a racecourse, and MAJD AL ARAB is the only one to have two runs. Mark Johnston is in good form and is notorious for finding the winner’s enclosure at this festival, and the booking of Ryan Moore to ride only strengthens this horse’s claims.

BW – Mark Johnston is known for having many winners at Glorious Goodwood, and MAJD AL ARAB could win this novice contest for him here. Ryan Moore takes the ride and the son of Sussex Stakes victor The Gurkha will probably go off favourite and have the most likely chance of winning.

16.55 - British European Breeders Fund EBF Fillies' Handicap

HR – In a very tricky race to predict, I’ll chance that ASIAAF can keep improving. He won at Goodwood two starts ago, and being by Derby winner New Approach, the extra two furlongs here are definitely in his favour.

BW – AU CLAIR DE LUNE had a nice William Haggas horse ahead of her on handicap debut, and this Sea The Stars filly has a great jockey booked in the form of Ben Curtis. Having just three starts to her name, she remains unexposed and could have a great spin around Goodwood here.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

13.10 Wasaayef 3/1

13.45 Cape Cavalli 4/1

14.15 Devious Company 7/2

14.45 Space Blues 5/2

15.15 Stradivarius 4/7

15.45 Celsius 10/3

16.20 Majd Al Arab 11/4

16.55 Asiaaf 11/2

Ben Wignall

13.10 Wasaayef 3/1

13.45 Fifth Position 11/1

14.15 Battleground 5/4

14.45 Space Blues 5/2

15.15 Stradivarius 4/7

15.45 Caspian Prince 9/1

16.20 Majd Al Arab 11/4

16.55 Au Clair De Lune 13/2