"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2018 [TUES 31st JULY - SAT 4th AUG] -- DAY ONE

TUESDAY

Though it's now sponsored by Qatar it may not be officially called 'Glorious Goodwood' now, it still is for me and it's still one of the places to visit this summer. While I am also focused on Galway this week there are plenty of good races here in Sussex to enjoy.

Since I am busy covering the meeting over in Ireland at Galway I shall only be looking at the major races here each day not the whole card, we shall look at all the Group Races and Heritage Handicaps. The meeting runs to Saturday and we'll keep running totals of profit / loss throughout the week. 

So let us have a good look at day one, Tuesday's highlight is their newest Group 1, the Qatar Goodwood Cup has a prize fund of around £500,000. Stradivarius narrowly denied Big Orange his third straight win in the race in 2017 and will be back to defend his title again today.

Going -- Good to firm.
Weather -- Generally sunny, not as hot as the past month and a little bit breezy max temperature 21C

2:25 Qatar Vintage Stakes 7f (Group 2) 
11 runners declared for this Group 2 stakes, a strong field of 2yo's chasing the first prize of over £110k and all of then bar Richard Hannon's Mordred have had a win of some description here. 

And while anything that Aiden O'Brien sends over should be taken seriously his Van Beethoven looks beatable and we side with a pair against the field BLONDE WARRIOR has won a couple of smaller races and was only beaten an head on debut so has taken to racing really well and should still have some improvement available on ground known to suit. We also go with DARK VISION [WON 10/3F] who both both his starts comfortably and worth a shot in this company too.

Selection -- BLONDE WARRIOR  /  DARK VISION. 

3:00 Qatar Lennox Stakes 7f (Group 2)
Another competitive Group 2 event, this time open to older horses but again over 7f. 12 declared and sure to be run at a decent pace throughout, which will suit top weight BRETON ROCK though this 8yo might be vulnerable to one of the younger types such as D'BAI who won in Dubai, and then took the Group 3 John O'Gaunt stakes at Haydock before finishing midfield in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee stakes at Royal Ascot.

Runner up in the 2000 Guineas TIP TWO WIN can gain consolation down in grade here having also run 4th in the Group 1 St James Palace at the Royal Meeting as the only 3yo in this field gets plenty of weight concessions too.

Selections -- D'BAI  /  TIP TWO WIN. 

3:35 GOODWOOD CUP 2m (Group 1).
Our feature race for day one is the Goodwood Cup a Group One contest for older horses over two miles. Only the seven runners declared but does include last years winner Stradivarius who returns to defend his title and comes here in good form with wins at York and Royal Ascot so will be hard to beat and a short price to do so too. 

Shame there's only seven here, but CALL TO MIND is worth putting in the forecast and a place bet.

Selection -- STRADIVARIUS [WON 4/5F].

That's all for Tuesday, we'll have a pair of Group races tomorrow including the Group 1 Sussex Stakes to tackle on Wednesday. 

Staked 5.00 points
Returns 6.13 points (to SP)
+1.13 to SP