"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2019 [TUES 30th JULY - SAT 3rd AUG] -- DAY ONE

TUESDAY Day One
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 the racing at Galway during 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 through until 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 won this on his way to a huge bonus last year and having successfully defended his Ascot Gold Cup crown will be a short price to win another big prize 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) 
Only 7 runners declared for this Group 2 stakes, three unbeaten 2yo's will face each other and PINATUBO [WON 6/4] rattled up a hat-trick of wins including the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and should be hard to beat here. 

Having been a strong favourite in the Chesham LOPE Y FERNANDEZ it would be a surprise if that one was able to reverse the placing but looks the biggest danger in this event, Richard Hannon's MYSTERY POWER is interesting if supported in the markets but with just 7 runners the call is to back the Godolphin runner.

Selection -- PINATUBO  [WON 6/4f]. 

3:00 Qatar Lennox Stakes 7f (Group 2)
Another competitive Group 2 event, this time open to older horses but again over 7f. 10 declared and sure to be run at a decent pace throughout, the likes of Bretton Rock and Flaming Spear have been great servants to their connections but look to be up against it here with ZAAKI the one to beat. Was unfortunate to be beaten last time out in the Summer Mile at Ascot by the late Beat the Bank who sadly broke down on the line. Zaaki has Ryan Moore on board now for Sir Michael Stoute and had previously won at Ascot and Epsom so looks one to follow.

JP O'Brien has runners over in Galway later but will be interested in his SPEAK IN COLOURS and worth a go in the win/place markets.

Selections -- ZAAKI 7th 10/3    SPEAK IN COLOURS (e/w)  4th 8/1. 

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. Field of nine runners declared but does include last years winner STRADIVARIUS who returns to defend his title again as well as chasing a big bonus once again arrives here in top form with wins at York and Royal Ascot so will be hard to beat and a short price to do so too. DEE EX BEE tried his best at Ascot but might have to settle for the runners up berth again. 

Aiden O'Brien runs there here and SOUTHERN FRANCE might be the best of his trio, none of them look good enough to trouble the fav, the Godolphin runner CROSS COUNTER won the Melbourne Cup so stays well but was 4th at Royal Ascot in the Gold Cup, might have to settle for a place again.

Selection -- STRADIVARIUS [WON 4/5f]. Three Goodwood Cups !!!

That's all for us on Tuesday, we'll have more top quality racing to enjoy tomorrow including the Group 1 Sussex Stakes to tackle on Wednesday. 

Staked 4 points
Returns 4.3 points (to SP)