"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st 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 most scenic of race courses to visit, just not this summer sadly. While I am also focused on the racing at Galway during this week there are plenty of good races here in Sussex to enjoy.

This week is a very busy one as we also covering the festival meeting over in Ireland at Galway so for Goodwood I shall only be looking at the major races here each day not the entire race card, we shall look at all the Group contests and include the 'Heritage Handicaps' such as the Stewards Cup. The meeting runs through until Saturday and we'll keep running totals of profit / loss throughout the week.

Time for us to have a good look at day one, Tuesday's highlight is their newest Group 1, the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup has a reduced prize fund this year of around £250,000. Stradivarius won this for the third time last year and having smashed his opposition in the Ascot Gold Cup again this is surely another title for the taking with probably a small field for this year's renewal.

Going -- Good (Good to soft in places).
Weather Forecast -- Generally sunny, not as hot as the past month and a little bit breezy max temperature 21C

2:25 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes 7f (Group 2)
Only 10 runners declared for this Group 2 stakes, was won last year by Pinatubo, and we'll see if there's anything to match him in this field. BATTLEGROUND [WON 13/8f] looks to be the short price market leader for Aiden O'Brien and has Ryan Moore in the saddle, winner at Royal Ascot in the Chesham Stakes means it will take a good one to turn him over. Of the rest most at taking a big step up in class, except for DARK LION who could be the one to place, a 4th in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, then went and shed his maiden tag at Wolves.

Selection -- Battleground (in multiples)  [WON 13/8f]

Dark Lion (place bet).  
3:00 Qatar Lennox Stakes 7f (Group 2)
Another competitive Group 2 event, this time open to older horses but again over 7f. 13 declared headed by Glorious Journey for trainer Charlie Appleby, has been running overseas winning a Group 2 at Meydan, the trainer also saddle D'bai (L Dettori) and Space Blues [Won 2/1] (W Buick) and I'd have to pick D'bai out of that trio perhaps for a place bet if the price is as forecast (12/1). Couple of course and distance winners to consider, DUKE OF HAZARD [2nd 5/1] won three on the bounce last term and two of those were here albeit over a mile but is effective at this trip too and is taken along with SIR DANCEALOT who was our winner of this contest twelve months ago and could be ready to follow up for trainer David Elsworth and jockey Gérald Mossé.
Selections -- Duke of Hazard [2nd 5/1] / Sir Dancealot to win
D'Bai to place. 
3:35 Al Shaqab 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 seeking a fourth win and it's hard to see who will stop him given the way he destroyed the field at Ascot on ground that was expected to be against him. On expected Good going here Frankie Dettori should be collecting another Group One prize. Only clear danger is the Aiden O'Brien challenger SANTIAGO stepping up in trip and class but the 3yo would be a huge shock if the fav is beaten while still enjoying his racing. A race to watch and enjoy.
Selection -- STRADIVARIUS (in the multiples with Battleground + others)

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 also racing all week over in Ireland with the Galway Festival.