Neil Morrice best bets and tips – QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL BEST BETS DAY 1 TUESDAY

QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL BEST BETS DAY 1 TUESDAY

Race 2 Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap

No15 JOLLY JACK TAR
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick

If there’s a blot on the handicap in the opener to the Qatar Goodwood Festival then it is surely JOLLY JACK TAR. The gelding is having just a fifth career start, having done all his racing on Polytrack and scoring in good style at Chelmsford. He’s bringing untapped potential onto this first run on grass, is well drawn and could attract plenty of support. CASTLE COVE is a similarly unexposed four-year-old who can get into the shake-up while GREY CUBAN a an also earn for his in-form yard under the champion jockey.

Race 2 CORAL VINTAGE STAKES (Group 2)

No1 ZAVATERI
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton – Jockey: Charles Bishop

ZAVATERI proved a very profitable scorer for this column when taking out the July Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the month. There seemed no fluke about his defeat of DO OR DO NOT, and over this longer trip he’s taken to confirm his superiority and complete a fine hat-trick. HUMIDITY is another chasing a third success while trying to remain unbeaten, and enters calculations courtesy of his eye taking success in the Chesham Stakes DORSET opened his account in style at the Curragh and is a beautifully bred individual from whom improvement is almost guaranteed.

Race 3 HKJC WORLD POOL LENNOX STAKES (Group 2)

No12 NOBLE CHAMPION
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

Ed Walker is double handed in this fascinating Group 2 but Jersey Stakes winner NOBLE CHAMPION can prove to be his ace. The Lope De Vega colt upped his game to impressively see off Spy Chief over the 1400 metres, with very few of the runners having a say. Walker is mindful that he’s operating on a more undulating track here, but has been delighted with his progress. TEN BOB TONY was a Group 3 winner on his Haydock reappearance but is unlikely to encounter his favoured soft ground. KINROSS holds his form remarkably well and the now eight-year-old could easily add to his superb record in this, having won it in 2021 and 2023 and finished second in 2022 and third last year. JONQUIL returns to 1400 metres after blowing out in a Group 1 sprint at Ascot and would enter calculations on the strength of his Greenham Stakes triumph and second in the French 2,000 Guineas.

Prediction: 1st NOBLE CHAMPION, 2nd Kinross, 3rd Jonquil

Race 4 AL SHAQAB GOODWOOD CUP (Group 1)

No3 ILLINOIS
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

The only Group 1 on this card should see ILLINOIS proving a professional banker for the Coolmore team. Last season’s St Leger second has stretched out to the Cup distance with an authoritative success at Chester followed by a defeat on his first attempt at the marathon trip by Trawlerman in the Gold Cup. He finished seven lengths clear of DUBAI FUTURE on that occasion, whilst his conqueror is not in today’s field. SWEET WILLIAM was even further back last month, and the ones that pose bigger threats are new kids on the staying block. FRENCH MASTER looked better the further he travelled when taking out the Copper Horse at Ascot and is still unexposed; SCANDINAVIA careered home in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket looking like a different horse and SUNWAY will gallop into the unknown ( trip wise) in an attempt to put behind him a couple of underwhelming efforts over a mile and a half. If he stays and consents to put it all in he will cause problems to the favourite, and is the proverbial joker in the pack.

Prediction: 1st ILLINOIS, 2nd Sunway, 3rd Scandinavia, 4th French Master

Race 5 Coral Golden Rewards Shalker Handicap

No3 MISS ATTITUDE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rob Hornby

Strictly on the book MISS ATTITUDE has it to do in this very competitive sprint but on more than one occasion the mare has shown she can raise her game on the big occasion, whilst having run well in defeat this track. REDORANGE goes to post with a rock solid profile, having backed up an initial success at Chester by twice troubling the judge at Ascot. His stable is now starting to peak after by its standards a quiet start. Mick Appleby has excelled with his sprint runners here and his SHAGRAAN should get into the shake up breaking next to Miss Attitude. NIMITZ is a fascinating challenger from Sweden who brings so,I’d credentials to the table and if near his paper price has to be accommodated for a saver.

Prediction: 1st MISS ATTITUDE, 2nd Redorange, 3rd Shagraan, 4th Nimitz, 5th Andrestia

Race 6 British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes

No5 HIGH APPROVAL (Nap)
Trainer: H Al Jehani – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

There are a handful of unknown quantities on this maiden but it could prove best to go with the evidence of the book and that leads me to HIGH APPROVAL. The Mehmas colt has cost his supporters with defeats on both starts after attracting bundles of support. This is therefore something of a recovery mission, but with the points already on the board he can take the spoils from STELLAR SUNRISE and RIVER SPEY.

Race 7 Ridgeview Fillies’ Handicap

No13 BLESSED STAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Saffie Osborne

While the Johnstons are not quite the force that regularly plundered races through Goodwood week it wouldn’t surprise me if they hit the target on Day 1 and in BLESSED STAR they field a lively outsider in this fillies’ handicap. The daughter of French stallion Sottsass has a plum draw from which to stabilise a handy position and can be ridden in the positive manner we always associate with runners from this yard. Whilst having a habit of hitting the woodwork, the selection has scope for progression on just her sixth career start.