Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from day 2 of the Glorious Goodwood Festival as well as the best of the rest from Sandown Park.
QATAR ‘GLORIOUS’ GOODWOOD FESTIVAL, DAY 2
Race 2 WHISPERING ANGEL OAK TREE STAKES (Group 3)
No13 MATILDA PICOTTE (Nap)
Trainer: Ken Cotter – Jockey: Ronan Whelan
MATILDA PICOTTE picked up the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket last autumn and has placed in each of her three starts in Group company this year. Representing a trainer who does well with his overseas runners, she sets a high bar for the others in this distaffers’ race to aim at.
WHITE MOONLIGHT took out the Group 2 Cape Verdi at the Dubai Carnival and has to be taken seriously as she tries to hunt down a hat-trick for Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. BREEGE and SYNDNEYARMS CHELSEA are also musts for exotic wagering in this competitive affair.
Prediction: 1st MADAME PICOTTE, 2nd White Moonlight, 3rd Sydneyarms Chelsea, 4th Breege
Race 3 JAEGER-LECOULTRE MOLECOMB STAKES (Group 3)
No3 BIG EVS
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Jason Hart
Largely respected as a trainer of handicappers, Appleby may well have uncovered one from the junior ranks in Blue Point colt BIG EVS. He plundered the ultra-competitive Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot to look like a horse that is really going places.
The selection can expect BARNWELL BOY to finish closer than the nine and a half lengths he was adrift on that occasion, while Baheer is one to respect granted his trainer’s good record with juveniles here.
Race 4 QATAR SUSSEX STAKES (Group 1)
No6 PADDINGTON
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
O’Brien can lift the marquee race of the week for the first time since 2016 with the irrepressible PADDINGTON. The Siyouni colt has proved the outstanding success story from Ballydoyle this year, putting together a magnificent six-timer including the Irish Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Eclipse.
Back to his optimum trip of a mile he should shrug aside the attentions of INSPIRAL, who showed with her narrow defeat in the Queen Anne to show that she’s still got what it takes. This pair totally dominate the betting market, though CHINDIT is not entirely out of it if his underwhelming effort in the last-named contest can be snuffed out.
Prediction: 1st PADDINGTON, 2nd Inspiral, 3rd Chindit
Race 5 No9 MAKE IT EASY (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Most of the runners in this fillies’ conditions race have winning form, while some have contested Group races. One such individual is FLORA OF BERMUDA, who was a respectful sixth when drawn on the wrong side in the Queen Mary. She should make her presence felt along with the unbeaten TROPICAL ISLAND, but representing better value is MAKE IT EASY.
The daughter of Mehmas absolutely bolted up at Catterick where she relished the dig in the ground. She’s been in great form at home, and it’s worth noting that jockey Whelan has ridden with credit for the Channons in the past.
Race 7 No5 RHOSCOLYN (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Mera – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
This competitive nightcap can prove a rewarding betting entity in which northern-trained horses could dominate. RHOSCOLYN finished second in the Golden Mile here two years ago, and though in racing’s wilderness afterwards, looked like a horse on the cusp of bouncing back when second at Beverley last week. He’s undoubtedly well handicapped and under Murphy and from a very good draw looks one to be on the right side of.
DARKNESS carries similar confidence to post from the same stable. He had good form at a higher level when trained in France, and showed he’s fully in the zone when opening his UK account at Newmarket.
DARK THIRTY is another to bear in mind from a favourable draw, and can prove a boon to trifectas and quartets for local trainer Hannon,
while the Johnstons have booked Frankie Dettori for LOVE DE VEGA and he also needs respecting.
Prediction: 1st RHOSCOLYN, 2nd Darkness, 3rd Dark Thirty, 4th Love De Vega
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 No1 TREVOR
Trainer: Pat Phelan – Jockey: Paddy Bradley
You won’t see a weaker nursery run on a Grade 1 track this year, and the door is open for TREVOR to put his best foot forward. The selection wasn’t beaten far in a Windsor novice and should give a good account in this first run in a handicap for a trainer who knows the time of day.
Race 3 No4 EMPEROR’S STAR (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
Sea The Stars colt EMPEROR’S STAR failed to justify the support for him on debut but can show he’s learned in spades from that Newmarket defeat. With all the boxes ticked he can stave off the attentions of some well-related newcomers.
Race 5 No4 BERNADINE
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Georgia Dobie
BERNADINE has hardly put a foot wrong for a trainer who excels with improving three-year-old fillies of her ilk. She notched a third triumph of the campaign in great style at Nottingham before a very good effort in defeat when raised in class at Ascot. On the balance of form she’s the one to be on.
