Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Goodwood Day 2 on 31 July 2024.
QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL DAY 2 WEDNESDAY
Race 1 No3 SUBSEQUENT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
SUBSEQUENT has the upwardly mobile profile of a horse that can do well in the Day 2 opener and for connections who rarely leave the meeting empty-handed. The Galileo gelding has attracted support in breaking his maiden at Haydock and delivering on handicap debut at Salisbury and looks one to keep on the right side of. The assessor hasn’t taken any chances with him, but I feel that what beats him will win. ATTILA THE HONEY reappears five days after getting mugged by another horse from the Balding stable at Ascot and rates a potent threat. The grey’s chances will improve should she get onto an uncontested lead, but that might be hard to achieve breaking from stall 12. Regardless of this, it’s my view that ATTILA THE HONEY is well worth a saver.
Race 2 VISIT QATAR OAK TREE STAKES (Group 3)
No10 STOP THE CAVALRY (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
While most of the contenders for an excellent distaffers’ race have already been tried at Listed or Group level, STOP THE CAVALRY is something of an exception. She did contest black type on her final of two juvenile outings but came back to land the spoils in a Chester handicap in which she was well on top at the finish. Her trainer is a master at getting the best out of three-year-old fillies and if she’s close to her forecast double-figure price she’s definitely worth chancing. BREEGE is one that requires close inspection after going close in a Chester Listed equipped with first-time blinkers. John Quinn’s charge also ran well to a point at Royal Ascot. JABAARA is a classy individual and a worthy favourite, but with that doesn’t offer much in the way of value. KATHMANDU is like the Nap less exposed and can get into the argument.
Prediction: 1st STOP THE CAVALRY, 2nd Kathmandu, 3rd Breege, 4th Jabaara
Race 3 JAEGER-LECOULTRE MOLECOMB STAKES (Group 3)
No2 ARRAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert
Even though AESTERIUS dominates the market for this juvenile sprint it wouldn’t be such a surprise if they’re one that can beat him. Fifteen take on the son of Mehmas, with the best formlines emanating from Super Sprint runner-up VINGEGAARD and CELANDINE, who can cope with a drop back to 1000 metres. SOLDIER’S HEART has improvement in him but the one that might have gone under the radar is ARRAN. He started off with a cosy win at Newmarket only to go out like a light after halfway in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s been given plenty of time to regather himself, and if anywhere near as good as his connections think he is can bounce back.
Race 4 QATAR SUSSEX STAKES (Group 1)
No6 ROSALLION
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
Showdowns between the top three-year-olds have been a hallmark of the Sussex Stakes over the years. Remembering Kings Lake, Toronado, Frankel, Kingman and Too Darn Hot as just a small but select group to grace its roll of honour, with the baton surely about to pass to one of today’s ‘big three’ NOTABLE SPEECH, HENRY LONGFELLOW or ROSALLION. While the former needs to show his underwhelming run in the St James’s Palace Stakes to be all wrong, Henry Longfellow has just a neck to make up with ROSALLION from that Royal Ascot contest. The vibes from Coolmore are that Henry Longfellow has never been better and in his favour is that he’s enjoyed a lighter campaign than ROSALLION. FACTEUR CHEVAL could enter calculations if back to the form that earned him a Dubai Turf triumph for France at Meydan and rates the pick of the older runners, but a turn of foot has often proved the deciding factor in this race and ROSALLION is blessed with one that can seal him the accolade of champion miler.
Race 5 No9 POWER OF DESTINY
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
As the least experienced runner in this nursery POWER OF DESTINY has room for progression on a first handicap outing and for top connections. The daughter of Sea The Stars lost no caste in defeat when trying to give her conqueror 7lb at Nottingham and can halt the winning run of ELLADONNA. Fellow three-year-old WARDA JAMILA brings good earlier form to the table after not enjoying the rub of the green on her latest two outings, while WISPER is not without hope on a belated first visit to this course, having put in her best run of the season last time.
Race 6 No1 BAILEYS JUBILATION (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
Johnston’s runners here are always worth a second look and a big showing from BAILEY’S JUBILATION would not be the biggest surprise. The Oasis Dream filly opened her account as a well-supported favourite at Lingfield after running well at Newmarket and in successive visits to York. That recent win has boosted her confidence for this clash with COTO DE CAZA while any support for the only newcomer in the field RADIO STAR would be of interest.
Race 7 No16 BLUE PRINCE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: David Probert
In a very competitive race for punters looking to jump out of jail, BLUE PRINCE could offer some serious value at forecast odds of around 20-1. The son of Blue Point has shown he can look after himself at this level including a solid earning run behind Qirat here in May. Things didn’t go quite his way in a couple of recent defeats at Chester, but importantly he has a very good draw on this turning 1400 metres and will hopefully obtain a handy stalking position running down the hill. YORKSHIRE has good form going back, and from the rail is not one to leave out, but hat-trick seeker MISS INFORMATION and course specialist DARKNESS may both have their chances compromised by being drawn wide.
Prediction: 1st BLUE PRINCE, 2nd Miss Information, 3rd Yorkshire, 4th Darkness
