We move to day two of Glorious Goodwood Festival 2024. We share our tips and picks for the whole card including the day’s big feature: the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.
GLORIOUS GOODWOOD – DAY 2
Race 1 – SUBSEQUENT 9/2
Day two’s card kicks off with a competitive 1½-mile handicap that sees the three market leaders covered by barely a single betting point.
Of those, the Gosden-trained Lord Of Love looks a strong contender as he looks to complete a hat-trick, but he might have his hands full against Andrew Balding’s SUBSEQUENT, who lines up boasting the same 211 figures from his last three outings.
Off the mark with a tidy win in a novice affair at Haydock, he backed that up on handicap debut at Salisbury a month ago, easing home by half a length under Silvestre De Sousa.
Oisin Murphy resumes duties here, and looks sure to give Subsequent the best chance of replicating the yard’s 25/1 winner, The Goat, in this renewal a year ago.
Race 2 – FAIR ANGELLICA 11/2
FAIR ANGELLICA can follow up a victory in France with another success in the Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes.
Richard Hughes’ filly had a hat-trick of victories in her juvenile season as she came home in front at Kempton, Chelmsford and Newmarket.
She made her return for her three-year-old season on the Sussex Downs but found Mission To Moon too good as she trailed in a length behind.
She returned to the all-weather at Kempton and comfortably saw off the field to win when two and a quarter lengths clear of the pack.
FAIR ANGELLICA disappointed in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot, coming home 23rd of 30 runners 18 lengths adrift of Soprano.
But she put that right in Listed company at Deauville, beating Francis-Henri Graffard’s Les Pavots by one and three-quarter lengths.
Race 3- AESTERIUS 2/1
AESTERIUS can make it three wins from four in the Group Three Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes.
The son of Mehmas impressed on his racecourse debut, romping home by two and three-quarter lengths at Bath.
The Archie Watson-trained colt then stepped up to Group Two level in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot but saw fellow Wathnan Racing-owned Shareholder take the honours as he galloped home in fifth, but not beaten far.
A drop in grade to Listed Company bore fruit as he landed the Dragon Stakes at Sandown and a step back up to Group level can pay dividends in the hands of James Doyle.
Race 4 – FACTEUR CHEVAL 11/2
Tuesday’s withdrawal of strongly fancied Rosallion might be bad news for racing fans (and ante-post bettors in particular), but it’s a shot in the arm for the five remaining runners, who are now expected to be spearheaded by Aidan O’Brien’s Henry Longfellow and 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech.
They’re understandably vying for the favourite tag, but with both on the firmer side of 2/1 at the time of writing, we’re prepared to look elsewhere for more appealing value in what should be an intriguing Sussex Stakes.
Of the other three starters, Maljoom and Sonny Liston look most likely to be out of their depth, but FACTEUR CHEVAL has already proved himself at this level when finishing just 1½ lengths behind the heavily-backed Paddington in last year’s edition of this race.
That runner-up spot was one of four placed finishes at Group 1 level last summer, and he hit the ground running in similar company on his 2024 debut, seeing off 15 rivals to land the Dubai Turf at Meydan.
Royal Ascot’s fast ground proved his undoing in the Queen Anne Stakes, but he’s the type to bounce back, and under usual rider Maxime Guyon he could well be in position to pounce should either of the two principals falter.
Race 5 – AL ANOUD 6/1
Power Of Destiny and Elladonna look the likely market leaders under Oisin Murphy and Ryan Moore respectively, and while that duo certainly boast the most impressive credentials in terms of recent form, our final nod of approval is directed towards Ralph Beckett’s lightly-raced four-year-old, AL ANOUD.
The way this game filly nicked both of her only two three-year-old starts, winning by a neck and a head respectively in the final strides, showcased her quality, her staying power and her appetite for competition.
She kicked off this season with a decent runner-up spot on her handicap debut at Windsor in May, while she was clearly unsuited by being asked to last 12 furlongs when last seen at Pontefract five weeks ago.
Back to her optimum trip, she will need to overcome the outside draw here, but it won’t be a surprise to see Hector Crouch bide his time before producing Al Anoud late on again to pinch at least a spot in the frame.
Race 6 – COTO DE CAZA 5/4
The bookies are all over COTO DE CAZA here, and that support should prove justified if the Crisford team’s two-year-old can reproduce anything like her performance at Beverley a fortnight ago.
Such was the imperious ease of her five-length success that day that she would probably not have been out of her depth at Group level this week, so she is definitely the one to beat under Harry Davies in this fillies’ conditions contest.
The favourite’s short price boosts the each-way value of all of her 11 rivals, with Charlie Appleby’s Lucky Gift possibly flying low under the bookies radar at a double-digit price.
Elsewhere, the only career debutant, Ollie Sangster’s newcomer Radio Star, could also possibly be worth monitoring in the betting to see if her pedigree attracts any market support on her first appearance.
Race 7 – METAVERSE 15/2
METAVERSE can complete a quickfire double in the HKJC World Pool Handicap.
The four-year-old son of Starspangledbanner started his season with two near misses when beaten just a neck and head respectively at Kempton and Newbury.
He then finally got his nose in front when leading Ararat home by one and a quarter lengths at Newmarket earlier this month and David Menuisier’s gelding can follow up in Sussex.
