In the Richmond Stakes Threat looks the obvious one after a close second in the Coventry. Hannon's horse stank in the Vintage Stakes the other day though and some Coventry rivals lock horns again with not a lot to make up on the 6/4 Fav. Someone said they thought Guildsman found the ground too fast next time up but I just don't like Archie Watson from a progression point of view with his youngsters. Symbolise is tipped in places but I don't think the Windsor Castle was a great renewal and it's only a Listed race, with another worry being several form lines being tattered by Platinum Star and Visinari in the Vintage Stakes. As a value option I went with Golden Horde. He progressed nicely to win well on his second start and he was not disgraced by any means with a 5th in the Coventry Stakes. Clive Cox is having a decent spell and Golden Horde may find Goodwood more to his liking than Ascot. At 9/1 I felt Golden Horde was a decent option. You can get each-way four places with SkyBet. I thought Volatile Agent looked better than the bare result on his only start and he may surprise a few at 40/1. The Gordon Stakes is probably make or break time for my ante-post St Leger horse Constantinople. I thought he looked a candidate when winning his maiden at 2YO. The Leger trip should suit him but for now he has operated at shorter. He has made steady progress this year and was just touched off when I backed him in a big field Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. He has been nibbled in the St Leger betting as stablemates have dropped in popularity but I think he needs to win today to cement his place at Doncaster in September. I would imagine the Voltigeur would be next if he were to win today. He was available at 7/2 early for today's race but is generally 2/1 now. Spanish Mission was yet another of my selections who went on to win next time without my money on and he set a course record into the bargain at Newmarket. The 3rd there, Nate The Great, let the form down when last of six behind South Sea Pearl and beaten a long way next time out though. I'll play Constantinople in a double today. The Nassau is being seen as a penalty kick for Hermosa by some judges but I think it's an open contest. Gosden's Mehdaayih put a poor Oaks run behind her next tome but I am not sure of the strength of the form however she remains of interest. Channel is on the up and won the Prix Diane last time but that was a race of small margins where Siyarafina disappointed as favourite and it's hard to escape the notion that a small distance covering half a dozen fillies is a sign of mediocrity. Maqsad hacked up in the Pretty Polly and travelled well in the Oaks before stamina clearly gave way. That Pretty Polly has been whiffy since though and not having run since the Oaks suggests that race might have run the guts out of her. Rawdaa has some solid efforts without winning but I prefer winning form. I am going to give Mehdaayih the chance to progress and will double her with Constantinople. In the 4.45 race one of my shortlist for the Oaks finally makes her debut. Salsa is by Galileo and I am surprised she comes to Goodwood to start over 7F. You would think a mile will suit better in time this season and she is weak in the betting today, from as low as 9/4 out to as big as 5/1. I've had a couple of quid on for the Oaks at 33/1 and could not resist a bet at 5/1 in case she proves forward enough to win today. 2.25 Goodwood Golden Horde 9/1 EW 1-2-3-4 places 3.00 Goodwood Constantinople 9/4 3.35 Goodwood Mehdaayih 11/4 (Win Double) 4.45 Goodwood Salsa 5/1
Or not ..... Other good animals hindered by the Reebok millions are: Guildsman, Spanish Mission and Medhaayia
Fashion correspondents at Goodwood ffs? I can just about understand it at RA, but wtf are they doing here? Symbolise is my punt against the fav in the Richmond Stakes
I'm sitting in front of the telly in a fez. Reebs = your fashion guru Guildsman - don't say you weren't warned, my dosh weighs more than your dosh
.... I was thinking the same about Spencer..... If he'd have got up he'd have been praised to the heavens, but has to take the flak when he doesn't. Which is more often than not. Not that I'm any kind of horse rider myself!
Hermosa a worthy fav and id like to see Moore get a good winner as hes been getting a lot of stick recently, yes hes having a bad season but people forgetting just how good he has been for a decade and he will bounce back. Bit short though as I think she was flattered by the track bias at the Curragh, taking Sun Maiden 12/1 for an interest, always looked potentially high class and looks to have improved from 3 to 4, her half sister Midday loved it here.
