Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It’s the final day of Glorious Goodwood and that means the Stewards Cup so the Sussex Downs will reverberate with the sound of huge fields for the handicaps on Saturday. ITV Racing are covering five races from the beautiful Sussex track, four of which are handicaps, including the famous Stewards Cup where Summerghand will try to repeat last year’s success.
There is also a consolation race for that trophy along with a 3-year-old handicap and a 1m 6f race. Added to these handicaps, there is also a Fillies and Mares Group race- the Lily Langtry- where David Menuisier’s Wonderful Tonight will try to continue her winning ways as she comes up against the latest crop of young horses as the 3-year-olds race against their older compatriots.
All this is backed up with a couple of races from Newmarket that include a Listed contest and a 2yo Nursery Handicap. So with all this for us to get our teeth into, here are my thoughts on the Goodwood handicaps for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Goodwood Lucky Fifteen
1.20 Master Zoffany
1.55 Mokaatil
2.30 On To Victory
3.40 Fresh
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The first race on the Saturday Goodwood card is at 1.20 the Thames Materials Handicap for 3-year-olds which is run over 7 furlongs. The top weight is Andrew Balding’s Oo De Lally but his two wins this year have come on Newcastle’s Tapeta track. His latest run was at Chester earlier this month and that was a very poor effort.
Similarly, with Mark Johnston’s Red Mirage whose three-lifetime wins have been on the all-weather, he did not trouble the judges last time on turf at Newmarket.
Spirit Of Bermuda is highly fancied and William Haggas’s filly has won well on her last two outings but she has a tendency to be fractious in the stalls and I am wary of her.
Bottom weight Farasi Lane trained by Tom Ward was a fine winner at Sandown in early July. He steps up in class here and may run into a place.
But my preference is for Richard Fahey Master Zoffany who has won twice at Chester this term and Ripon last year. These are two of the toughest tracks in the country to win at, as is Goodwood, and the manner of his latest victory shows he is a battler. He certainly seems he has the ability to take this.
At 1.55 it’s the Unibet Stewards Sprint Handicap. This is a consolation race for those horses who didn’t make it into the Stewards Cup proper.
At the top of the weights is James Ferguson’s First Folio who has been a revelation this season winning twice latterly at York in June where he won really cleverly. He beat Bickerstaffe that day but Kevin Burke’s colt has come out since and he was a fine winner at Ascot in early July but he incurred a 6lb penalty for that.
Robyn Brisland’s Power Over Me was disqualified last time at Epsom after weighing in 2lbs light. He has previously shown fine form on the all-weather. He should go close.
Last year’s winner, Treacherous, returns for another crack at this, but Ed De Giles’s gelding has not shown that sort of form this season.
But I side with Ian Williams’s Mokaatil who won well at Epsom in June. He has since put in good performances at Ascot and Sandown he now steps up to 6f but that should be no problem as he has won over those distances earlier in his career.
The Summer Handicap is at 2.30 and this is run over Goodwood’s 1m 6f switchback course. The favourite here is David Menuisier’s Nuit St Georges after two fine victories at Salisbury and here at Goodwood, he has since moved up the rankings. He is expected to put up a bold show.
Mark Johnston won this last year with Hochfeld but he has 4lbs more to carry this time around.
Sir Michael Stoute has My Frankel in the lineup who won on the all-weather at Kempton in April. He ran a fine third at Haydock on his latest outing but steps up in trip here.
Roger Charlton’s Win O’Clock was a neck in front of My Frankel that day at Haydock but he also tries this distance for the first time.
Sir Mark Prescott’s Bodyline has his first run of the season after finishing last year with a victory over this distance at Yarmouth but the going may not suit him and he is best watched.
I am keen on the top weight, Alan King’s On To Victory who ran really well here at Goodwood in May finishing second in a Listed contest. King has had this race in mind since then and the stable is currently firing on all cylinders.
At 3.40, we have Unibet Stewards’ Cup run over 6 furlongs with 28 participants. Up at the top of the betting is James Fanshawe’s Fresh who was desperately unlucky when finishing second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. He had several of these behind him that day and I fully expect him to confirm those placings.
Another high in the betting is William Haggas’s Hurricane Ivor who was a fine second in a 5f contest three weeks ago but he has shaped like he should have no trouble with the extra furlong.
Andrew Balding’s Chil Chil has top weight but he was put firmly in his place last time when trying his luck in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket earlier this month. He returns to handicap company but is highly weighted.
Similarly, last year’s winner of this, Summerghand, trained by David O’Meara was well beaten in the July Cup and he has been plying his trade for most of this season in Group and Listed races. He has 1lb less than last year and I expect him to go very close.
An outsider who could run well is Kevin Ryan’s Major Jumbo who will appreciate some cut in the ground but in what looks like a thrilling contest, I just take Fresh over Summerghand.
Goodwood Lucky Fifteen
1.20 Master Zoffany
1.55 Mokaatil
2.30 On To Victory
3.40 Fresh
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365