Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It’s the height of summer and the TV cameras are at one of the most visually beautiful courses in the country, that is Glorious Goodwood. ITV are covering no fewer than six races from the Sussex course four of which are handicaps, including the iconic Stewards Cup which is always a real 6-furlong charge across the Downs.
Goodwood is backed up by two races from Newmarket with a Nursery Handicap and a Listed Race neither of which is likely to get into this week’s Lucky Fifteen. So it’s off to Sussex we go for this week’s bets and here are my thoughts.
Saturday Goodwood Lucky Fifteen
1.40 Mokaatil
2.10 Euchen Glen
3.20 Popmaster
3.55 Positive Impact
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning with the 1.40 the Coral Stewards Sprint Handicap which is a consolation race for those who didn’t make it into the big race proper. It is run over the same distance of 6 furlongs and was won last year by Mr Wagyu who this year runs in the big race itself.
The top weight here is Kevin Ryan’s Digital who ran poorly at Ascot earlier this month.
James Evans’s Dream Composer is a course and distance winner having won here in June. Since then, he has run twice at Pontefract without success and is making a large step up in class here.
Andrew Balding’s Stone Of Destiny was another who ran poorly at Ascot and his run of defeats stretching back two years is unlikely to end here.
Lethal Levi has won his last two races for Kevin Burke both of which were at Newmarket and even though he has a 6lb penalty, he will go close.
Ian Williams’s horses go well in handicaps like this and he runs Mokaatil who won at Epsom in April. Since then, he was a creditable fourth in the Dash on Derby day and I see no problem in him stepping up to 6f, a distance he won over at Nottingham two years ago. He is my selection.
The Coral Summer Handicap is at 2.10 and Andrew Balding’s Valley Forge is the bookies’ choice for this 1m 6f race. He ran well for a long way in the Northumberland Plate until fading over the last furlong perhaps this drop in trip may suit but I’m not sure.
Jim Goldie’s Euchen Glen makes the long trip south but with top weight, this Group winner will need to be at the top of his game.
Charlie and Mark Johnson Soapy Stevens is fancied to run up a hat-trick of wins after victories at Newmarket and Chester but he looks well-weighted.
The Gosdens Trawlerman flattered to deceive when winning the first time out at Chelmsford in April but has disappointed since he would need to show improvement just to make the frame.
Richard Hughes’s Bascule showed fine form last season winning four times on the all-weather but I cannot see him continuing that run on turf at Goodwood. I think the class horse in the race will bring his A-game to this and Euchen Glen can come home at a nice price.
At 3.20 is the big race of the day the Coral Stewards Cup a 6-furlong sprint. John Quinn’s Mr Wagyu is fancied in some quarters after his win at the Curragh a fortnight ago but I’m worried this race may come too soon after that victory.
Ed Walker has a strong hand with Popmaster and Great Ambassador. He says of Popmaster this could be his last handicap before he moves up in class. That’s how good he thinks he is.
As to Great Ambassador, he has 11lbs more to carry than when finishing third last year. The top weight is Andrew Balding’s Chil Chil who raced freely in defeat at Newbury two weeks ago. I think he comes here in readiness for the big sprints at York and Haydock. He has a lot to carry here.
George Boughey’s Inver Park moved up in class to win a top-rated handicap at Ascot in June but he meets better horses here. Summerghand won this for David O’Meara in 2020 but his form recently has dipped.
Last year’s winner was Michael Dod’s Commanche Falls who reared and unseated his rider at Ascot last month. But he still retains his class and is sure to go well.
I will go along with Ed Walker and take Popmaster to go one better than he did last time at Ascot.
Finally, we have the Medallia Handicap at 3.55, a 7f race with Charlie and Mark Johnston’s I’m a Gambler heading the weights. He won twice in May but he had no success since.
George Boughey’s Koy Koy was a fine winner of a small race at Newmarket last time when gambled on. I’m not sure of that form.
Hugo Palmer’s Roman Dragon has only ever won at Chester and the form from that course never seems to work out.
Richard Hughes’s Zero Carbon has won his last three latterly when beating William Haggas’s Spirit Of Nguru when these two fought out the finish at Haydock earlier this month. I expect them both to be there at the climax here.
But my preference is for Simon and Ed Crisford’s Positive Impact who has been consistent all season. He won a small race at Brighton in June, then was only headed at the post three weeks ago at Newmarket. He can go one better and take this.
Saturday Goodwood Lucky Fifteen
1.40 Mokaatil
2.10 Euchen Glen
3.20 Popmaster
3.55 Positive Impact
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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