Today’s Advice
DIEGO EL QUESO (9f 197y Hcap) – Eighteen runners go to post for the (1.50) Goodwood Chesterfield Cup and like most races around Goodwood’s undulating racecourse it is a tricky looking contest. Favourite Noble Horizon would appear to be one of the more interesting contenders as he posted a career best (112) timefigure on the clock early last month when making all at Leicester over 10f and bolting up by 5.5 lengths in a Class 4 handicap. The handicapper has put him up 10lb for that performance and he returns off a 50 day break with the possibility of pace pressure which was enough to make me go looking for an alternative.
The selection caught the eye last time out at Leopardstown over 9f in the Nasrullah Premier Handicap when not getting the clearest of runs through from the rear before finishing best of the entire field going down by 1.25 lengths to the Willie Mullins trained Thread Of Gold. The four-year-old gelding has proven very consistent this season with a victory over 10f at the same venue and a runner-up finish at The Curragh on seasonal debut. He has risen 12lb in the handicap as a result, and it should be noted that trainer Ger Lyons has only sent 5 contestants over to Goodwood since 2013 with a win for Lady Iman in last season’s Molecombe Stakes and a couple of placed efforts from Siskin in 2020 and Harmonic Note in 2013. The draw in stall 17 may appear a negative at first glance but four of the last five winners of this race came from a double figure draw. Regular pilot Colin Keane is back on board once again and at almost twice the price of the Oli Rix trained favourite he looks to represent a bit of value.
QIRAT (7f Group 2) – The (3.00) Goodwood Lennox Stakes has a short priced favourite in Lake Forest at the head of the market and while the handicapper has rated him the best of the eight contestants we know from past performances that the five-year-old gelding does need plenty to go right for him as he likes to be switched off in the rear. He was beaten fair and square in last year’s contest by prominent racer Witness Stand (who re-opposes again this year) although on recent form it looks like the Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole trained runner might not be in a similar vein of form.
The selection has no such worries having won last time out by a length and a half from Never So Brave in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at York. Having raced prominently on that occasion it looked like the writing was on the wall as the Andrew Balding trained favourite loomed up menacingly two furlongs out but the son of Showcasing was having none of it and battled back when headed to come out a worthy winner. With a record of 3-3 at Goodwood, and having nicked last year’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes from the front, the likeable Ralph Beckett trained gelding looks to have plenty in his favour for tomorrow’s contest.
ANNASTARZY (8f Hcap) – This Riichard Hannon trained three-year-old filly looks to complete a four-timer in the (5.20) Goodwood and judging by the form of her latest victory over 7f at Newbury she looks one to keep on the right side of going forward. She raced prominently on that occasion and having taken up the running over a furlong from home was a comfortable 1.25 length winner from Commander Of Life at the line. The runner-up has gone in at Doncaster last week and the fourth place finisher Best Rate (a stablemate of the winner) has won his next two races. A course and distance winner last month, with next time out winners Ciarrai Abu and Mr Writer in behind, the three-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars looks to have plenty more room for improvement. Regular pilot Joe Leavy takes the ride again, and despite the presence of a few lightly raced contenders she looks to be the most likely winner.
TUESDAY GOODWOOD DAY 1 SELECTIONS:
1pt e/way Diego El Queso (9/1 Paddy Power, Skybet, 17/2 William Hill, Betfred, Unibet 5 places) 1.50 Goodwood
1pt e/way Qirat (9/2 Paddy Power, Skybet, William Hill) 3.00 Goodwood
1pt e/way Annastarzy (5/1 Paddy Power, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral 4 places) 5.20 Goodwood