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13:50 Goodwood
Secret State arrives here on the back of Royal Ascot success, holding off the challenge of subsequent Group 3 winner Deauville Legend to win the King George V Stakes, and it’s that form which catapults Charlie Appleby’s runner to the head of the early markets. He looks a worthy favourite and the most likely winner, however it’s unlikely there will be much juice in the price.
William Haggas runs two and both look to hold solid each way chances. Soulcombe is two from two since stepping up in trip and still looks capable of further progression, while Mandobi had also looked progressive before a disappointing run at Royal Ascot where he raced a little keenly and plotted a wider than ideal course, eventually coming home in fourteenth.
Box To Box has been in excellent form since switching to Hugo Palmer, winning three from four including a comfortable four length success at Chester earlier in the month. He’s another likely to get in the mix but at a slightly bigger price I am swaying towards Teumessias Fox who was only a couple of lengths behind Secret State when sixth at 50/1 at Royal Ascot in June and was only caught late on by Soulcombe when last seen, having made all of the running. He looks to have enough about him to make the frame and it’s entirely possible that he could find the necessary improvement to gain the victory.
TEUMESSIAS FOX (E/W) written by Dean Kilbryde 14:25 Goodwood
This looks devilishly difficult to decipher and the draw could play a significant role in the outcome. French raiders have an excellent recent record and have taken three of the last seven renewals. Represented by the unexposed, Samahram, this time around, there must be a fair chance of the raiders once again plundering the prize and a good deal of respect is advised.
Heredia lost her unbeaten record when flopping at Sandown the last day, that effort came on the back of two excellent wins at York and Royal Ascot however and there is every chance the Hannon trained filly will bounce right back.
Bounce The Blues has plenty of form to be seriously considered although she usually finds one too good and is taken on for win purposes despite coming from a yard bang in form.
Primo Bacio is another to consider and she has some very strong, top class fillies form. Entitled to appreciate this drop in class and partnered by the excellent Richard Kingscote, she really ought to be right there at the end.
Soft Whisper beat Bounce The Blues, Improvised, She Do and Internationalangel when making all at Chelmsford. Already proven on turf and one of the only likely looking pace angles, she looks a worthy favourite and is expected to make a good fist of it. Oscula, Benefit and Roman Mist warrant consideration in an open heat but with Frankie on top, it is Samahram who is handed the vote.
SAMHRAM (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly 15:00 Goodwood
The Molecomb Stakes Group 3 will be over the flying 5F at Goodwood, Walbank looks an out and out sprinter on what he’s shown so far. A tad unlucky to have stumbled at the start in the Norfolk Stakes, that put him on the back foot and no doubt he would have been closer. Havana Grey has hit the ground running as a sire and his son Eddie’s Boy has been a great purchase for Middleham Park Racing and was an impressive winner of the Super Sprint. He won’t be far away come the finish but is likely to have to settle for a place.
Rocket Rodney will take a lot of stopping on all known form, he has the beating of Eddie’s Boy on the run at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle. He then took his form up a notch in my opinion in the Dragon Stakes at Sandown when winning comfortably. This strong travelling gelding should take his record to three wins from five starts today.
ROCKET RODNEY (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
15:35 Goodwood
Baaeed has firmly established himself as the top miler of his generation, winning eight in a row including four Group 1 races. Already successful in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne this season, it would be somewhat of a shock if he fails to maintain his unbeaten record – yet at the price he simply cannot be backed so instead we will look for the most likely to chase him home and bag the runner-up spot.
Alcohol Free won this race last season but finished almost six lengths behind Baaeed in the Lockinge and was also beaten over eight lengths when they met last season so doesn’t look capable of reversing that form and instead we turn to Order Of Australia who was only fifth in this race last season but has since put in some solid performances in defeat behind the likes of Palace Pier and Baaeed. He arrives on the back of a facile Group 2 victory at The Curragh earlier in the month and should be capable of securing second.
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (E/W)
written by Dean Kilbryde
16:10 Goodwood
Sea Speedwell ran a great race when second at Leicester earlier in the month, giving over a stone to the winner and only losing out by less than a length. Given that run, and her trainers’ excellent recent form, she will likely have plenty of supporters and looks to hold a solid chance.
Natasha finished third on re-appearance at Newmarket earlier in the month and should be capable of building on that with the cobwebs blown away, while State Occasion has been an admirably consistent runner, making the frame in nine of his eleven runs, and finished third on her only prior attempt over this trip so there is every reason to think that she can again make her presence felt.
All of the above are respected, yet for our selection we turn to Lyrical Lady who won by four lengths over this trip at Salisbury in June and wasn’t disgraced at Listed level over a mile last time out. Re-united with George Rooke for todays’ race, she should appreciate the step back up in trip and also looks capable of further improvement so gets the vote.
LYRICAL LADY (WIN) written by Dean Kilbryde
16:45 Goodwood
The Alice Keppel Stakes is another race over the flying 5F but this is a Conditions Stakes. The Platinum Queen will likely be a strong favourite and she deserves to be such. This Cotai Glory filly was an impressive winner at York and she may well win again today but there isn’t much value in her price. Star Of Lady M has been a star for connections and she is the winning most two-year-old in Britain this season currently. She deserves the upmost respect and likely won’t be far away come the finish.
Union Court is my selection each/way though as I can’t see her not finishing in the three, she has shown a fair level of form to be more than competitive in this. Highly tried in the Windsor Castle she did not disgrace herself and then followed that with a good fifth in the Super Sprint. A reproduction of those runs will she her surely in the places today.
UNION COURT (E/W) written by Michael Taylor