Day One Glorious Goodwood Preview 2023

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 12:40
3(13)
Rowan Scott

Acklam Express

J: Rowan Scott
T: Nigel Tinkler
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 9-7
OR: 100
Days: 54

The first race of the day on day one of Glorious Goodwood is the Coral Handicap over 5f and we are taking a swing at one horse at a big price and that is Acklam Express.

A five year old that has some quality back form finishing third in the 2022 Group One King Stands Stakes a Listed winner at York and back in 2020 he was a winner at this meeting over course and distance.

He has slightly lost his way over the last 18 months with some lesser performances albeit in better races than what he faces on Tuesday.

This term he has been seen five times already finishing a good fourth in the Listed Dubai Dash at Meydan and then over the same C&D finished a close fifth in the Group Two Blue Point Sprint.

His form slightly dipped after that running no race in the Group Three Nad Al Sheba over 6f at Meydan and then he went to Haydock and blew out again only beating one home.

Last seen in a handicap at Hamilton when once again underperforming, he has been dropped 2lb off the back of that run and now getting back to a track he performs well at and softer ground that he handles, he looks overpriced.

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 13:15
3(7)
Oisin Murphy

Array

J: Oisin Murphy
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 2
Weight: 9-2
OR: N/A
Days: 26

Next up is the Maiden Stakes over 6f and Array at the top of the market could be very tough to beat off the back of his debut run.

Seen once to date when finishing a strong second at Newbury over 6f, he is likely to improve for that run and looks the one to beat on form.

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 13:50
6(6)
William Buick

Caius Chorister

J: William Buick
T: David Menuisier
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 99
Days: 37

Another tricky punting race on the first day is the Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap over 1m2f and we like the chances of Caius Chorister for David Menuisier.

A horse that was big improver last season when rattling off a five timer and bringing up her fifth win at this meeting last season when landing a handicap over 1m3f.

Reaching a mark of 99 towards the end of last season it looked as though the handicapper started to catch up with her, but after a break she returned this season at Epsom where she bounced back to form with a close second behind a nice horse in Bad Company over 1m2f on soft ground.

Second again at Epsom at the Derby meeting when stepped up in trip to 1m4f, she was last seen upped to Listed level at Pontefract and ran no race when finishing last of 10.

Dropping back into a handicap showing that she can handle her mark of 99 at a track she performs well at and getting back to softer conditions, she looks to have plenty going for her and she should go close.

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 14:25
2(4)
Sean Levey

Haatem

J:
 
Sean Levey
T:
 
Richard Hannon
Age: 2
Weight: 9-3
OR: 102
Days: 17

One of the big races of the afternoon on Tuesday from Goodwood is the Group Two Vintage Stakes and its hard to see past the favourite Haatem.

A model of consistency in his five runs this term starting his career off at Goodwood when finishing a close third over 5f and he learnt a lot for the experience.

He showed that when winning next time out in very impressive fashion at Bath bolting up by six lengths in a Maiden over 5.5f.

Sent into the Woodcote at Epsom a the Derby meeting he finished another competitive third behind the talented Bobsleigh and Balon D'Or.

Last seen at Newmarket on the July Course when stepped up to 7f for the first time he finished a good second behind City Of Troy in the Group Two Superlative Stakes.

That is by far the best form on offer and if running to the same level he should take this easier event.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
23/09/23NBY6Hy9-65
25/08/23YOR6GF9-59
01/08/23GOO7GS9-31
15/07/23NMK7GS9-32
20/06/23ASC6Gd9-35
Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 15:00
4(1)
Frankie Dettori

Kinross

J: Frankie Dettori
T: Ralph Beckett
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-5
OR: 119
Days: 17

The Group Two Lennox Stakes over 7f looks set to be a cracking contest and we think Kinross is extremely tough to beat going back to 7f on his ideal softer ground.

A horse that has been superb for connections especially last season, really kicking off his good run of form in this race last year when finishing a neck second to Sandrine.

Sent to York next time out he got off the mark for the season when landing the Group Two City Of York Stakes over 7f in good style.

He made it back to back successes at Doncaster when landing the Group Two Park Stakes on soft ground and then bought up the hat-trick when landing the Group One Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp.

He couldn't stop his good run of form when bringing up the four timer at Ascot in the Group One Champions Sprint Stakes and he rounded out the season at Keeneland when stepping up to a mile and finishing a close third behind multiple Group One winner Modern Games.

Seen twice this term he started his season off at Royal Ascot in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes when not getting the run of the race but he bounced back to form last time out when finishing a good third at Newmarket in the Group One July Cup.

Dropping in grade and getting back to softer conditions over his preferred 7f make him the one to beat.

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 15:35
2(11)
Oisin Murphy

Coltrane

J: Oisin Murphy
T: Andrew Balding
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-11
OR: 117
Days: 40

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group One Goodwood Cup over two miles and we are giving another chance to Coltrane who we hope can reverse the form from Royal Ascot with Courage Mon Ami.

He took his form to a new level last term when finishing a good second in the Chester Vase in May last term and off the back of that came into the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and went on to take the event from the well handicapped Bring On The Night off a mark of 98.

He built on that to make it back to back wins in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown and then ran another cracker to finish just over four lengths back in fourth in the Group One Goodwood Cup behind Kyprios, Stradivarius and Trueshan.

Seen three more times before the end of the season he was second at York behind the runaway winner Quickthorn in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup and then got back to winning ways in the Group Two Doncaster Stakes, seeing off the smart stayer Trueshan.

Finishing the season off at Ascot in the Group Two Long Distance Cup he was just pipped by the three time winner of the race Trueshan.

Back this season starting at Ascot over two miles in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes he looked better than ever when pulling away from a good field to bolt up.

He was last seen at Royal Ascot in the Group One Gold Cup and in a humdinger of a race he was seen off late on by the younger less exposed Courage Mon Ami.

Dropping back to two miles we feel that Coltrane can reverse the form.

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 16:05
12(18)
Jim Crowley

Rowayeh

J: Jim Crowley
T: Owen Burrows
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-1
OR: 85
Days: 45

The penultimate selection on day one of the meeting sees the Coral Fillies' Handicap over a mile and we are siding with Rowayeh for the inform Owen Burrows.

Seen just once as a juvenile at Newcastle over 7f when showing a glimpse of what was to come, she was then put away for her three year old campaign.

Starting this season of at Newmarket when third in a Maiden at Newmarket behind a nice type in Silver Lady, she then went to Beverley and got off the mark over 8.5f landing a decent Fillies' Maiden by a head.

Last seen at Sandown on handicap debut when winning comfortably off a mark of 80, she races here off 5lb higher which she should take in her stride.

Owen Burrows heads into Glorious Goodwood operating at a 50% strike rate for the last two weeks with four winners from eight runners.

Goodwood - July 31 2023
Goodwood 16:35
8(4)
Daniel Tudhope

Silent Words

J: Daniel Tudhope
T: Kevin Ryan
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-3
OR: 86
Days: 38

The final event of the afternoon is the World Pool British EBF Fillies' Handicap over 6f and we have taken a chance on the big priced Silent Words for Kevin Ryan.

A winner on her racecourse debut as a juvenile when looking like a smart type at Newcastle over 5f, this season she hasn't been able to fulfil her potential but now on what looks a decent mark she can resume her progress.

A neck second on seasonal debut this term on good to soft ground over 5f at Hamilton she then went to York and finished four lengths back in fourth behind Great State in the Listed Westow Stakes.

Last seen at Ayr when only beating one home in the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes, she now drops into handicap company off a mark of 86 and it gives her a big chance to get back to form.