Tuesday 29th July 2025
Glorious Goodwood Selections (Day 1)
1.20: Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap
This year’s Glorious Goodwood Festival kicks off at 1.20 on Tuesday with the Chesterfield Cup, which is a Class 2 handicap that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. This is the first of many highly competitive handicaps throughout the week, and I’ve tried my hand with two selections against the field. The first of which is Defiance for Roger Varian and Silvestre De Sousa. He ran well when dropped into handicap company at Epsom last time out, in what was a Class 2 affair, finishing fourth of thirteen and keeping on in the closing stages. He’d been contesting pattern races before that, and should have more to offer within handicap company, in particular in this affair off the same mark as his Epsom effort.
I also like Ancient Rome here for Charlie Hills and Jamie Spencer. He ran well on his penultimate start in a competitive Sandown handicap when finishing three-quarters of a length third of eight, off the same mark as his current one. He wasn’t able to follow it up at York last time out; however, a return to this track might spark him back into life once more, and he’ll contest this race off a five-pound lower mark than when he won it back in 2023.
DEFIANCE – 5/1 (Each-Way)
ANCIENT ROME – 12/1 (Each-Way)
1.55: Coral Vintage Stakes
We move up in grade at 1.55 with the Group 2 Coral Vintage Stakes, which is contested over a distance of seven furlongs. I’m taking a chance on the Ed Walker filly here in Do Or Do Not, who’s the mount of Tom Marquand. She’s still a maiden after four starts; however, she has three second-placed efforts to her name in her last three outings, with the last two coming within Group 2 company. Firstly, she ran a huge race at big odds to finish second at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes behind the exciting Gstaad, and then most recently was a length second behind Zavateri in the July Stakes at Newmarket. She’ll take on that rival again here, but three pounds better off at the weights. The step up to seven here also looks sure to suit, and she looks a decent each-way play.
DO OR DO NOT – 8/1 (Each-Way)
2.30: HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes
The third race of the afternoon is the Lennox Stakes, a Group 2 contest over seven furlongs. I’m with one of my favourite horses in training in this particular affair, and that’s Kinross for the team of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. He’s got a fine record in this contest, having won it twice previously, and looked as though he still retained plenty of his ability when finishing a head second to Ten Bob Tony on his seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock in May, however, he’s now five pounds better off with that rival here. He should naturally progress following that run and be considerably fitter here, and I think that he’s got every chance of adding another Group race success to his impressive CV.
KINROSS – 4/1 (Each-Way) (NB)
3.05: Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes
Our first Group 1 of the week comes up at 3.05 and this is the Goodwood Cup that’s ridden over a distance of two miles. Illinois will be a warm order here on the back of his Ascot Gold Cup second to Trawlerman, and he’s probably the correct favourite and the choice of Ryan Moore. However, I’m taking him on, though, with his stablemate in Scandinavia, who’s the mount of Wayne Lordan. He looked exciting when winning the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket last time out over a mile and five furlongs by eight and a half lengths, and looked the better the further he went that day, giving the impression that two miles should be right up his street. He also gets a stone in weight off the entire field here, and I think that makes him a serious player.
SCANDINAVIA – 10/3 (Win)
3.45: Coral Golden Rewards Shaker Handicap
It’s back within handicap action at 3.45 with a Class 2 handicap that’s ridden over five furlongs. This is another extremely competitive affair; however, I’ve come down on the Robert Cowell trained Jakajaro, who’s set to be ridden by Jamie Spencer. It’s been a while since his last success; however, he’s been steadily dropping down the weights whilst still running well within competitive contests. He was unlucky not to be a lot closer at Ascot last time, when he finished sixth in a Heritage Handicap, travelling well before not getting a clear run, and he’ll contest this off the same mark as that Ascot run, which is only three pounds higher than his last winning one.
JAKAJARO – 10/1 (Each-Way)
4.20: British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes
My final selection of the afternoon comes within the 4.20 and this is my strongest bet of the day. It’s a Class 2 maiden over six furlongs, and I’m strong on the chances of Naval Light here for Karl Burke and James Doyle. He’s kept to his task well in both of his starts so far over five furlongs, with his most recent outing coming within the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he wasn’t disgraced, finishing eighth behind Charles Darwin. These are much calmer waters for him, and he should post a very bold bid in this particular contest now he’s upped to six furlongs.
NAVAL LIGHT – 13/8 (Win) (NAP)
