Wednesday 24th September 2025
GOODWOOD SELECTIONS
2.25: Juddmonte/ British EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 2):
My first selection of the day on Wednesday at Goodwood comes in the 2.25, which is a Class 2 maiden over a mile and two furlongs. I like Bay Of Brilliance here for the team of Ralph Beckett and Hector Crouch. He ran with credit on his racecourse debut at Newbury last month when finishing fifth over a mile, with that run also coming within Class 2 company. He got outpaced that day, which suggests this step up in distance should suit him, and that run also came on fast ground, and given he’s by New Bay, he should enjoy the likely softer surface here. Natural progression should be forthcoming, and the Beckett yard won this race last year.
BAY OF BRILLIANCE – 5/2 (Win) (NB)
3.00: Heineken Handicap (Class 2):
Next up will be the 3.00, and we go into handicap company here, with a Class 2 event contested over a mile. I’ve come down on Galeron in this particular affair for Charlie Hills, who’s set to be ridden by Colin Keane. His losing run continues to accumulate; however, his last two runs have been encouraging, particularly last time out at Doncaster, when he finished third of fourteen in a competitive Class 2 handicap. He remains on the same mark here, and having Colin Keane on board again is another bonus. His recent efforts suggest that his long-awaited return to the winners’ enclosure could be around the corner, and he’s got every chance again here.
GALERON – 13/2 (Each-Way) (4 places)
3.35: Virgin Bet Foundation Stakes (Class 1) (Listed):
The feature race of the afternoon comes up at 3.35, and this is the Listed Foundation Stakes, which is run over a mile and two furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of the Godolphin charge here, Ancient Wisdom, who represents Charlie Appleby, and is the mount of William Buick. This represents a drop in class for the Dubawi four-year-old. He hasn’t been seen since being outclassed in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, and has been gelded since; however, before that, he ran a cracking race when finishing half of a length second to Al Aasy in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown in April. A repeat of that level of form would probably be enough to win this, and it would be disappointing should he not go very close here.
I’m also interested in the Ralph Beckett trained Starzintheireyes, who’s the mount of Rossa Ryan. We’ve not seen him on the track for nearly twelve months; however, when we last saw him, he won the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket on good-to-soft ground, beating the likes of Green Storm and Shackleton in the process, which is solid form. He was also second behind Field Of Gold on his racecourse debut last year, as well as beating the useful Archivist in his maiden after. It remains to be seen how fit he’ll be for this assignment; however, I believe he’s a good horse, and worth an each-way poke.
ANCIENT WISDOM – 13/8 (WIN) (NAP) & STARZINTHEIREYES – 7/1 (Each-Way)
4.45: Livescorebet Fillies’ Handicap (Class 3):
The penultimate race on the card is the 4.45 and this is a Class 3 handicap for fillies, that’s run over a distance of a mile and six furlongs. I’m with William Haggas’ three-year-old Finalise here, who’s set to be ridden by Tom Marquand. She’s a filly by Derby winner Masar, and was a very impressive twelve-length winner of a novice event at Kempton last month when we saw her last month. The strength of the form that day remains to be seen; however, it was a Class 4 event, and she looks to have considerable progression that’s still to be unlocked. She could prove a cut above this level, and William Haggas has won two of the last five renewals of this race. He looks to have another big chance here.
FINALISE – 11/4 (Win)
5.20: Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (Class 4):
Signing us off for the day at Goodwood will be the 4.20, and this is more handicap action, and this time a Class 4 over six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Silver Wraith in this particular affair for Emma Lavelle and Oisin Murphy. She’s still a maiden after seven starts; however, she’s run with credit in pretty much all of his outings to date. Notably, she finished a length second of ten in a Class 4 handicap over five furlongs at this track back in June, with that run coming off a pound higher mark. She’s by Havana Grey, who was versatile ground-wise, and he also had a soft ground victory at this course when winning the Molecamb Stakes. I think she could go well here under Oisin Murphy.
SILVER WRAITH – 7/1 (Each-Way)
