Wednesday 29th July 2026
I’ve come down on three bets for the second day of Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday, the first coming within the opener at 1.50, which is the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap, a Class 2 affair over a mile and four furlongs. As to be expected in a race of this nature, this is competitive; however, I like the chances of the William Haggas-trained INFRAAD here, who’s the mount of Tom Marquand. He’s a three-year-old Ghaiyyath colt, who looked very promising when winning by an impressive margin at Pontefract in April. He was sent off odds-on for his handicap debut at Chester nineteen days ago, and was arguably unlucky when having to settle for third, finishing a length and a quarter behind King’s Code. His inexperience got the better of him that day, as he was slow away and found himself without a clear run. There should be a lot more to come from him, and I believe that there’s every chance he can make amends here and go very well.
Shortlist: Andrew Balding’s Hatteen has to be considered as a very live danger at the top of the betting under Oisin Murphy. He’s a progressive type who won a valuable novice event at Doncaster twenty days ago, taking that particular contest in impressive style by four and a quarter lengths. There could be bundles of improvement to come from him within handicap company. One at a big price who could run well here is Baltic Fleet for Ian Williams and William Buick. He has his first run for this yard here, having been bought out of George Boughey’s for £170,000, and he looks a useful type on what he’s shown so far. He was a maiden winner at Yarmouth, and has since chased home Arc Ole Ole in third in a decent handicap at York, before finishing second at Wolverhampton last time out in a Class 3 handicap.
Selection: Infraad – (7/2) (Win) (NB) – (1.50 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Infraad (7/2), Hatteen (11/4), Baltic Fleet (20/1) – (1.50 Goodwood)
My second bet of the afternoon on Wednesday comes within Group 3 company at 3.35, and this is the Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs. This is another extremely competitive contest, in which I’ve come down on ADONIUS for the combination of Rebecca Menzies and Kaiya Fraser. He’s a gelding by Soldier’s Call, who was a sprinter I was very fond of, and he was very useful himself on his day, and Menzies’ two-year-old is looking good himself, coming into this contest with an unbeaten record of three wins from three starts. All three of his victories came in quickfire succession, winning back-to-back races at Musselburgh in April, before landing the Lily Agnes at Chester on his most recent start at the May Festival. He’s been given some time off following that success, and he’s likely to be primed for a first attempt at group company here. His trainer speaks very highly of him, and if he gets some luck in the run at this cruel mistress of a track, he’s got every chance of going in again.
Shortlist: As these are two-year-olds, there could be bundles of improvement coming from all angles. I think that one you’d have to mark down as a big player, though, is Pershaada for Richard Hannan and Sean Levey. She’s a Persian Force filly who won over course and distance back in May, before running a mighty race in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot when finishing fourth of twenty-seven. That level of form could be enough for her to win this. Another one that ran a huge race at Royal Ascot was El Floridita for Nigel Twinker and Rowan Scott, finishing second of twenty-one in the Norfolk Stakes at colossal odds of 150/1. He confirms that run was no fluke; he has to be considered as a live player here.
Selection: Adonius – (5/1) (Each-Way) – (3.35 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Adonius (5/1), Pershaada (4/1), El Floridita (15/2) – (3.35 Goodwood)
I turn to the feature race on day two for my best bet of the day, which is the Group 1 Sussex Stakes that takes centre-stage at 4.10. There was no way I was going to abandon BOW ECHO for this assignment, and he’s my best bet on Wednesday for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane. He now boasts a perfect record of five victories from five starts, including a big Group 1 double this term with success in the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes most recently. He was more impressive on the eye in the Guineas; however, Loughnane was arguably a little too confident at Ascot, but the horse’s class still got him home. He got the better of Gstaad in both of those starts, and whilst this course is a different beast altogether, I expect him to confirm the placings with the O’Brien charge for a third time.
Shortlist: It has to be Gstaad once again for O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He was only a shoulder behind the Boughey charge at Ascot, and that has to make him his main rival once again. He won the Irish 2000 Guineas by three lengths on his penultimate start and has several pounds in hand on the ratings to the rest of his rivals in this contest. Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo can make up the placings here under William Buick. He was an impressive three-length winner of the Group 2 Bet365 Mile at Sandown in April, before leading for a long way in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, eventually finishing three-quarters of a length third. He’ll need to reverse the Ascot form around with Ten Bob Tony here, who was the winner that day for Ed Walker, and comes into this race in great form. He’ll need another career-best to feature, though.
Selection: Bow Echo – (5/4) (Win) (NAP) – (4.10 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Bow Echo (5/4), Gstaad (10/3), Opera Ballo (10/3) – (4.10 Goodwood)
