Friday 31st July 2026
I turn to the opening race of the card on Friday at Goodwood for my first bet of the day, and this is the 1.50, the Class 2 Goodwood Handicap over two miles and four and a half furlongs. There’s a strong Irish challenge here, and I’ve nailed my colours to the mast of one of them, and that’s DEFIANTLY for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle. He’s a lightly-raced sort who posted his best effort to date last time out in the Ascot Stakes in a change of headgear; he went down rallying on that occasion, and was eventually beaten by just a head. He clearly relishes a stamina test, and off just a four-pound higher mark here, he’s got to be of interest again in this particular contest.
Shortlist: It would be difficult not to include Valiancy here for William Haggas and James Doyle in the Wathnan Silks. He’s a progressive sort who continued his good form with a win at Hamilton on seasonal reappearance, before posting an eyecatching sixth-placed effort when well fancied at Royal Ascot. There’s likely more to come from him. Alan King’s Believeitanducan is developing into a very useful dual-purpose horse; he comes into this contest having won his last three on the flat, most recently with success in the Northumberland Vase. He’s up a further five pounds, but that may not be enough to stop him.
Selection: Defiantly – (6/1) (Each-Way) (NB) – (1.50 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Defiantly (6/1), Valiancy (4/1), Believeitanducan (5/1) – (1.50 Goodwood)
My second bet of the day on Friday comes within the 3.00, and this is the Coral Golden Mile, which is a Heritage Handicap. This is competitive; however, I am quite strong on the chances of BEAGLE BAY here for the team of Ralph Beckett and Hector Crouch. He’s an improving four-year-old who is two out of two since going handicapping, and was last seen when getting the better of subsequent John Smith’s Cup winner in a Class 2 event at Sandown, winning in fairly comfortable fashion on that occasion. That’s very strong form, and I’m of the impression that a five-pound rise in the weights could prove to be rather lenient by the handicapper here. I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see a big performance.
Shortlist: Indalo gained a well-deserved success last time out for Roger Varian in the Coral Challenge; following several excellent placed efforts in competitive company, he’s two pounds well in under a penalty as a result of that success, and he has to be of major interest again here under Ray Dawson. One at a big price who could outrun his odds is Archivist for Hamad Al Jehani and Callum Rodriguez. He was a useful sort for William Haggas with some decent form to his name, and didn’t give his true running at Royal Ascot last time out, when he was sent off the 5/1 favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup. If he puts that run behind him and returns to his previous form, he could be overpriced.
Selection: Beagle Bay – (5/1) (Each-Way) (NAP) – (3.00 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Beagle Bay (5/1), Indalo (5/1), Archivist (18/1) – (3.00 Goodwood)
