Saturday 1st August 2026
We reach the concluding day of Goodwood on Saturday, and I have three more bets to try and attack the bookmakers with. My first bet of the day comes in the opener, and this is the really tricky 1.50: the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap, a Class 2 affair over a mile and six furlongs. Joseph O’Brien has had a fantastic week and has been very profitable for me, and I’ve come down on another one of his here in SMALL FRY, who’s the mount of Oisin Murphy. He was a winner at Chester and Epsom for Gary & Josh Moore, two tracks that could prove good experience for Goodwood, and ran a solid race in the Ascot Stakes last time out for his current yard, finishing sixth of twenty. He’s back down in trip here, which shouldn’t be an issue, given his form for his previous yard, and if he turns up in the same form, he could go close off his current mark for a prolific yard.
Shortlist: The John & Thady Gosden-trained Valedictory will be a very warm order at the top of the betting under William Buick, and will be popular with punters. He’s won his last two starts, including over course and distance on his penultimate outing, and will likely be bang there on the premises once more. One to potentially keep an eye on also is Hopewell Rock for George Boughey and Ryan Moore. He was a consistent sort before a slightly underwhelming effort at Royal Ascot, when he was sent off favourite before only managing sixth. He’s upped in distance here though, which could unlock improvement, and remains interesting with Moore in the saddle.
Selection: Small Fry – (13/2) (Each-Way) – (1.50 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Small Fry (13/2), Valedictory (11/4), Hopewell Rock (17/2) – (1.50 Goodwood)
Moving on to the 2.25 for my next bet, and this is the Group 3 Glorious Stakes over a mile and four furlongs. William Haggas has an extremely strong hand in this race, and I’m fairly strong on the chances of the fast-improving OPPORTUNITY here, who’s the mount of James Doyle. He followed up a handicap success at Carlisle on his penultimate start with an impressive display at Royal Ascot when winning the highly competitive Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. As stated previously, he’s progressing rapidly at the moment and looks well worth his place at this level. He’s got every chance of taking another big step forward in this assignment.
Shortlist: Haggas has won this race the last three years in a row, and two of the last occasions have been with Al Aasy, who has to be a very live contender once again this time around. He isn’t getting any younger, but he’s been a fine servant to this yard, and won a Listed race at Beverley last time out. He’s likely to give his running once again here, and it would be no surprise to see him add a third success in this contest under Tom Marquand. There’s a whole host of exposed-looking types lower down in the betting here; therefore, one at a massive price that could sneak into a place is Midak for Ian Williams and Kieran Shoemark. He was a Group 3 winner last season, and whilst he hasn’t shown much so far this term, he could outrun that price if he returns to the level of his previous form.
Selection: Opportunity – (9/4) (Win) (NB) – (2.25 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Opportunity (9/4), Al Aasy (9/4), Midak (50/1) – (2.25 Goodwood)
My third and final selection of the meeting comes in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes, which takes centre-stage at 3.00 and over a distance of a mile and six furlongs. I really like WAARDAH here for the team of Owen Burrows and Callum Rodriguez. She won this race last year, and shaped with a lot of promise on her seasonal reappearance at Carlisle last time out, where she was only a length and a half behind the highly talented Estrange within Group 3 company. That run should’ve put her spot on for this, and she should be primed to post another bold bid.
Shortlist: Danielle was three-quarters of a length behind the Burrows charge in this race twelve months ago, and she looks like the main danger again this time around for the Gosden team. She comes into the contest having won the Group 3 Bronte Fillies’ Stakes at York last time out, and she should be bang on the premises again. Making up the places could well be Amelia Earhart for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. She was disappointing in both Oaks; however, if she returns to the form of her Chester success in May, she could go well in receipt of plenty of weight.
Selection: Waardah – (9/4) (Win) (NAP) – (3.00 Goodwood)
1,2,3: Waardah (9/4), Danielle (10/3), Amelia Earhart (15/2) – (3.00 Goodwood)
