At the Glorious Goodwood meeting, several horses are attracting attention ahead of key races, with expert selections highlighting potential value bets and likely contenders across the card.
In the feature handicap, the Stewards’ Cup with a £250,000 purse, six-year-old Take Ferrous is tipped to deliver a surprising upset. Previously rated as high as 107 last year, the horse appears to have been specifically targeted at this race, having made just two starts this season. Among those runs, Take Ferrous finished a strong second in the Scottish version of the Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton last month. Continuing off a rating of 97, connections will be pleased with the unchanged mark. However, runners Tuco Salamanca and Run Boy Run are also regarded as significant challengers. Odds of 22-1 are being offered on Take Ferrous, with five-place betting available at William Hill, making the horse a popular value selection.
The opening Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap over a mile and three-quarters features Valedictory as the market leader. Following a narrow victory at Newmarket, the horse carries only a 3-pound penalty and boasts a prior course and distance win at Goodwood in May. While considered a solid option for those seeking safety, some recommend the outsider Incensed as a value choice in this race. Trained locally by Amanda Perrett, the bay mare finished third in the Listed Warwick Fillies’ Stakes over 12 furlongs at Goodwood in May and recently placed eighth in the Copper Horse Stakes. Given her stamina, Incensed’s 25-1 odds with four place payouts at William Hill mark her as an intriguing contender.
The final race of the meeting, a nine-furlong class three handicap, sees Great Chieftain emerge as a notable value bet. Available at 18-1 with William Hill, the Oliver Cole-trained horse showed promise with a recent encouraging run at Lingfield two weeks prior. Great Chieftain’s previous Goodwood form, with highlights including a first and fifth place, bolsters confidence in his chances.
Overall, the day features a mix of established frontrunners and potential long-shot candidates across the races, offering punters a variety of options in one of the summer’s premier racing events.