Glorious Goodwood Day 2 Tips: Three To Back On The Downs

Day One of Glorious Goodwood is now in the history books and the action keeps coming thick and fast on Day Two. A high class withdrawal in the feature race has taken the shine off the day somewhat but there is still plenty left to get stuck into and Billy Grimshaw has three outside of the Sussex Stakes on the card worthy of consideration...

13:50 - Glorious Goodwood - Coral Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap

A seriously tricky looking handicap kicks things off on Wednesday but there was a horse in here I was keen to forgive a couple of poor performances and I am more than happy to see him chalked up north of 20/1 in a few places. That horse is VOYAGE for Richard Hannon who has since winning in good fashion a Salisbury maiden unseated in the stalls in the Derby before a flop at Royal Ascot.

Clearly this could be a horse who has become a tricky customer, however if we put a line through his Ascot run (Richard Hannon has reported he scoped very dirty post race) and forgive the mishap which can happen to any horse in the build up at Epsom, he is undoubtedly talented enough to be in the mix here. It is his handicap debut and he is giving weight all round but I was taken with him earlier in his career and still retain the faith he will be better than a handicapper in time.

If that is to be the case, he'll want to be competitive here so he is in as an each-way wager in the first.

14:25 - Glorious Goodwood - Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes

At the time of writing two fillies are vying for favouritism and it is Jabaara that is winning the battle. She certainly has looked the part this season and there was no disgrace in finishing second in the Falmouth last time out behind Porta Fortuna who many are now tipping for the very top. However, I slightly prefer the claims of second favourite KATHMANDU and I'm more than happy to snaffle any lingering 4/1 about her with Midnite.

Brian Meehan's showcasing filly has been doing her running this season over in France and ran a fine race for second in their equivalent of the 1000 Guineas before a better than finishing position fifth over there last time out. She has shown a tendency to race a bit freely and so I think the application of a tongue tie and running over seven at a track like Goodwood should really play to her strengths.

There doesn't look bundles of pace on, perhaps it'll come from Pretty Crystal who Kathmandu has vanquished in the past, but however the race pans out I hope Sean Levey keeps his charge nice and handy so she can play her cards at the right time.

15:00 - Glorious Goodwood - Molecomb Stakes

The top class Big Evs scooped this pot last year and although we may not see one quite in his league in 2024, we can at least expect the race to be run at an almighty gallop. There are frontrunners all over the track in here and while I couldn't put anyone off throwing a few in forecasts and tricasts if they think they've found the area of the track with the frontrunner who'll keep things going as long as possible, I have to go with a closer to win in a race like this.

When you think hold up horse, only one jockey comes to mind and that is of course Jamie Spence, and it is his mount for Richard Spencer THE MAN I'll be backing in here each-way to hopefully capitalise on the potential pace burn up from these excitable two year olds. He looked a every inch ready for Group races when cruising to his maiden win at Southwell and while we must forgive him finishing near last in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot last time out, he simply looked an obvious non-stayer to me.

Before his effort tapered off he did actually make a stylish move about a furlong out and if Spencer can keep a lid on his charge here before swooping late through tired horses, I'm confident he can at the very least squeak into the frame at a more forgiving track over the minimum trip like Goodwood.