2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday Preview – DS
2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday Preview
It was a profitable weekend for us last week with Rage Of Bamby and Goliath both doing the business. This week I have kept the powder dry for the most part at Goodwood and I think it has proved to be a wise decision. My only bet was on Son in the opener yesterday and he disappointed so hopefully, we can get back on track. 2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday tips are below.
1.50 Goodwood – Glorious Stakes (Group 3)
Glorious Stakes by name, not so Glorious Stakes by nature. Five runners ranging in price from 7/2 to 5/1. No use to the blog and a race that is easy to swerve. No bet.
2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday Tip: No bet
2.25 Goodwood – Summer Handicap (Class 2)
Next up is this 14F handicap and a full field of fourteen have been declared. Tides Of War isn’t the most consistent of horses and he certainly isn’t one for maximum stakes. However, he was a winner on his last visit to Goodwood in May of this year and that wasn’t the first good run the son of Galileo has produced at this quirky venue.
He ran here back in May 2023, his only previous visit to the track. Wearing a hood for the first time, he ran a lovely race to finish third, beaten 4L for the win off a mark of 95. His win in May came off 85 and he is in off 89 today so by no means is he handicapped out of this if, of course, he is in the mood.
Last time out at Newmarket, Tides Of War finished sixth, beaten 9L behind Fairbanks. Hayley Turner anchored him out the back and he just got caught out of position as the pace lifted. To be fair to him, he ran on pretty well in the closing stages but the leaders had flown.
Tides of War is now 6lbs better off with Fairbanks. That may not be enough for him to turn the form around but this looks like it’ll be run at a decent clip and I’m hoping that it might set up for a closer. He has form figures of 13 over this C&D, the ground will suit and odds of 20/1 are big enough to warrant a modest e/w interest.
2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday Tip: Tides Of War e/w @ 20/1 (4 Places)
2.40 Newmarket – Chalice Stakes (Listed)
This is a Listed race in which a case can be made for plenty. The 3yo Fairy Glen was impressive when winning a novice by 6L at Kempton last time out but will she be as effective on grass (unraced on turf). Place Of Safety also won on the all weather last time but she has form on good ground too, finishing third over 10f at Newbury in a maiden on debut.
However, I am going to take a chance on the former course winner Divina Grace. Billy The Kid Loughnane will ride for Rae Guest and this Golden Horn filly gets her optimal conditions today. She is at her best on quick ground when being able to dictate the pace and my hope is that she might be able to get an uncontested lead today.
On her last start over this C&D last month, in another Listed contest, Divina Grace was a bit slow away and was never in a prominent position. She actually stayed on pretty well to challenge for third but she could get nowhere near the winner Mistral Star.
Previously, this filly ran a blinder to pick up some precious black type at Pontefract (12f gd/fm). So, we know she is capable of being competitive in pattern company and another plus is the fact that she has won on the July Course before. If she blows the start again today, our goose will be cooked early, but if she breaks well and gets into the lead, hopefully she can make a bold bid at odds of 14/1.
2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday Tip: Divina Grace e/w @ 14/1
3.00 Goodwood – Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2)
Another filly who might get a race run to suit her today is Dancing Tango. Trained by in form Joseph O’Brien, this consistent filly has been priced up at 20/1 here. With a rating of 103 she has a fair amount to find on paper with the likes of Free Wind (114) and Caius Chorister (109) but there should be a strong pace on here and that will play to Dancing Tango’s strengths.
She is best when held up off a strong gallop before coming with a late charge. Last time at the Curragh she was well beaten in fifth but that was a weird race with Grosvenor Square rocketing off in front and only Tower Of London was able to reel him in. Dancing Tango was beaten 9.75L for the win but she was only a length behind the 113 rated Vauban, who finished third.
On her penultimate start she just failed to get up to beat Grateful over this trip at Fairyhouse. Half a length separated the pair at the line and Joseph’s charge is 3lb better off with her younger rival here. If they go hard early, hopefully Dancing Tango can stay on late, turn that Fairyhouse form around and hit the frame at odds of 20/1.
2024 Glorious Goodwood Saturday Tip: Dancing tango e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) nb
3.35 Goodwood – Stewards’ Cup Handicap (Heritage)
Twenty eight sprinters will line up in the stalls for this blink and you’ll miss it handicap. We managed to find Commanche Falls at 25/1 a couple of years ago and he won from stall 19. Last year’s winner came from stall 15 and since 2004, only five winners have come from single figure draws.
The one I have come down on is drawn in stall 16 and at 20/1, surely Rumstar is a touch too big. Trained by Jonny Portman, this son of Havana Grey gets in off 103 here. He was well beaten off 104 at Royal Ascot last time out but previous to that, he went close in a Newbury handicap off 102.
That proved he can at least be competitive off his current mark and there are more positives to consider. First of all, this lad has already won at Goodwood. Unfortunately, he unseated coming out of the stalls in this last year but the ground was all wrong for him anyway.
C&D Winner
We backed him when he landed a nursery handicap over C&D in 2022 off 90 on similar ground to what he’ll encounter today. Yes, he’s 13lb higher now but he deserves to be. It is only a year since he ran huge in the Commonwealth Cup, finishing 2.5l behind Shaquille and close up behind Swingalong (rated 113) and 4L in front of Shouldvebeenaring.
I would imagine that this race is his main aim for the season, given he has won so well here before, and the ground has come up perfect for him. The draw gods have been relatively kind, Rob Hornby has won twice on him before and I think he has the ability to win off his current mark. At odds of 20/1, Rumstar is the e/w selection.
