Glorious Goodwood: Tom Collins identifies his best value bets on the first four days

We are just hours away from one of the best summer flat racing festivals of the season at Glorious Goodwood, but someone should tell the weather as it’s set to rain all week.

My punting strategy will be to solely back soft ground performers, four of which I have listed in this article as my best bets from Tuesday to Friday. There will be a separate article for Saturday’s selections later this week. Let’s get into it!

Tuesday

All eyes will be on Kinross in the Lennox Stakes (4.00) before the rematch between Courage Mon Ami and Coltrane in the Goodwood Cup (4.35), but I’m going to seek a bit of value with my best bet in the penultimate mile handicap (5.05).

The horse in question is Good Gracious, a well-bred daughter of Kingman who seemed to be completely revitalised by the fitting of first-time blinkers last time out at Ascot. She romped to a three-length victory that day and has been hit with an 8lb rise, but she’s still unexposed at this mile trip and give underfoot helps her cause.

Wednesday

Favourites have a pretty poor record in the Group 3 Molecomb (just two winners in the last 10 years), but Karl Burke’s Kyllian is sure to attract plenty of support on the back of an effortless Sandown success. I’m not rushing to oppose him, but he’s short enough at 2/1 and I need to give another chance to Barnwell Boy at five times the price.

This colt won by an impressive four-and-a-half lengths on his debut at this track in May before featuring high up in the market in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, where he finished 11th behind the reopposing Big Evs. Barnwell Boy made a nice mid-race move in that contest but had no cover and raced on the wrong side of the track, so can be excused. He’s dangerous back at Goodwood for trainer Charlie Johnston.

Thursday

Another supposed match race will be given top billing on Thursday as French filly Blue Rose Cen faces off against Nashwa in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes (3.35), but it’s the opening Kincsem Handicap (1.50) that rates a more attractive punting puzzle for me.

Final declarations haven’t been confirmed at the time of writing and Perfuse also holds an entry on Wednesday, but the booking of Ryan Moore indicates this might be her chosen target. Sir Michael Stoute’s filly fared best of those who sat close to a break-neck gallop in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and is surely well treated off her unchanged mark of 94. She’s won on heavy ground before and could be a Group horse. 

Friday

The opening Goodwood Handicap (1.50) is one of the longest flat races in the calendar and likely market leader Calling The Wind proved that he stayed this trip when he took the crown back in 2021. However, he’s high enough in the weights after his recent success at Newcastle and I want to back something at a bigger price.

Aggagio catches my eye for the in-form Gary Moore yard (32% in the last two weeks) now that he’s back on testing ground. He boasts form figures of 1112125 at Goodwood and finished just two-and-three-quarter lengths behind subsequent Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami on his penultimate outing. 12/1 seems very fair about this course specialist - I’d be surprised if he’s that big on the day.

Glorious Goodwood Tips

Good Gracious (5.05 Goodwood, Tuesday) @ 8/1
Barnwell Boy (3.00 Goodwood, Wednesday) @ 10/1
Perfuse (1.50 Goodwood, Thursday) @ 6/1
Aggagio (1.50 Goodwood, Friday) @ 12/1