Best Glorious Goodwood 2023 Betting Tips and Predictions
This week, horse racing fans have a treat in store. It’s time for Glorious Goodwood, which is one of the biggest and most followed flat racing meetings of the British season. Five days of top-drawer racing come from the West Sussex venue, where some of the best flat horses in the business will be in action.
Second to only Royal Ascot in prestige, Glorious Goodwood is one of very few five-day meetings during the flat season. This really is a festival crammed full of quality racing. Ahead of the week, let’s take a look at a few of the key contests and see if we can identify any nice winners. At the very least, we’re looking to pick out a few horses that offer value for money at the early odds.
Glorious Goodwood Day 1 Tips
2.50 – Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap: Lord Protector (each-way) @ 9/1
One of the standout handicap contests on the first day of this five-day feast of flat racing is the Coral Chesterfield Cup. At the prices, the standout contender for my money is Lord Protector, who arrives here for a stable that has been in superb form of late.
The race that this horse won at Sandown in recent weeks was far from dissimilar to this contest, so the gelding has every right to go close. Of course, the handicapper has struck since that victory, but he won a shade comfortably, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he has more to give up in the weights. After all, he did run well in this race last year from just a pound lower, running on well for fifth having been caught too far off the pace. If the in-form Rossa Ryan can get him better placed here, he may well be capable of getting closer. At least, that’s what I’ll be betting on him to do.
5.35 – World Pool British EBF Fillies’ Handicap: Kitai to Win @ 11/5
In the final race on the opening day of the meeting, Kitai is hard to oppose. This filly arrives here in fine form, while she has hinted that there’s more to come. Her win at Carlisle was a simple one, with her performing as though further progress was on the cards. That proved to be the case as she ran on strongly to win a Class 2 affair over this trip of six furlongs at Pontefract last time out, which rates as form to be taken very, very seriously.
What should also be taken seriously is the fact that Charlie Johnston has a very promising strike rate at Goodwood. He has won with six of his previous 18 runners at the venue, so it would be little surprise to see this one get the job done, especially after her recent efforts. After all, she remains unexposed and could quite easily turn out to be a bit too good for handicap company.
Glorious Goodwood Day 2 Tips
1.50 – Coral Handicap: Fox Journey (each-way) @ 7/1
The opening race on day two catches my eye. More specifically, I’m drawn to Fox Journey, who might just have been found the perfect Class 2 opening to continue his progression.
This runner returned from a break to win on just his fourth start back in May, doing the job very nicely on soft ground over ten furlongs at Newmarket. He hinted that further would suit on that occasion and that has turned out to true, what with him winning over this trip at Newbury last time out. This is far from the strongest Class 2 in terms of quality in depth, and to my eyes, this colt looks to have a slightly stronger chance than early odds of 7/1 suggest.
Sir Michael Stoute has been in solid form of late, while the return to soft ground rates as a big plus if that running-on win at Newmarket is anything to go by. Don’t be surprised if he goes off at a shorter price and don’t be surprised if he’s laying down a serious challenge at the death.
4.10 – British EBF 40th Anniversay Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes: Beenham (each-way) @ 12/1
Another fillies race here and at the early prices, Beenham is the one who strikes me as being very nicely priced, so much so that she goes down as a certain value play for my money.
Rod Millman’s two-year-old won at the second time of asking back in May and she did so over course and distance on good-to-soft, running on strongly to beat 12 decent-looking novice opponents. That form should not be dismissed, especially when we can see that horses such as Haatem, who now races in Group company, finished in behind.
After a 64-day mini break, the filly was last seen finishing in a very respectable sixth place at Newbury. There were 20 runners that day and she wasn’t ideally placed, but still ran on well at the death, beating some very good horses, horses that rate above anything in here. In what appear to be slightly calmer waters, she simply must rate as having a better chance than early odds of 12/1 suggest, and I suggest that such odds are taken, especially with four places on offer.
Update will to follow to reflect races taking place beyond the first two days of the meeting.
