Glorious Goodwood 2022: Day 1 Spot Plays

It may officially be called the Qatar Goodwood Festival, but to thousands of racegoers it’s simply Glorious Goodwood. For around 200 years, the late-summer festival at the Sussex racecourse, southwest of London, has been one of the highlights of the British racing year.

The five-day, 36-race festival features three Group 1 races, five Group 2 races, four Group 3 events, and five handicaps worth at least £75,000 ($90,000).

The highlight of the first day is the Goodwood Cup, which the eight-year-old Stradivarius attempts to win for the fifth time.

TwinSpires will have a look at the biggest races on each day of the festival, beginning with Day 1 on Tuesday.

Race 1: Chesterfield Cup (Handicap), 1 1/4 miles, 4-year-olds and up

The festival begins with this 18-horse handicap. Early betting is headed by the Queen’s #14 Just Fine, who finished midfield in Candleford’s Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot June 17 prior to finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Anmaat in the John Smith’s Cup at York July 9. He’s shown some good form, but whether he’s up to winning this is unclear.

Godolphin’s #9 Brilliant Light was ahead of Just Fine at their previous two clashes, and though Just Fine is two pounds better off this time, Brilliant Light may still have the edge.

#10 Legend of Dubai was very disappointing at his last outing, the one-mile Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, but stepping up in distance may help him. However, I’m going to support #4 Bell Rock. He’s been running good races in black type company so far this season and may appreciate a drop to handicap class.

• $10 win/$30 show: $4 Bell Rock ($40)

Race 2: Vintage Stakes (G2), 7 furlongs, 2-year-olds

A good early season event for juveniles. #6 Holloway Boy will be favored by many after landing the Chesham S. on his racecourse debut at Royal Ascot. The form around the race has been useful rather than outstanding, but he should be better for the racecourse experience.

#9 Mysterious Night is an obvious threat, having run third to Persian Force in the July S. (G2) at his last start. Stablemates #3 Dear My Friend and #4 Dornoch Castle both reappear after winning their first two starts, while #8 Marbaan starts after winning his last two. Another last-start winner worth looking at is #5 Galeron, who won at Goodwood itself June 17.

You’re never quite sure how well these two-year-olds are going to fare, but I was impressed by Holloway Boy’s Ascot effort and think he’s worth persevering with.

• $10 win/$30 show: #6 Holloway Boy ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 6 with 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 with 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 ($20)

Race 3: Lennox Stakes (G2), 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up

There are some very good sprinters here. But at the weights, and based on their recent form, it’s not surprising that #7 Sacred is well-favored in early markets. She was just a length behind Naval Crown in the Platinum Jubilee (G1) at Royal Ascot, and at set weights she comes in pretty well.

However, I’m willing to go with #10 Lusail. If anything, he looks over the odds — his form this year has included a second placing to subsequent Commonwealth Cup victor Perfect Power in the Greenham (G3), sixth to Coroebus in the 2,000 Guineas (G1), a very close second to Coroebus in the St. James’s Palace (G1), and a very good third to Tenebrism in the Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Deauville June 10.

Unlike Sacred, Lusail is proven at seven furlongs, and he may appreciate firmer ground at Goodwood.

#2 Kinross went well enough in the Platinum Jubilee to suggest he can get some of the money here, while #5 Pogo cannot be ignored after Group 3 wins over this trip at Haydock and Newmarket.

• $10 win/$30 show: #10 Lusail ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 7, 10 with 5, 7, 10 with 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11 ($16)

Race 4: Goodwood Cup (G1), 2 miles, 3-year-olds and up

What a great race this is. Old warrior #6 Stradivarius looks to regain a race he’s won four times, and after getting caught in traffic during the Gold Cup (G1) at Ascot prior to finishing third, he’ll be well fancied to do so. His Ascot conqueror #4 Kyprios is also present, and has every chance of adding the second leg of the UK Stayers’ Triple Crown.

However, despite the great contest at Ascot, the staying performance of the season came in the Northumberland Plate on the Newcastle All-Weather, where #8 Trueshan bravely mastered 148 pounds to beat a quality handicap field. He also won this race last year, beating #1 Away He Goes, and later downed Stradivarius twice.

The biggest downer around Trueshan is the possibility of a good track. His connections wouldn’t run him on good to firm ground in the Gold Cup, and he may not start here if conditions are similar. However, if he runs, he’ll be very hard to beat.

Also moving up in class is #2 Coltrane, who at his last two starts won the 2-mile Ascot Stakes at the Royal meet and then the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown by 10 lengths. He has a little bit to make up on the top ones here still but looks like he could be capable. The top mare, #9 Princess Zoe, is also capable of running into the money.

If Trueshan starts, I’ll be backing him on the strength of his amazing run at Newcastle. If not, I’d pick Kyprios to continue his winning ways.

• $10 win/$30 show: #8 Trueshan (or same bet on #4 Kyprios if Trueshan doesn’t run) ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 4, 8 with 2, 4, 6, 8 with 2, 4, 6, 8, 9 (18)