Glorious Goodwood has certainly lived up to it’s billing so far, with the brightest jewels in the crown shining in Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes where top 3-year-old elect Canford Cliffs did his finest impression of a fast cat chasing a not-so-fast mouse. Messrs Hannon and Hughes can do no wrong at present and the fact they have in their hands both the top 3-year-old and older British miler in Paco Boy has summed up their season.
The final day of Goodwood is always dominated by the Stewards Cup, where the financial incentives for backing the winner are always matched by feelings of relief, smugness and elation. Anyone that’s ever retrieved his or her needle from a rather large haystack may have an idea.
The shiniest needle this year could very well be Tom Dascombe’s NOVERRE TO GO (3.40) who had no chance from the draw in the Wokingham, so did well to finish 2nd on the far side behind Genki, who has won since and vies for favouritism this time. A four pound pull at the weights for a half length beating could well be enough to reverse the placings in a race where pounds count, both on the track and off it. It’s also intriguing that stable jockey Richard Kingscote has been booked to ride the progressive 4-year-old since the start of the week, rather than toying with the idea of getting back on another likely favourite in recent revelation Jonny Mudball. Maybe the riding arrangements are out of his hands, but I think he has committed early to this horse for a reason, that being that we haven’t seen the best of him yet. Providing the draw gives him a chance this time, he has an outstanding chance.
Of the others, Ancien Regime can be given a squeak for a trainer that does well in big handicaps. If you forget his last run, the last time he ran in a handicap was when finishing 3rd off a rating of 103 – he races of 98 here, so has an each-way chance at a price.
In the first televised race it could pay to side with Andrew Balding’s DROMORE (1.55), even after his defeat as favourite last time. Admittedly he was well beaten by Green Moon in a big handicap earlier in the season but has finished 4th behind Arctic Cosmos and 2nd in a fair handicap since. He is still only on a mark of 75 and is reunited with David Porbert who is 2 from 5 on him. There are dangers in the field, not least Rock N Roll Ransom and Valiant Knight, but Dromore just might go under the radar and could be available at double-figure odds.
Finally, sandwiched in between the tips so far is the Group 1 Nassau Stakes which could throw up a surprise in the shape of Godolphin’s ANTARA (3.05). On form and ratings, she has to step up another gear from what she’s shown so far, but as a physical specimen she’ll more than hold her own, which on a track notorious for bumps and bruises should stand her in good stead. The burly German filly impressed at Epsom, but couldn’t get into it over a mile last time, which might not turn out to be her best trip once she steps back up to 10 furlongs. A drop of rain wouldn’t go amiss and at the forecast odds, could be worth small stakes against the bigger reputations of Midday, Stacelita and Strawberrydacquiri.

GOODWOOD SATURDAY
1.55        DROMORE 
3.05        ANTARA
3.40        NOVERRE TO GO

 

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