3:05 Goodwood Tips

8/12 winners aged 3-5. 3/12 favorites, 4/12 top 3 in betting. 11/12 carried 9st6 or less and 9/12 rated 101+. Raised 12lbs for impressive Chester win 4.25L. Very nearly followed up when making the running at Ascot in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, finishing 1L 2nd. Split Adrestia and Redorange there who have subsequently finished 2nd and 3rd in the 5f Handicap here on Tuesday. Very difficult to make all at Ascot so can be marked up. Hard to make all here too and there's 5 that'll be making the pace so it's not ideal. However, it has been done and as has been shown this week already, being forward isn't a negative. Low stalls favored. They said last time return to 6f will suit and ground softer than the GF at Ascot should bring improvement.

The 4yo hasn’t done a lot wrong in his two turf runs this year, both quality handicap races on quick ground. The handicapper has given him a chance now and this slow ground is more suitable. He was a close runner-up in a Listed and Group 3 contest last year on slow ground, earning two high RPR ratings. William Buick takes over in the saddle for this handicap.

The Stewards' Cup is the most unpredictable sprint of the season, given the nature of the track and the draw bias, which can change from day to day. With bookies offering 6 places on each-way terms, I’m going with Strike Red, who showed he’s back to a decent level of form last time out at York. He ran a stormer from a high draw, finishing well clear of the other horses on that side of the track. He was sixth in this race last year despite plenty of interference and returns to the same handicap mark that saw him win at York last October, when the ground turned soft. Entering the race with a light weight, if the high draws prove advantageous, as often happens at Goodwood, he should outrun his 25/1 odds and have some sort of chance for a place in the frame.

This horse has won this race twice in the past off higher handicap marks than this. Looks sure to handle the going and is an attractive each way price in an open-looking race.