Hot To Trot: Glorious Goodwood special

Richard Hannon (Click trainer’s name to view a full list of entries)

Much like his father before him, Richard Hannon Jr. has a strong record at Goodwood (46 winners from 424 runners since 2014), and he heads into this year’s festival in fine form, with 70% of his string running to form at the moment.

As you would expect, Hannon has a host of entries for Glorious Goodwood at the time of writing – 44 to be precise – and he has a strong hand in Tuesday’s Vintage Stakes, a race which was won by his father for four years running between 2010-2013 while he was assistant.

Hannon is due to send both Mystery Power and Threat, who can’t be separated on Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings for the Vintage, both having just 4 lb to find with last month’s Chesham winner Pinatubo. Both have proven themselves to be smart prospects in just two starts each so far, particularly Mystery Power, who produced a likeable performance to win the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last time, and both will merit strong consideration.

Mystery Power, a colt by No Nay Never, gives trainer @rhannonracing a double on the day at @NewmarketRace@oismurphy with the winning ride in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes

Juan Elcano a good second for the Kevin Ryan team pic.twitter.com/rSlpQHrQEN

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 13, 2019

The yard also has five entries in the fifth race on the card, a six furlong maiden race, in the form of Good Job Power, Mums Tipple, Ziggle Pops, Written Broadcast and Cheat. Written Broadcast has shown the most of those with experience so far, and any of the five will be worth monitoring in the betting for a yard which has won two of the last four renewals. Finally, Al Messila completed a double in good style at Nottingham last time and would have leading claims if taking her chance in the final race on Tuesday’s card – for which she is top on Timeform ratings.

Later in the week, Walkinthesand catches the eye in the opening race on Thursday’s card. Having made his first three starts of the season in listed races, he got back on the up when winning on his handicap debut at Nottingham earlier this month, producing a smart performance to take out a competitive affair, and he could be capable of defying a 5 lb rise at a trip which very much plays to his strengths. Finally, Hannon struck with future 1000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook in the fifth race on Thursday’s card two years ago, and each of Al Namir, Divine Covey, Indian Creak, King’s View, Oh Purple Reign, Pitcher, Sir Arthur Dayne and Willa deserve a market check in this nursery.

Aidan O’Brien

Aidan O’Brien doesn’t send too many runners to Goodwood, but he tends to do well when he does, picking up 8 wins from 39 runners since 2014. He is enjoying a good summer, too, with his string performing above average – something shown by the graph below.

The annual clash with the Galway Festival means O’Brien is rather battling on two fronts next week, but he has several interesting entries at Glorious Goodwood, including Le Brivido in Tuesday’s Lennox Stakes. A very smart performer, he’s shaped well over a mile and over six furlongs the last twice, with neither looking quite his optimum trip, and he has strong form claims now returned to seven furlongs.

Also interesting is Eminence, who holds several entries over the next fortnight or so, including in the second race on Wednesday’s card. He failed to justify support when second at Fairyhouse last time, but he’s in good heart at the moment, and looks more than capable of running well off his official mark of 95 with the return to a mile and a half in his favour. Ballydoyle will once again bid to break Stradivarius’ stranglehold on the staying division in the Goodwood Cup, and have as many as six to choose from – with the promising Constantinople looking their best long-term prospect after an excellent second in the King George V Stakes at Ascot last month. Finally, each of Darkest, Heaven of Heavens, Holy Roman Empress, Petite Mustique and Salsa are worth keeping an eye on in the market if any of them take their chance in the sixth race on Thursday’s card, a fillies’ maiden – a race which O’Brien won with Rhododendron in 2016.

David O’Meara

David O’Meara is enjoying his best run of form for the past five seasons of late, with 78% of his string running to form – something shown by the graph below.

O’Meara tends to have the vast majority of his runners on the northern circuit, though he has several interesting entries at Glorious Goodwood next week, beginning with Fayez in Tuesday’s curtain-raiser. He’s been kept busy this year, making 12 starts so far, and shaped well over a trip which is perhaps a bit further than ideal at Ripon last time out. The return to ten furlongs should play into his hands, and he’s an interesting runner off just 2 lb higher than his last winning mark.

Also interesting on Tuesday is Arecibo, who has an entry in the five furlong handicap on the card (also entered in the Stewards’ Cup). He’s very much returned to form now, and capitalised on his falling mark to return to winning ways at Ayr two starts ago. He ran at least as well when second over six furlongs last time, and a strong pace would very much play to his strengths. Meanwhile, Astrologer has been progressing well in handicap company this term, but her mark looks a little high now and she may find one to good in the final race on Tuesday.

O’Meara’s star of the week is undoubtedly the Queen Anne hero Lord Glitters, who will aim to follow up in the Sussex Stakes. He will likely run his race, though he tends to save his best form for Ascot and the presence of the three-year-olds Too Darn Hot, Phoenix of Spain and Circus Maximus makes life tougher. Finally, Escobar is at the top of his game at the moment, and looks to have leading claims in Friday’s Golden Mile – a race in which he was a luckless eighth last season having suffered plenty of trouble in-running.