Timefigure preview: Glorious Goodwood Part 2

Day Four

Day four opens with the Oak Tree Stakes where Jubiloso is favourite, following her third in the Coronation Stakes on just her third start for Sir Michael Stoute. She was further back than ideal that day and lacked the experience of the front two, recording a timefigure of 114 (adjusted).

Leading the way on timefigures is Angel’s Hideaway (122), whose fastest timefigure and best performance came in the 1000 Guineas in May, when finishing a close-up fourth. She was last seen in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing fourth, when waited with before making good progress two furlongs out, and just being unable to quicken. She’s had four times as many starts as Jubiloso, so we should know what to expect from her.

Royal Intervention’s fastest timefigure came last time when striking in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York, making all and finding extra when challenged to pull clear with the second, and she should make a bold bid from the front again considering that she's got the physique to suggest that she’s capable of more yet.

The second race, the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, looks wide open, but Turgenev is clear on time, courtesy of his second in the Britannia (126). Although lining up in a field of 28 at the Royal meeting, the race revolved around the John Gosden colt courtesy of his jockey Frankie Dettori, who had won the previous four races on the card. He posted a truly remarket performance in defeat, showing bags of pace but also stamina given the gallop he’d helped set, only being caught late having traded at 1.36. He produced a disappointing effort on the back of that in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last time, presumably finding the race coming too soon after his effort at Ascot.

What drama! What noise!

Frankie Dettori and Turgenev kick clear but Biometric and @HarryBentley_ reel them in to deny the historic five-timer and win the Britannia Stakes!#RoyalAscot https://t.co/aSOPKPjfmf

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2019

Turgenev had the run of things at Newmarket, setting only a steady pace, but was eventually passed by two who reoppose here, the winner, Duke Of Hazzard, and second, Momkin. Duke Of Hazzard had looked quite exposed but improved to cause a bit of a surprise in first-time blinkers, but was nevertheless impressive. It was a slow timefigure (113), however, due to the early pace. Momkin wasn’t any better than the bare result at Newmarket, but had started the season promisingly when second in the Craven (121), where he didn’t enjoy as smooth a run as the winner Skardu.

Battaash is attempting a hat-trick of wins in the King George, a race which has seen him produce his best performances, the 5f course at Goodwood allowing him to show his electric speed. He endured a hit-and-miss 2018 campaign overall, but returned with a sparkling performance in the Temple Stakes, producing the season leading timefigure. His best timefigure (139) is clear of the rest.

El Astronaute has improved this year, culminating in an impressive win in a competitive sprint handicap at the Curragh in June (130). He’ll need to improve markedly to challenge Battaash at the finish, considering that as a strong travelling front runner he’s more than likely to help set things up for Battaash, being drawn so close.

Day Five

The Stewards Cup is the highlight on the final day of the Goodwood Festival, and Justanotherbottle, second in the race last year, heads the betting at the time of writing. That performance represents the best time performance of those expected to line up.

He’s only been seen twice this year, both times in competitive handicaps at York, when well beaten in both, but he shaped as if in need of the run on his reappearance, and possibly still needed the run on his next start, which came six weeks later. Now 4 lb below the mark from which he finished second 12 months ago, this has likely been the aim for Justanotherbottle all season - which can perhaps explain the lacklustre efforts so far.

The pace will likely be strong again, and while horses will typically be slowing towards the finish, it still pays to take up a prominent position early, where we can expect to see Justanotherbottle. This has been evident in recent Stewards Cup renewals, with prominent runners victorious the last three years, Gifted Master (2018), Lancelot Du Lac (2017) and Dancing Star (2016).

Richard Fahey’s George Bowen is likely to be found towards the rear in his races, just as he was last year when finishing fifth. He’s put in some good performances on the clock, both this season and last, his second in the All-Weather Sprint Championships behind Kachy one of his best efforts. He went into the 2018 renewal fresh off a win at Hamilton in a fast time, and although he disappointed in the same race this year, he could be finishing fastest of all if he is able to break more sharply than he has been doing of late. 

Summerghand has been running fine races in defeat this season for David O’Meara, his best performance coming in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, when finishing fifth. He’ll need to improve further to win here, but improved steadily over the course of last year, and is very consistent and genuine. Lake Volta has been incredibly busy this year, taking in 11 races thus far, his latest just last week when finishing ninth at Ascot having helped set a decent gallop, leading on the stand side for a long way, the Timeform reporter noting that he’s on a fair-looking mark and the conditions at Goodwood might well prove a more suitable test.