Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Glorious Goodwood Day One

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls offers her insight into the world of horse racing as she brings her first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.

The award-winning television pundit and former jockey has taken a look at the first day of the Glorious Goodwood festival, which runs from 30th July to 3rd August. Can she get off to a winning start?

Tuesday Racing Tips

Goodwood 1.50 – Chesterfield Cup Handicap

There are a few horses here that have questions to answer. One or two are going to have to put some recent form behind them if they want to win this. A couple look as though they prefer the all-weather and then we have one or two where we are questioning the track and draw.

It’s a tricky handicap, but Enfjaar (11/4 fav), is obviously a worthy favourite having won pretty convincingly in the John Smith’s Cup last time and is two from two since being gelded.

He might be the one who is improving the most and may well be in Group racing before too long, but I just think he’s too short in a race as competitive as this.

So I am going to throw two in at bigger each-way prices.

The first is going to be Tony Montana (12/1), who is drawn next to the favourite, and wasn’t beaten that far by him at York, when he arguably got a bit too far out of his ground before running on nicely in the final two furlongs. It’s not easy to make up ground at York, either.

I think Goodwood is a better track for that and if he does get a little bit further back early - provided there are no traffic problems - he might be able to make up the places a bit easier.

The other one is Track Of Time (28/1). Trainer Ian Williams has not had the horse that long, but he’s a winner in France over a mile and over 10 furlongs, and was pretty competitive over at Meydan, as well.

Since Ian has had him, he hasn’t really fired. I don’t think the mile-and-a-half at York will have suited him the first time out. That would have been too far and he was a bit keen and fresh.

Then he ran at Sandown, when he didn’t disgrace himself on ground that wasn’t particularly suitable.

He’s down to a mark of 98 - I think he’s better than that on his best form. He’s got cheekpieces on for the first time, and Ian Williams has been absolutely flying of late. Rossa Ryan is an eye-cathching jockey booking too.

He is drawn in stall 17, but last year’s winner, Ancient Rome (for the same owners) came out of stall 16 under a Jamie Spencer masterclass.

He does tend to get ridden with a bit of patience - or has done previously - so it doesn’t bother me where he is drawn. Rossa will get him into a nice position.

I just think this horse could be dangerous at a decent price.

Megan’s Tip: Tony Montana EW / Track Of Time EW

Goodwood 2.25 – Vintage Stakes

I am going to go with Aomori City (4/1 2nd fav), who is crying out for a step up in trip.

There is plenty of stamina on the dam side of Aomori City’s pedigree. He didn’t disgrace himself by any means at all in the July Stakes. He was ahead of Electrolyte (7/1) that day, and I think it will stay that way around at this trip.

The July Stakes will turn out to be quite a strong race. Whistlejacket (the winner) is held in very regard, while Billboard Star (finished second place) is a pretty smart horse for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton.

I just think this race will set up perfectly for him - the seven furlongs is really going to help him find further improvement.

He is officially rated 102 and I think we could see him higher than that come the end of the season.

Electrolyte possibly didn’t fire in the July Stakes, having been second in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but I wasn’t convinced the step up in trip was what he necessarily needed. He didn’t perform to his best.

Megan’s Tip: Aomori City WIN

Goodwood 3.00 – Lennox Stakes

The Lennox is driving me mad!

I think I’m going to go for Kinross (3/1 joint fav) here. His form is 121 in this race the last couple of years.

Seven furlongs is better for him and plenty of pace will suit, as well. I know it’s drying ground, but I think he gets away with it over this distance.

I know Noble Dynasty (3/1 joint fav) is improving, but when he won the Criterion Stakes he beat Nostrum, who we know is a bit of a rogue, and I can’t trust how strong the form is in beating him.

I am going to stick with Kinross, because we know he is the most talented runner in the field. He’s got top class form worldwide and this is his optimum trip.

Of the unexposed types, it would be English Oak (3/1 joint fav), who was actually behind Noble Dynasty earlier in the year, but he was very impressive at Ascot, winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes very impressively, and he is probably still improving.

He is up in grade here, but he’s only a four-year-old, and he’s going in the right direction.

Megan’s Tip: Kinross WIN

Goodwood 3.35 – Goodwood Cup Stakes

I’m keeping this straightforward and going with Kyprios (4/9 fav) here.

Aidan O'Brien has done an amazing job getting him back to his best for this year, having encountered a pretty major setback.

He’s a very talented and strong stayer, he’s very versatile in terms of track and ground, though he would favour the quicker ground, so the fact it is hot and drying is a positive for him.

He won this race in 2022 and he’s beaten the rest of this field pretty convincingly.

This is probably the most straightforward one of day one and it’s no surprise to see him at such short odds.

If you want a forecast, I’d go with Sweet William (15/2 2nd fav).

Megan’s Tip: Kyprios WIN - Kyprios-Sweet William FORECAST

Goodwood 4.10 – Racing Club Handicap

Each-way, let’s go Walbank (9/1) for George Boughey.

He’s had some time off the track but when he won on his stable debut over at Meydan, he’d had a break as well. So that doesn’t worry me too much..

I suppose the question is the sharp five-furlong distance. When he won in Dubai, it was six and he seemed to see that out very well.

He’s a big, thick-set horse and he can take a step forward from a race but he’ll be as ready as possible without seeing the course already.

The stronger and the harder they go up front, the more it will suit him. There seems to be pace all over, but more so in the low-to-middle draw, so I am going to put him up each-way.

For the win, it’s so hard to predict.

Lord Riddiford (4/1 2nd fav) deserves a mention. He’s won this race three years on the bounce - he’s four from five at this meeting. He’s quite a phenomenal horse, really, and the yard do extremely well to get him back year-after-year.

He’s a pound higher than when winning this race last year, but the concern this time around is that it’s going to be drying and pretty quick ground. You could argue that he’s better with a little bit more dew.

I am going to stick with my friend from The Dash, Democracy Dilemma (15/2). I know he’s got top weight, but he is holding his form very well this season and jockey Rossa Ryan gets on with him well.

He’s got top weight, but he’s very fast and the sharp five furlongs could just suit him.

Owner Fitri Hay could be in for a good day and I just think this horse is so solid.

Megan’s Tip: Democracy Dilemma WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change