Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Glorious Goodwood Day Two

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls gives her thoughts on the horse racing world, bringing her insightful opinions and first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.

This time the former jockey, now an award-winning TV pundit, previews an exciting second day of racing at Glorious Goodwood including the Shaker Handicap and a wide-open Sussex Stakes.

Wednesday Racing Tips

Goodwood 1.50 – Shaker Handicap

Subsequent (7/2 fav) for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy is aggressive and lightly raced.

He did get a bit of a hike in the weights – a 7lbs rise – for winning the Bibury Cup Handicap at Salisbury last time ahead of Spaceport who has beefed that form since.

I think he’s a pretty solid horse and the ground has been fine when he’s been previously raced on quick, so Subsequent is my pick.

For a place, I’m going with Goodwood Odyssey (13/2) in first-time blinkers.

He is pretty consistent; the only one slightly disappointing run came in the Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury in a very good race and he might appreciate no added headgear.

Megan’s Selection: Subsequent WIN; Goodwood Odyssey E/W

Goodwood 2.25 – Oak Tree Stakes

Jabaara (5/2 fav) is the natural pick.

She is progressive and posted a very good effort last time behind Porta Fortuna in the Falmouth Stakes. She has stepped down in grade here and this looks like a nice opportunity.

Of the each-way prices Raqiya (11/2) is very, very good on quick ground. Anytime there is ‘soft’ in the race description, she is not as effective.

Good-to-firm in this race is going to really suit her – she could be overpriced.

Megan’s Selection: Jabarra WIN; Raqiya E/W

Goodwood 3.00 – Molecomb Stakes

I am going with Celandine (5/1).

She ran very well in the Prix Robert Papin over in Chantilly last time and she’s a winner in a listed level over here, winning the Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket last month. The drop down to five furlongs doesn’t bother me; she is sharp and being back on quicker ground will help.

Each way, Vingegaard (15/2) is a very sharp horse. She was just beaten by a neck in the Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury and this distance will suit her.

Megan’s Selection: Celandine WIN; Vingegaard E/W

Goodwood 3.35 – Sussex Stakes

It’s obviously a disappointment we don't get to see Rosallion, which leaves this race wide open.

Notable Speech (11/8 joint fav) can easily bounce back. I don’t think we saw him anywhere near his best when finishing second-from-last at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes. But, on the back of what we saw, you’d have to give plenty of respect to Henry Longfellow (11/8 joint fav).

It’s hard to choose between the two of them – obviously each are getting a bit of weight off the elders – but if Notable Speech can bounce back to his 2000 Guineas performance then he is the one to beat without a shadow of a doubt.

Henry Longfellow disappointed on his return to the track after a lay-off back in May but bounced back by claiming second in the St James’s.

Both of them have a bit to prove but I’m sticking with Notable Speech, who is a horse I have loved from the start.

Megan’s Selection: Notable Speech WIN

Goodwood 4.10 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap

Al Anoud (6/1) for jockey Hector Crouch and trainer Ralph Beckett.

I don’t think she stayed at Pontefract last time in a race that’s worked out quite nicely, form-wise.

She ran very well at Windsor before that behind Tony Montana, who is aggressive. I think that was quite a solid run.

She seems quite straightforward, is lightly raced and unexposed. On the back of that Windsor performance, I think she has a massive chance here.

Megan’s Selection: Al Anoud WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation