1.50 Goodwood – Kyle Of Lochalsh (Win)
Kyle Of Lochalsh is sure to win a race of this nature soon. He’s been transformed this season by Hughie Morrison, and his last two runs have arguably been career best performances, which included a third in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot over 2m4f. The four-year-old gelding is top weight, but he’s proven that he stays all day, which you’re going to need to do here. Ground will be fine, and the return of Billy Loughnane is a positive jockey booking. For me, he’s my strongest fancy of the day.
2.25 Goodwood – Task Force (Each Way)
I thought Task Force might be the one for Ralph Beckett in this trappy race. He was last seen finishing seventh in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was probably drawn on the wrong side of the track. The time before that, he finished a respectable seventh in the 2,000 Guineas, so he’s got a decent level of form. The ground should be fine, and the first-time tongue tie might just help his breathing. I can see him being in the mix.
3.00 Goodwood – Orbaan (Each Way)
Low draws are often the way to go in the Golden Mile handicap, and I’m looking at former winner Orbaan for David O’Meara. He looks like he’s been campaigning for this race, and he is lurking on the same mark as when he won this in 2022. This season he started slowly, but his last two runs have been encouraging, including when he won at Carlisle. The nine-year-old gelding is in Stall 4, and with Silvestre De Sousa booked for the ride, he has to be in the mix.
3.35 Goodwood – King Evs (Win)
Mick Appleby’s team has had an excellent week at Goodwood, and they might still be able to get another on the board with King Evs. He ran well in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot last time out at a track that probably isn’t his best. Coming back to Goodwood will be a plus, as he won here as a two-year-old last year. The son of Blue Point will probably be ridden close to the pace, and I think he’s the one to beat.
4.10 Goodwood – Haunted Dream (Each Way)
I don’t think Haunted Dream was suited by the track at York last time out, and I think a race of this nature will suit him a lot better. His second behind Israr in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot reads well, and he should like the conditions as that came on quick ground. There are lots here with questions to answer, but the five-year-old gelding has less to prove.
4.45 Goodwood – Hackney Diamond (Each Way)
Hackney Diamond showed a lot of pace to win at Leicester last time out and was worth more than the winning margin suggests. That was over 7, but the drop back down to 6f should be fine. The daughter of Camelot will need to take a step forward off a 5lb higher mark, but I think she is more than capable, and she looks to have a great each-way chance.
5.20 Goodwood – Give It To Me OJ (Each Way)
I’ve been keeping an eye on this horse, as it looks like connections have been searching for a mark with him. He was a real eye-catcher when he finished fourth at Kempton last month and made up late ground under hands and heels close home. The son of Time Test makes his handicap debut off a mark of 80, which could be lenient. Furthermore, the Moore family likes to have winners at Goodwood, so he gets the vote from me.
