1.50pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 02/08/2017

A field of eight go to post for the first race of the day at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday, live on ITV Racing. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Hawkerland is very popular in the market and that is no surprise, winning both his handicap starts so far and he is very much an unknown quantity at present. This however is his toughest assignment yet and ready preference is for AURORA GRAY for Hughie Morrison, who has been improving to no end since being switched to the staying distances. She was staying on all the time when second at Newbury on her latest start over the 2m 2f distance a further step up in trip should suit her massively, with Silvestre De Sousa a brilliant jockey booking. A mark of 82 still sees her well treated with further progression likely and she looks set to take all the beating. Other horses to note are Golden Doyen who returns to the flat off a low mark and Arthur Mc Bride, who will try and make all under Harry Bentley off a low weight.

1 SUEGIOO – Losing spell stretches all the way back to his win in the 2014 Chester Cup and although he produces some good efforts at this level, he usually falls short. He was fifth in the Ascot Stakes (2m 4f) on his latest start, staying on strongly so stamina is no problem and he’s an each way player, but almost certainly vulnerable for win purposes.

2 COSMELLI (NON RUNNER) – Ex-Italian colt for Gay Kelleway who has shown very little in three British runs, with his eighth in the Northumberland Plate remaining his best effort so far. On that basis, a step up in trip could suit, but he was tailed off at Ascot when last seen and that dampens his claims. Likely to miss out under Cameron Noble.

3 STAR RIDER – Won this race in 2016 off a nine pound lower mark, but she has improved markedly since then and finished a good sixth at Newbury on her latest start over the 2m 2f trip. She looks a big danger off a one pound lower mark, taking the step up in trip into account. Adam Kirby takes the ride for the in form Hughie Morrison team and she looks likely to play a leading role.

4 SUNBLAZER – Tends to run better on the all weather for Kim Bailey, though he has been lacklustre on his latest starts and needs to improve. He was only fourth at Kempton when last seen, staying on in the straight and hinting that he needs further. He has won at the two mile trip, but this distance is very much unknown and he looks very much vulnerable upped into Class 2 company. Likely best watched under Joshua Bryan.

5 GUARD OF HONOUR – Still a stone higher than his latest flat win, last seen at Ascot in the Queen Alexandra over the 2m 5f trip, finishing sixth after being keen early. He should be happier back down slightly in trip, but it’s hard to argue that he is well treated and others reach the race with better claims in that regard. Possible each way claims under Pat Cosgrave, but he’s likely to find at least a few too good for win purposes.

6 FREDERIC – Arrived at Pontefract on his latest start on the hat-trick, where he was disappointed to only finish fourth, though he didn’t get the smoothest of passages. This is much harder though as he goes up two classes and although his stamina seems assured, it’s hard to see him winning a race of this nature with a Class 4 victory being his standout form. Others are readily preferred on this occasion.

7 PARIS PROTOCOOL – FInished third over the two mile distance at Haydock back in May, just behind Suegioo, but he hasn’t backed up those efforts the last twice. Well beaten over the two miles here in June, he returned a week later to be tailed off in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot. Back down to a mark of 86 and Hollie Doyle takes off a further three pounds, but his recent form doesn’t suggest he’s up to this.

8 ARTHUR MC BRIDE – Sole win on the flat came at this venue back in October, finishing midfield on most of his starts since for Nigel Twiston-Davies. He was ninth in the Queen Alexandra when last seen, taking them along all the way to the two furlong pole where he was headed and he weakened a furlong from home. A slight drop back in trip should suit on that evidence and if he’s given a soft lead under Harry Bentley, he could make them pay from the front. Interesting contender with conditions to suit and shouldn’t be dismissed despite his flat record overall.

9 TAWS – Runner up in this race back in 2015, but she was well beaten on his latest flat start at Kempton after being allowed to dictate. She did win over hurdles on her latest start, but that is very ordinary form and doesn’t read particularly well in the context of this race. She should stay this far but could only be given an outside place chance as others simply bring better form into the contest.

10 AURORA GRAY – Has been making good strides since being upped to the staying distance, last seen finishing a close second at Newbury in July over the 2m 2f trip. She was staying on all the time in that race and a further step up in trip looks perfect for her. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride for the in form Hughie Morrison team and she looks set to take all the beating, as she is firmly unexposed still at these trips.

11 PERCY VEER – Finished second in this race last season for Sylvester Kirk off a four pound higher mark, running well enough in defeat this season. He finished third at Wolverhampton in January, but failed to back that up when only seventh at the same venue in February. He hasn’t been seen since so does have to overcome a 168 day absence to win this. That isn’t the ideal preparation and as a result, he can only be given each way claims.

12 RED RANNAGH – Quirky sort for David Simcock who was staying on strongly to finish fourth at Windsor on his latest start. He should appreciate a step up in trip, but whether it’s to the 2m 4f distance is anyone’s guess as there is no evidence to suggest he will stay quite this far. He is lightly raced and unexposed so couldn’t be ruled out completely, but others make far more appeal on paper.

13 COOL SKY – 121 rated hurdler who stays this far but has disappointed on his last two runs on the flat and has a lot to prove for Ian Williams. He looked laboured when only able to muster up sixth at Sandown on his latest start and despite the removal of the cheekpieces likely to suit, others are readily preferred.

14 DENMEAD – Finished third to October Storm here in May and that good effort is flanked either side by two all weather victories. He is proving staidly progressive and meets that rival on better terms, though he needs to prove his stamina for this far on the turf. He’s unlikely to get a soft lead here as he did at Kempton on his latest start and although he’s hard to rule out under 5lb claimer David Egan, others have more pressing claims for win purposes.

15 GOLDEN DOYEN – 137 rated hurdler who competed at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, returning to the flat off a mark of 79. He was third at Ascot (two miles) when last seen in this sphere off this exact same mark, keeping on well and a further step up in trip should be right up his street as he stays much further over the obstacles. He was progressive as a hurdler over the winter so should return to the level a much better horse so looks potentially well treated under Luke Morris. Has to be considered a big danger.

16 HAWKERLAND – Two wins from two starts in handicap company for Marcus Tregoning, eased to a comfortable success at Chepstow when last seen in July. He has been raised five pounds as a result and goes up in class, but he is open to further progress and is firmly unexposed at the staying distances. He is impossible to dismiss under very capable three pound claimer George Wood and looks a strong contender.

17 AKAVIT – Allowed to dictate his own fractions the last twice and has made his rivals pay on both occasions, winning at both Lingfield and Pontefract. A soft lead in a field this big is very unlikely though and he’s yet to prove himself beyond the 2m 2f trip, with a mark of 76 once he’s never been able to overcome. Jane Elliott takes off a useful five pounds but he looks set for a supporting role.

18 OCTOBER STORM – Won impressively here over the 1m 6f distance back in May and he hasn’t been disgraced on two runs since, finishing seventh in the Northumberland Vase on his latest start. That start likely came too soon after his penultimate so this 32 day break will be well recieved, with the prospect of returning to this track another big plus. Nathan Evans is in good form and takes the ride so with conditions to suit, he looks sure to play a part in the finish.