2.25pm Goodwood Tips & Betting Preview 02/08/2017

A field of fourteen go to post for the second race of the day at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday, a middle distance handicap. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Secret Advisor is improving with every run and looks the pick of the Godolphin bunch, with Sofia’s Rock likely to try and make all as he arrives on the back of a good third in Group 3 company on his latest start. Ready preference, however, is for LONDINIUM however for Mark Johnston, who blew his chance at the start on his latest run at Chester, running on strongly when in the clear to snatch third late on. A step back up in trip to the 1m 4f distance is firmly in his favour and he should take all the beating.

1 TAMLEEK – Lightly raced three year old for Saeed bin Suroor who finished fourth in the Chester Vase back in May, but has subsequently struggled in two three more Group 3 races since. He now makes his handicap debut off a mark of 105 which demands more, so the cheekpieces will have to make all the difference. Hard to rule him out entirely, but others look better treated and Buick looks elsewhere.

2 WOLF COUNTRY – Won a French Listed race at Saint-Cloud with ease and finished a good fifth in the Dante Stakes at York back in May. He had excuses on his latest start in a Group 3 at Newmarket and if back to his best off a mark of 103, he looks a strong contender under Adam Kirby. Charlie Appleby has three in the race and the booking of Kirby proves he isn’t Godolphin first string, but he shouldn’t be dismissed on that basis.

3 SOFIA’S ROCK – Front runner for Mark Johnston whose mark is unchanged from a brilliant third in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on his latest start. If running to the same level again under Ryan Moore he looks a big player with conditions to suit. He has looked progressive this season and isn’t drawn badly, so looks set to make this stretch from the front for a yard in brilliant form.

4 ON TO VICTORY – Two soft ground wins this season for Eve Johnson Houghton, undone by a muddling gallop at Newbury on his latest start where he stayed on strongly when it was all over. He has been raised a further four pounds as a result, but he was looking progressive before that run and as long as the ground stays ‘good’, he will be fine ground wise. Tom Marquand takes the ride for the in form yard and he looks a strong each way contender.

5 FIRST NATION – Has finished second three times from his last four starts after a maiden victory at Wolverhampton in November, last seen at Ascot in the King George V Stakes. He has gone up a further three pounds as a result, but he remains unexposed at this distance and has potential for better. James Doyle takes the ride and he looks a strong each way contender with conditions to suit, but the percentage call would suggest he’ll find at least one too good.

6 SECRET ADVISOR – Has been improving with every run for Charlie Appleby, producing a career best on his latest start to finish third in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. That was a Group 2, so this is a big drop in class, with the winner being aimed at the St Leger. A mark of 96 does demand further progress, but that looks to be forthcoming and he’s the pick of William Buick. Conditions will suit and he looks set to go close.

7 HOCHFIELD – Took his second successive victory at Chester on his penultimate start, but his hat-trick bid came unstuck against a horse who was allowed to dictate freely out in front. He is two pounds higher and is pitched into a much tougher race, with this trip possibly inadequate. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride which is positive, but others make far more appeal for win purposes.

8 BRIMHAM ROCKS – Three wins from five starts this season for Ralph Beckett, last seen taking a Class 4 handicap at Hamilton by a comfortable margin. He’s been raised nine pounds as a result and goes up markedly in class, so he does need another rapid jolt of progress if he’s to be threatening here. Harry Bentley takes over the ride which is a big plus though and he looks an each way contender if that improvement does come.

9 NEVER SURRENDER – Won a Class 3, 1m 2f handicap at Chester in May, but he’s been well beaten in two subsequent handicaps for Charlie Hills. He finished seventh on his latest start at Haydock and the cheekpieces will need to have a drastic effect to see him winning this under Franny Norton. Others have far more pressing claims and he’s likely best watched.

10 AMLAD – Progressive front runner for Ed Dunlop who only went down by a length at Windsor on his latest start, but this race is unlikely to play to his strengths. He wont be getting a soft lead in this with several others likely to go forward and a mark of 86 does demand further improvement. Luke Morris takes the ride and he should miss out on the placings today with things unlikely to go his way.

11 WINSTON C – Form figures of 13331 for Michael Bell, winning on his latest start at Wolverhampton where the step up in trip and positive tactics paid dividends. He has been raised seven pounds as result and although this is much tougher, but there is still more to come and David Egan takes off a very useful five pounds. Possible each way claims if taking another big step forward but he’s vulnerable form wise for win purposes.

12 LONDINIUM – Won three starts ago at Haydock on handicap debut for Mark Johnston and he improved on that effort in a tough race at Ripon in June. He broke slowly at Chester on his latest start which blew his chance straight away and he is only three pounds higher here after running on bravely to finish third. There should be far more to come from him now upped to the 1m 4f trip and he still looks well treated off a mark of 84, so he looks set to take all the beating.

13 FAIR POWER – Has won two Class 5 handicaps the last twice, just getting up in the final strides at Epsom on his latest start after not travelling in the early stages. He is up four pounds as a result, but judging by how poorly he travelled early at Epsom, this step up in trip should help. Aaron Jones takes off three pounds, but this is a huge step up in class and he simply doesn’t look good enough to win this.

14 GALACTIC PRINCE – Won on his penultimate start at this venue when holding on well towards the finish over course and distance, backing that up with a good display when third at Ascot in mid-July. He has far more on his plate here, six pounds more in fact and despite slipping in at the bottom of the weights, others look far better treated on balance.