Day two of Glorious Goodwood is dominated by the race of the week – the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.
The unbeaten Bow Echo renews his fierce rivalry with Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad but they both have to beat their classy older counterpart Opera Ballo. There is a great supporting cast of races including the Molecomb Stakes for speedy juveniles. And our Chief Tipster Jason Heavey gives his verdict on day two. All odds correct at the time of writing.
Jason is one of the country’s leading newspaper tipsters. In 2023 he did the rare double of winning both national tipping titles – the Racing Post Press Challenge and also the coveted Racing Post Naps Table. He is currently the leading “red-top” tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.]
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1.50 Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap
HATTEEN is fancied to continue his ascent in this relatively uncompetitive handicap. Andrew Balding’s son of Lope De Vega holds a St Leger entry and will have to win this handsomely for that Classic dream to remain intact.
He did impress when getting off the mark at Doncaster in a novice event 20 days ago and he makes his handicap debut off a lenient-looking rating of 88. Under Oisin Murphy, he is fancied to take care of Infraad and Bay Royale.
Cannes went off favourite in the King George V Handicap at the royal meeting but never landed a blow and Dylan Browne McMonagle should have him much closer to the pace.
Tierra Del Toro will need to relax for James Doyle to have any chance – he has a tendency to pull his chance away – while Baltic Fleet looks a bit overpriced at 16-1 for trainer Ian Williams.
The value at the prices looks to be Parisian Scholar (25-1) who has really found his mojo with recent victories at Thirsk and Newmarket. Charlie Johnston does well in Goodwood handicaps and off a low weight Parisian Scholar is a strong each-way fancy.
TIP: HATTEEN
Each-way: Parisian Scholar
2.25 British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Stakes
ZIGAZIG AH can land her second big pot in the space of 11 days.
Richard Spencer’s filly won the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury where she showed terrific pace from the off. Earlier she had won on her debut over six furlongs at Yarmouth. This is her toughest test but the rapid track should suit the mount of Saffie Osborne, who is riding as well as ever, and at 8-1 she is sporting punt.
Wild Blossom makes the market and will look to bounce back from her Queen Mary Stakes performance where she seemed to wilt late in the race.
The other Wathnan runner Hidden Gift ran a blinder in the Albany Stakes and has a serious chance while Fast Track looks a bit overpriced at 5-1 under Oisin Murphy. She was just behind Wild Blossom at Ascot and is three times her price.
Divine Whisper won her maiden with authority and may have enough improvement in her to sneak a podium place at a double-digit price (11-1).
TIP: ZIGAZIG AH
Each-way: Divine Whisper
3.00 Rolls-Royce Oak Tree Stakes
Everything has aligned for PLANET SEEKER in this wide open Group Three contest for fillies and mares.
On official ratings, the inexperienced three-year-old has it all to do against more streetwise rivals with some classy form in the book. But Ralph Beckett’s unexposed daughter of Blue Point, who has only had four career starts, impressed on her latest run at Newmarket that marked her out as a horse to follow.
Jamie Spencer steered her to an impressive victory and her striking turn of foot could be the weapon that propels her to success.
Planet Seeker also won at Goodwood on her racecourse debut last year and appears to love fast ground. She might be the lowest rated three-year-old in the race but she has the most upside.
Zanthos commands respect as she drops in class after competing in two Group Ones, although she will have to recapture her two-year-old form.
Sayidah Dariyan has also been competing at the top table in sprints and is pushed up in trip to seven furlongs on the advice of her rider Ryan Moore. Along with Flora Of Bermuda and Dash Of Azure, they form a formidable trio of older challengers.
TIP: PLANET SEEKER
Each-way: Zanthos
3.35 Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes
ADONIUS can give trainer Becky Menzies and jockey Kaiya Fraser their day in the sun.
The unbeaten speedster has a perfect three from three record – winning twice at Musselburgh and then making all to take the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester. In the latter, he gave 5lb and a decisive beating to the useful Hickory Lad.
Sidestepping Royal Ascot may prove a blessing and it will take a good one to lower his colours. Victory for Adonius will see him qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint which remains the dream for his trainer and owners.
Another northern raider, El Floridita, posted a fine second in the Norfolk Stakes and should go well, while Ruler’s Pride and Flight Signal – both in the Wathnan colours – will aim to put disappointing Ascot runs behind them.
Pershaada was fourth at Ascot and has a solid chance.
I fancy Sale Shark (8-1) to hit the frame with Oisin Murphy back on board. He was impressive on debut before an excellent fifth in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot.
TIP: ADONIUS
Each-way: Sale Shark
4.10 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes
OPERA BALLO can gatecrash the clash of the Classic titans in the best race of the week.
Bow Echo and Gstaad go head to head in round three of their personal duel with George Boughey’s colt currently two-nil ahead. But in Opera Ballo they take on a very talented and tough older horse who is on the up.
Headstrong and tricky to ride last year, Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old has looked a different beast this term, winning the bet365 Mile with real authority.
He then came a gallant third in the Queen Anne Stakes when he tried to make all the running into a strong headwind and was only collared in the final strides.
Goodwood looks tailor-made for Opera Ballo although he won’t get his own way up front with Aidan O’Brien running Dorset and Puerto Rico as potential pacemakers.
Unbeaten Bow Echo is five from five and has seen off Gstaad in the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. The gap was a short head at Ascot when Billy Loughnane went a tad early on Bow Echo and it should be tight once again.
Ten Bob Tony sprang a 50-1 shock at Royal Ascot and he looks overpriced at 12-1 with a podium place in mind. Zavateri (16-1) is another with place claims having been off the track for 102 days.
TIP: OPERA BALLO
Each-way: Ten Bob Tony
5.00 Coral Charlton handicap
CALLING A STAR gets the vote in a nightmare of a puzzle to try and solve.
Richard Hughes has always thought plenty of his filly and she has won twice this season over six furlongs. She produced a career best at Newmarket last time despite not quite seeing out the seven furlongs, so the drop back in trip should suit. Will Buick takes the reins, they have a decent draw in 17 and 14-1 is a fair price.
Tex (16-1) enters calculations after his recent Ascot victory while the consistent Velvet Rhythm should make her presence felt.
Of the older runners, Vingegaard is interesting at a big price (16-1) while Supreme King (second in his last three races) is likely to be among the prize money.
Lurking at the bottom of the weights is Sargent Dennis who returned from a break at Doncaster with what looked like a “sighter” of a run and at 14-1 will carry the each-way shillings with some bookies paying out on the first five or six.
TIP: CALLING A STAR
Each-way: Sargent Dennis
5.40 HKJC World Pool Handicap
OLIVER SHOW can take centre stage for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane in the lucky last.
The 10-1 shot has posted two fair efforts this season without troubling the judge and his handicap rating has slipped to an attractive perch. He was chinned in the 2025 Lincoln off a mark of 95 and gets in off 89 here, so I expect Loughnane to challenge fast and late, granted luck in running.
The Liffey is interesting at the bottom of the weights. He won five times in Ireland before winning on his first start for Hayley Burton and he looks well treated.
Goldmoyne started the year on a rating of 65 and is now 24lb higher after winning four times and running so many solid races. He is a big player at a track that will suit.
Rhoscolyn is a regular winner at this meeting but would want softer ground so better options are Crimson Spirit and Bobby Bennu who have both been very well supported. Pellitory is a good each-way punt at 10-1 for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope
TIP: OLIVER SHOW
Each-way: The Liffey
GOODWOOD
1.50 Hatteen (trb)
2.25 Zigazig Ah
3.00 Planet Seeker (Nap)
3.35 Adonius
4.10 Opera Ballo (next best)
5.00 Calling A Star
5.40 Oliver Show