Glorious Goodwood Racing Tips – Toormore Will Pack A Punch In The Lennox

Watch the Bet365 Lennox Stakes and three other races from Glorious Goodwood live on Channel 4

Glorious Goodwood gets underway on Tuesday, and it promises to be an enthralling five days of action, the centrepiece being Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes in which Kingman and Toronado are set to lock horns.

The highlight of the opening day is the Bet365 Lennox Stakes (3.05), and the one to be on in this Group 2 contest is Richard Hannon’s TOORMORE, who is currently available at 5/2 with SkyBet.

The Hannon team sent out the winner of this race in 2008 and 2011, while three-year-olds have won five of the last seven renewals, two factors which augur well where Toormore is concerned.

The Arakan colt landed the Vintage Stakes over this C&D during an unbeaten juvenile campaign last year, and saw off subsequent French Derby hero The Great Gatsby on his reappearance in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April.

Subsequently he has failed to make an impact in the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, but the combination of the drop in class and trip here will enable Toormore to resume winning ways.

The selection will have most to fear from Gregorian, particularly if the word ‘soft’ appears in the going description come post time.

John Gosden’s charge outpointed Garswood, who was successful in this race in 2013, in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last month, prior to running a blinder in the July Cup at that Suffolk venue 17 days ago, finishing third to Slade Power.

Rain would also help Garswood in his bid to record back-to-back wins in this event, but I reckon he’s vulnerable this time round. Glory Awaits and Toormore’s stablemate Professor both have place claims.

The first of the four races televised by C4 on Tuesday is the Bet365.com Stakes (1.55) a valuable handicap which has attracted an 18-strong field.

Go With Govan

Magic Hurricane, Salutation and Stomachion are all dropping back from a mile and-a-half, which may not be ideal for that trio, while Sea Shanty is stepping up in trip after finishing a fine fourth in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last month.

To my mind, the really interesting one in this contest is lightly-raced six-year-old I’M FRAAM GOVAN, who was progressive last term, a campaign which culminated in him landing back-to-back handicaps on Polytrack at Kempton.

He is proven on turf, too, and will be well suited by this sharp, right-hand track, which is very similar in many ways to Kempton. Though he hasn’t been seen out since late-December, his shrewd trainer has kept his powder dry with one eye on this race and next month’s Ebor.

BEACON was mightily impressive in a Listed race at Sandown last time and should prove much too good for his seven rivals in the Bet365 Molecomb Stakes (2.30). He’s not much of a price, though (10/11 with William Hill is the best price in town at the time of writing), so it’s a race to simply watch and enjoy.

Cooler Can Freeze Out Summer Stakes Rivals

Conversely, the Bet365 Summer Stakes (3.40) is a competitive handicap, which punters can get their teeth into. I’m very sweet on HAVANA COOLER, who has acquitted himself well in a couple of strong mile and-a-half handicaps this term and will benefit from the step back up in trip here.

Luca Cumani’s charge rates a solid bet at 9/2 with Paddy Power, and the one for the forecast could turn out to be Dashing Star, who is closely-matched with the selection on this season’s form, while the consistent Noble Silk is also worth a second look.

Glorious Goodwood Day One Betting Advice*:

1.55 I’m Fraam Govan – 12/1 (SkyBet)
2.30 Beacon – 10/11 (William Hill)
3.10 Toormore – 5/2 (SkyBet)
3.40 Havana Cooler – 9/2 (Paddy Power)

*Prices correct at the time of writing, and are subject to fluctuation.