Tipping for Goodwood - Wednesday 18th May

Returning still from the high of being on the Knavesmire and ‘living the dream’, we are back down to earth with a bang with Wednesdays racing. There is a very poor spread of racing, with the exception of Goodwood, who still are able to put on a very good standard of card, with the highlight being a Class 1 fillies listed stakes for three year olds.

It is in that race that we have our first selection, in the only offspring of impressive miler George Washington, DATE WITH DESTINY. The filly looked like she was primed for great things when winning a maiden on debut at Windsor amongst much fanfare and has been running in solid group and listed company since that victory. She has built on both runs this season, a 5 length defeat in the Tattersalls three year old trophy, before finishing third in the Oaks trial at Lingfield. She was hampered when making steady headway that day, and with a bit of luck, she could be a bit of value around the 5/1 mark. The Mick Channon trained Metropolitan Miss was a well beaten favourite last time out, but that performance was too bad to be true, and you would expect her to be a big danger.

Another race of listed status is the IBA Cocked Hall stakes, which although only has five runners, has a very good strength in depth. The field is headed by recent Goldolphin handicap winner Badeel, who won a very good class 3 handicap recently at Nottingham. However preference is for two others out of the field. The first is the once Derby hope MASKED MARVEL. He finished a good fifth in the Derby trial at Sandown, and I think there will be more to come. The son of Montjeu was easily treated on his reappearance, and there will be more to come. Another one who will go close is PICTURE EDITOR. He was used as a pacemaker in the Greenham for superstar stablemate Frankel, but has been a long term Derby hope. Tongues were set wagging when winning a three runner conditions race by thirty lengths, and was immediately thrown into that Derby market as third or fourth favourite. He finished third then in a stronger conditions race behind two horses who have gone on to run better races this season. Measuring Time finished placed in two group races and another good run in the Tattersalls three year old trophy.

CLUB OCEANIC looks to have a strong chance in the class four handicap in the 2.35 also. After winning a maiden last season, he ran a solid third in his foray into handicaps on the all weather at Kempton, narrowly losing by two short heads. He is a son of Cape Cross, so should prefer changing to turf, and with the cobwebs blown off, and Frankie Dettori aboard, he should go very close.

2.35 Goodwood – Club Oceanic

3.10 Goodwood – Date With Destiny NAP

4.20 Goodwood – Masked Marvel & Picture Editor