Goodwood Tips: Friday Racing Tips from Architect

The Coral Goodwood Handicap is often a good race to tackle from a betting stance and this year, most bookmakers are offering a generous five places, so I will recommend two each-way bets, both with good chances.

Trainer Milton Harris came close to winning this year with Super Superjack who finished a close-up second and will be hoping he can go one better with PRINCE IMPERIAL (best price 20/1) who didn’t shape at all badly on stable debut when midfield in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot and might be able to build on that here.

The six-year-old achieved a good level of form when formerly-trained by Richard Hughes, and while he ended his time with that stable on a low-note, there was more encouragement last time when he was only beaten about seven lengths having given away vital ground at the start and had to race in last place for much of the contest.

He will have no issue whatever the ground is, as he has winning form on good, good to firm and soft-to-heavy, including over two miles or further twice. A repeat of his second over two miles, two furlongs at Newmarket would be good enough form to go well here as he split the recent Chester Cup third (Call My Bluff) and fifth (Rajinsky)

Back on his last winning mark, he could go very well with Rob Hornby booked to ride. Of the outsiders in the race, he is the one who appeals the most with lots in his favour and the step up in trip worth an examination.

Calling The Wind could be hard to beat who won this two years ago and claimed the Northumberland Plate last-time-out but the combination of top-weight against some hardy stayers might just see him find one or two too good and preference is for TYPEWRITER (best price 12/1) who ran really well when fourth in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot last-time-out and will be suited to the slight reduction in distance in this contest.

That latest performance was her first attempt beyond a mile and six furlongs and I thought she did well, as she travelled better than most before finishing a respectable fourth.

Previously, she was mixing it in listed/group and good-quality handicaps, including when third in the Cheshire Oaks behind Thoughts Of June and Above The Curve. With Harry Davies reunited with her, who guided her to a good fourth at York, this filly is worth the chance with up to five places widely on offer.

Nostrum is clear of these on ratings and on RPR’s and will probably win but I am eager to nominate EPICTETUS (best price 3/1) in the “w/o Nostrum market.

He won well on his reappearance at Epsom and wasn’t beaten far into fifth in the French Derby. His latest showing in the Hampton was a little disappointing, especially when he looked like he was going to win at one stage when he cruised into lead.

The drop in trip will suit and the last time he ran over a mile, he was second in a Group 1. It might prove an impossible task to beat the favourite but he has the class to beat the rest and Frankie has a good record in this race, too.

The other one I like is last year’s winner ORBAAN (best price 25/1) who I know remains much higher in the handicap than when he won it last year but he won it with plenty to spare and was sixth in the 2021 renewal from a five pounds higher mark.

The eight-year-old is closely matched with Tacarib Bay, as he has been right in behind that horse on a couple of occasions on similar terms now, yet that horse is much shorter in the betting, which makes little sense.

He was doing his customary best work late on when seventh of 25 last-time-out at Ascot and the return to a mile will suit him a lot better, plus he gets on well with Neil Callan, who is an excellent judge in these type of handicaps.

This is probably a stronger race than last year but he loves this course and another strong performance wouldn’t be out of the realms of possibility with five places across the board.

As ever, the Coral Golden Mile has attracted a quality field, in which quite a number of these have a chance from their respective marks.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of my others on the shortlist run well but AWAAL (best price 8/1) has had just the eight starts and has placed three times in valuable high-end handicaps and deserves a change in fortune.

The four-year-old won on his handicap debut back in October on soft-ground and found only one too good when second of 22 in the Lincoln on his reappearance on heavy ground. That form has worked out well with the third winning a high-quality at Ascot since off a mark of 96 in good style.

Two starts ago, he was a fine third of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup and meets Sonny Liston on four pound better terms with conditions more in his favour this time. He was last seen making the frame in another top-tier handicap when third in the Bunbury Cup behind Biggles.

Top apprentice Harry Davies is booked to ride who can claim three pounds and the application of cheekpieces could yield the requisite improvement to win this. With five places widely available, he is a solid each-way play with a good chance of getting his head in front.

This is an excellent opportunity for Highfield Princess to gain a first win of the season who goes on any ground and arrives on the back of two placed efforts at Royal Ascot. Her blistering speed and class could be too much for most of these if she runs to her best but she isn’t bulletproof and I will take an each-way chance on Karl Burke’s WHITE LAVENDER (best price 18/1) with four places on offer.

Her best form has undeniably been at Longchamp but she hasn’t exactly been given many opportunities to show her class on home-soil. She has only run four times in the UK and bagged a Listed success in one of those races. She was too free at the Curragh last time but impressed in winning a Group 3 before that in France and was unlucky not to win the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye back in October as well when denied a head by The Platinum Queen.

In that race she was conceding lumps of weight to the winner, so it was a cracking effort in defeat and proved she has the capabilities at the highest level when at her best. I assume this has probably been her main objective this season and the price tag significantly underestimates her chances with her trainer firing just now after Royal Rhyme won for the stable impressively at this course yesterday.

Hamish sets the standard and is the rightful favourite in his hat-trick bid this term but JACK DARCY (best price 25/1) could improve enough to give the favourite one or two problems at a huge price.

He has been highly-tried by connections so far in his career and is very lightly-raced for a four-year-old. He was well-held on his reappearance here but wasn’t beaten far in a competitive handicap at Ascot when fifth.

Considering he pulled very hard and was tasked with carrying a monster weight, he stuck to the task well and it is interesting to see his connections aim him at this race instead of going for one of the handicaps.

He was second in a Listed race in France last year, while his fourth at this meeting last year in the Gordon Stakes reads well given he was right in behind three horses rated 115+, while a few who were in behind have also boosted the form.

Neil Callan is back in the saddle on him for the first time since their run at this meeting last year and, with the likelihood he is approaching peak fitness, he is worth an interest in spite of being the outsider of the field.

GAIDEN (best price 12/1) has shown more than enough to suggest she can win a race of this calibre. She was sent off favourite to beat Relief Rally on debut at Windsor on soft ground and ran really well to take second, beaten just two lengths and would have been even closer with a clear passage.

The winner has since won the Super Sprint impressively at Newbury to strengthen the form. In addition to that promising debut effort, she stepped up on that effort to finish third in a Listed event at York and that form also has substance given she had Persian Dreamer back in fourth, who placed in the Albany at Royal Ascot before winning the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes when last seen.

Her latest start saw her tackle the Queen Mary and she finished down the field but she wasn’t stopping at the finish having been out of the back of the television for much of the contest as the race favoured those who were up with the pace. This is a drop in grade and I can envisage her being extremely competitive with four places widely on offer. I am optimistic about her chances.

Ralph Beckett’s STARLUST (best price 7/2) is progressive and is chasing a hat-trick after a pair of wins at Chelmsford and Newbury. He showed a tough attitude to see off his rivals when last seen and that form has a lot of substance given he beat Array and Indian Run, who have both won on their next start.

His mark is due to go up three pounds, so he is very well-treated here and Connor Planas has been appointed to do the steering this time. With improvement on the cards, he could be hard to beat and is worth an investment to continue his graduation through the ranks with his stable amongst the winners of late, too.

In the final race on the card, PERFECT PLAY (best price 16/1) is the one I want to side with, who was pulled out of a race here yesterday presumably in favour of this contest.

Surprisingly his stable have been quiet so far this week at this meeting but this three-year-old arrives in very good form after back-to-back seconds and was only beaten half-a-length by Coverdale at Ripon who ran well to finish fourth behind Royal Rhyme at this course yesterday.

He is 10 pounds above his win at Chester but is an improving three-year-old who might be able to raise his game at this higher level. A lower draw would have been preferred but his form to date gives him a chance in this company and Jason Hart will take the ride. With four places widely available, he is the standout bet in the race.