Saturday Glorious Goodwood Day 5 Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Valedictory 3/1 (1pt)

John & Thady Gosden have won this race recently with future multiple group level winners Trawlerman and Sweet William and connections will be hoping that VALEDICTORY (best priced at 3/1) can continue his progression. The four-year-old is unbeaten in his two starts over this 1m6f trip and since the application of cheekpieces. 

Valedictory was more dominant than the winning margin of a neck suggests last time and he also has the benefit of a course and distance victory on his CV. He looks the one to beat in this competitive handicap. 

Waardah 5/2 (1pt)

Many of these runners would prefer more cut in the ground but I am hoping that WAARDAH (best priced at 5/2) can overcome that and win this race for a second year in a row. The Owen Burrows trained filly beat the reopposing Danielle and Goodie Two Shoes last season when in receipt of 10lbs as a three-year-old but she shaped better than ever on her reappearance at Carlisle when a close 2nd behind Estrange. 

The winner and the third Coedana have boosted the form since and Waardah would have been inconvenienced by the 1m3f trip that day. Her only start over this 1m6f resulted in a career best performance and she can hopefully defend her crown. 

Crest Of Fire 9/2 (0.5pt ew)

Blue Courvosier 4/1 (0.5pt ew)

Three-year-olds have done well in this race since its inception in 2023 providing the 1-3 from two runners last year, the 2-4 from two runners in 2024 and the 2-3-6 from four runners in 2023. Thus meaning that both CREST OF FIRE (best priced at 9/2) and BLUE COURVOSIER (best priced at 4/1) are of obvious interest. 

Crest Of Fire didn’t get the clearest of runs when 3rd behind Blue Couvosier in the rearranged Silver Bowl Handicap at Carlisle before a respectable run at Royal Ascot in the Britannia. He then finished a short head 2nd behind Ciarrai Abu last time at Ascot when the pair pulled three lengths clear of the third and the winner has boosted the form this week winning off a 6lb higher mark. Crest Of Fire now runs here off a 4lb higher mark but can hopefully get a prominent position despite a wide draw in Stall 14 (Gladius won it from Stall 13 last year).

Blue Courvosier, as previously stated, beat Crest Of Fire in the rearranged Silver Bowl Handicap at Carlisle off a mark of 83 and was another drawn on the wrong side when midfield in the Britannia Handicap on his next start. He comes straight here following that run but once again gets the assistance of Saffie Osborne off a low weight and he should run well from Stall 6.