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1.20 - Thames Materials Handicap (7f)
Charlie Appleby's Quintillus was third in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, a seasonal best for the Dubawi gelding despite the fact the stiff mile there appeared to be close to the limit of his stamina. He's 5lb higher now but remains lightly-raced and with more to offer, while the drop in trip looks a positive for him. William Buick's mount is the likely market leader.
The winning run of SPIRIT OF BERMUDA however may not be ready to come to an end just yet. She, too, appeared to have her stamina stretched by the mile this season but has recorded wins at Leicester and Newmarket back over 7f.
She had a couple of next-time-out winners behind in that win at HQ three weeks ago and the form reads well. A 2lb rise for her troubles is far from excessive and she was a maiden scorer on debut at this venue at this meeting last summer.
Farasi Lane won at Sandown four weeks ago and, despite the tougher nature of this mission, needs considering from the foot of the weights, while Red Mirage hasn't shone in his two most recent starts but shouldn't be written off for the Mark Johnston team.
1.55 - Unibet Stewards' Sprint Handicap (6f)
Power Over Me is the obvious starting point. Robyn Brisland's 4YO Ivawood gelding produced a personal best at Epsom (6f, good to soft) back on the first of this month, making most of the running and getting the job done well under Kieran Shoemark only to lose the race after weighing in 2lb light.
He is therefore 7lb 'well-in' racing off the same mark of 90 here and his rider has enjoyed a breakthrough Group 1 success here on Thursday. They are shortlisted.
Top Folio is 2-3 in handicaps and a player once more, though he'll need to defy top-weight to prevail for the James Ferguson team.
Mr Wagyu has gone up 6lb in defeat after a fine second at Newmarket last weekend, this will also be his ninth run since the beginning of June (has four wins and two seconds).
Music Society is another in form. Tim Easterby's gelding won at Pontefract in June over this trip and has finished second-best at Hamilton and York in his two most recent starts, beaten by inches in both instances. He's able to race from a 4lb lower mark compared to last Saturday at HQ and must be a major contender as such.
One from left field could be EMBOUR for trainer Ruth Carr. The Acclamation gelding was on the scoresheet at Redcar (6f, good to firm) on seasonal bow in April and has run some good races in defeat in five outings since.
When he was last at Goodwood in August 2019, he was narrowly defeated off a mark of 95 and he had just three starts last year before leaving Richard Hannon, running good races at Wolverhampton and Doncaster before a midfield finish in the Silver Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
He was below his best dropped to 5f at Newmarket on latest start but, back over 6f and with first-time cheekpieces deployed, it wouldn't be a shock if he rebounds on his Goodwood return and he's a big price as such.
14.30 - Summer Handicap (1m6f)
Off bottom-weight it could be worth chancing PRINCE ALEX to make a winning start for new trainer Michael Bell here. The Excelebration gelding ended 2020 with a fabulous five-timer for trainer Ralph Beckett, rising from a mark of 63 to 86 in the process.
After a pleasing comeback at Salisbury in May, he was inched out here over C&D (soft) behind the re-opposing Nuits St Georges the same month - the front pair having stretched well clear of their four rivals.
The runner-up won again since at Salisbury in June, while Prince Alex didn't threaten at Newmarket after a slow start and that run is easily enough forgiven. Rossa Ryan has a couple of wins on his back previously and this mark of 89 should be within their grasp.
A change of scenery could well have perked him up and he'll have positive memories from the sole previous visit to the Sussex Downs, while he's much better off at the weights with Nuits St Georges today.
That rival represents a David Menuisier team in flying form and cannot be crossed off any list in too much haste.
My Frankel was third in the Old Newton Cup four weeks ago and should go well, while Aaddeey was an eye-catcher in the John Smith's Cup a week later and is shortlisted too.
Rhythmic Intent was in cracking order this time last year, winning at Newbury in effortless fashion on soft ground over this sort of trip. He lost his way a bit afterwards but his Sandown second over 1m2f this month was a reminder he's still capable. This longer trip will suit and any ease in the ground is a plus as Jim Crowley gets the leg up for the first time on the Ian Williams-trained 5YO.
3.05 - Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Fillies' And Mares' Group 2, 1m6f)
It would rank as a major surprise if WONDERFUL TONIGHT doesn't prove best in the Lillie Langtry. She's the flag-bearer for the impressive, locally-based David Menuisier team and she ended last season with three wins in four outings, two of them at Group 1 level at Longchamp (1m6f, soft) and Ascot (1m4f, soft) on British Champions Day.
Last month's return at Royal Ascot confirmed her star remains on the rise as she won the Hardwicke Stakes in pleasing fashion. In doing so, she had the likes of Broome (second), Hukum (third), Japan (sixth) and Sir Ron Priestly (seventh) behind - each of those rivals a winner at Group-race level on their next start.
The re-opposing Albaflora has some six-lengths to find on that Royal Ascot form having finished fifth and it's only likely Wonderful Tonight will be better for the comeback. Her wins have all come with cut in the ground, so any rain is in her favour, but she has also gone well on good ground. Despite her penalty, this race looks hers to lose.
The aforementioned Albaflora is next to her in the market for Ralph Beckett but perhaps Believe In Love is more of a threat, while Divinely - the lone 3YO in the mix - is a possible improver tackling this new trip for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Placed in the Oaks and Irish Oaks behind Snowfall, she is in receipt of almost a stone from the market leader.
3.40 - Unibet Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap, 6f)
The feature of the final afternoon at Glorious Goodwood, the Stewards' Cup is a pure cavalry charge over six-furlongs and features a cast of 28, laced with potential betting options.
Last year's winner Summerghand will attempt to bridge a gap of more than 60 years since any horse retained this mantle. He's rated 1lb higher now and has enjoyed some success this season. He's toiled in Group 1 company of late but David O'Meara's charge could easily find himself in the mix again in this company.
Atalanta's Boy is a C&D winner this season but his propensity to blow the start could be fatal to his chances in a race of this nature. French import Hurricane Ivor has found his mojo now for the William Haggas team and could have more offer, while James Fanshawe's Fresh won at Ascot in May over this trip and was only beaten a neck afterwards in the Wokingham at Royal meeting.
He's up another 3lb but clearly relishes this sort of challenge and is the sort to do better still at four-years-old.
LAMPANG was behind in tenth in that Wokingham but Tim Easterby's charge was done no favours by the draw bias there. He had won at Hamilton previous to that and arrives here after an excellent neck-second behind Danzeno back in Scotland over this 6f trip on soft ground since.
That was in a three-runner conditions event and James Sullivan's mount is some 10lb better off with the same rival. From a good low draw here and priced at around 25/1, the Dandy Man colt is certainly one of the more appealing each-way contenders.
16.10 - British European Breeders Fund EBF Maiden Stakes (7f)
Only a handful of these have run previously. Of those, Flying Secret, Khanjar and Tartan Chief look best-placed to have a big say.
Eve Johnson-Houghton's Flying Secret was runner-up at Ascot on debut, splitting experienced rivals, and should be improved for that; while the well-bred Kodiac colt Khanjar shaped with promise in fourth in a Ascot novice (7f, good) earlier this month for William Haggas.
Tartan Chief meanwhile improved from this debut to be second to impressive winner Like A Lion at Salisbury (7f, good to soft) this month, form that took a boost from the third Tropez Power next time at Newbury (also due to run here on Friday in a nursery). William Buick climbs on board now and a big run is expected.
Capital Theory and Imperial Fighter are newcomers from excellent sources but it's hard to be drawn towards Richard Hughes' 200,000 gns debutant RING OF BEARRA.
He's a Wootton Bassett colt with lots going for him on paper and having changed hands for ?43k as a foal, that price rose significantly as a yearling. Ryan Moore is 2-5 riding for this trainer in 2021 and his presence can only be viewed as a positive now.
4.45 - Signature Apprentice Handicap (1m1f)
The curtain-call for Glorious Goodwood 2021 is this apprentice handicap and it's no easy get-out stakes for punters with a field of 18 declared.
Mark Johnston has chances with Dream With Me - capable of better - and Overwrite, second in this last year from 6lb higher and with the talented Jonny Peate for company now.
You're Hired was also second in this, back in 2019, and Amanda Perrett's 8YO arrives in good tune after a win at Bath last month. That came under Saffie Osborne and they should be competitive again.
The Whipmaster gained a silver medal at Epsom last time out and can go well under a featherweight but TURNTABLE makes fair appeal for trainer Charlie Wall with Sebastian Woods on board. He won at Newmarket (1m, good to soft) in May and has run excellent races in defeat at Yarmouth and back at HQ since. He can continue his good run and give this a big push.
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