Glorious Goodwood: Betfred Mile could be 2013's hottest handicap

Spa’s Dancer was purchased for 25,000 guineas by James Eustace in October and has already shown to be a shrewd investment by the Newmarket trainer.

After going down by a short head in a mile handicap at Sandown in April, the six-year-old returned to the Esher course to post a clear-cut victory in a similar contest on May 30.

The son of Danehill Dancer, a 25/1 chance with Betfred, failed to cope with good to firm ground on his most recent start in the Royal Hunt Cup on June 19, when he finished down the field.

Don’t miss a chance to win a pair of Richmond Enclosure badges to a day of Glorious Goodwood - in the Observer, out on Thursday, July 4

Eustace revealed: “Spa’s Dancer is a possible runner in the Betfred Mile. He is entered to run at Sandown this weekend but will only do so if the rain changes the ground.

“I probably should have taken him out of the Royal Hunt Cup because the going was too fast for him but we were there and it was Royal Ascot, so we ran.

“He seems to love Sandown but I think that he might quite like Goodwood. I am not convinced that he enjoys racing on a straight mile on any ground but a mile around Goodwood could be ideal for him.

“His win at Sandown was well up there with the best of his form and, even as a six-year-old, he has still got it.

“He’s a great horse to have in the yard and looks a cheap acquisition now, although I’m probably the only person who is praying for a wet summer!”

Heading the market for the heritage handicap at 10/1 with Betfred are Nine Realms (William Haggas), a lightly-raced four-year-old who was an impressive maiden winner at Leicester on May 28, and Stirring Ballad (Andrew Balding), a winner (Tatler Handicap) at Glorious Goodwood last year who was unlucky in running when down the field in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Belgian Bill (George Baker) recorded the biggest victory of his career in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last time and is 12/1 co-second favourite with Betfred, along with Cape Peron (Henry Candy), David Livingston (Mike de Kock), Field Of Dream (Jamie Osborne), Wentworth (Richard Hannon) and Windhoek (Mark Johnston).

Boom And Bust (Marcus Tregoning, 16/1) is a regular in the Betfred Mile, winning the valuable handicap under Goodwood’s 2013 racing ambassador, Hayley Turner, in 2011 and finishing a close fourth last year.

Weights for the Betfred Mile, which has a safety limit of 20 runners, will be revealed on Wednesday, July 10.

Betfred spokesman Andrew Griffiths said: “This year’s Betfred Mile has the potential to be the hottest handicap of the season.

“The unexposed Nine Realms is sure to be popular, but there will be plenty of punters looking to recover their losses on Stirring Ballad after her luckless run at Royal Ascot.”

Betfred Mile - Betfred prices:

10/1 Nine Realms, Stirring Ballad, 12/1 Belgian Bill, Cape Peron, David Livingston, Field of Dream, Wentworth, Windhoek, 14/1 Dance and Dance, Dream Tune, Fury, Haafaguinea, My Freedom, Queensberry Rules, Roserrow, Tarikhi, Trade Commissioner, 16/1 Arsaadi, Boom and Bust, Fast Or Free, Two for Two, Validus, 20/1 Asatir, Ashaadd, Brae Hill, Danchai, Famous Poet, Jack’s Revenge, Les Troyens, Lockwood, Mister Music, Pied A Terre, Pintura, Rockalong, Sandagiyr, Sirius Prospect, 25/1 Boots and Spurs, Brendan Brackan, Capaill Liath, Captain Bertie, Ehtedaam, Es Que Love, Fire Ship, Galician, Head of Steam, Mabait, Santefisio, Set the Trend, Spa’s Dancer, Stepping Ahead, Trader Jack, Trail Blaze, Vainglory, Viewpoint, 33/1 Albaqaa, Ardmay, Dubai Hills, Hi There, Justonefortheroad, Lord Ofthe Shadows, Muharrib, Postscript, Rebellious Guest, St Moritz, Swiftly Done, Well Painted, 40/1 Ayaar, Be Perfect, Common Touch, Discernable, Flashlight, Noble Citizen, Shebebi, 66/1 Related, Steelriver.

Each Way 1/4 the Odds A Place 1-2-3-4. All Quoted. Ante Post Rules Apply