Blistering Battaash aims for King George the 4th

He is hoping to triumph in his fourth King George Stakes in as many years - while we also have three other hotly-contested Group races on an action-packed eight-race card.

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Friday's analysis

1:10: TDN Australia Handicap:

The TDN Australia Handicap kicks off our penultimate day of Glorious Goodwood over a mile and a half. This looks to be a tightly contested handicap with a few holding strong claims. Al Qaqaa is your favourite for William Haggas and Jim Crowley after drawing to a comfortable eight length success over Moomba last time out. This is a tougher affair and he will have to keep improving, being raised 9lbs.

MAFIA POWER drew to a very cosy victory at Haydock two weeks ago and is raised 11lbs for that triumph. He was entered into a Class two handicap for yesterday but has instead opted for this affair. This could indeed be the right decision and may prove tough to stop even with a hefty hike in the weights. The doubt comes in the ever-drying ground here at Goodwood as the weather matches this festival’s ‘Glorious’ title, as his last victory was on good to soft.

Cepheus was set a huge task when sent into the 2000 Guineas on his first run of the season and was ultimately outclassed. Since then he’s put in a creditable effort in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot in unfavourable conditions and stayed on nicely into second. Jim Crowley has opted to get in the saddle of Al Qaqaa, but nonetheless Cepheus could put in a serious effort, having been raised 3lbs from last time out.

Oisin Murphy gets on board Berkshire Savvy who won at Windsor last time out. This affair looks to have greater depth to it and he could struggle being upped in grade. However, conditions could be in his favour with firmer ground and it will be intriguing to see how he goes.

Aquascape is one at a larger price who could well get in the frame after two decent efforts lately, including one at Goodwood. This step up in trip should suit and he may be a little overlooked.

1:45: Saint Clair Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3):

The Oak Tree Stakes takes place over seven furlongs and is always a hotly contested affair. One Master demands favouritism this year after putting in a very creditable performance in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes behind Terebellum last time out. She’s very versatile with regards to ground and this firmer ground shouldn’t pose a problem. She was fourth in this two years ago and will be hoping to follow that up off 11lbs higher. The doubt is she is now a six year-old and all of the previous twelve renewals have been won by a three or four year old. She could be up against it here although holding the strongest form claims.

Jessica Harrington sends one over for this and Frankie Dettori is in the saddle for Valerie Messalina. Last time out she stayed on well to gain the second victory of her career in a Group 3 at Cork and she’ll have to keep improving if she wants to gain consecutive successes here.

Only four of the last eleven victors of this have gone at a single figure price and it could be worth siding with an outsider in WASMYA, who is available at 16/1. Three of the last five of the Oak Tree Stakes have been won by French trainers, and Monsieur Graffard could add to that tally with James Doyle in the saddle.

The Duke Of Cambridge Stakes was a hot affair and this drop back into Group 3 company should help her cause; adding to the fact that the return to seven furlongs will suit. She seems to match the credentials of previous Oak Tree Stakes winners and may pay dividends at a decent price. The worry lies in the question mark as to how she will handle the ground. Five of her seven runs have been on softer ground and with the ground drying out by the day it could be a slight concern.

2:15: Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Group 3)

This year's Thoroughbred Stakes looks to revolve around whether Roger Varian’s Khaloosy will be firing on all cylinders. Last time out at Royal Ascot he impressively put daylight between himself and his next rival in the Britannia Stakes, winning by a cosy margin of four and a half lengths. He should take the world of beating.

Both My Oberon and Tilsit have only had the two outings; winning by six lengths and nineteen lengths respectively. Correct, nineteen lengths. It’s tough to know what to expect from these two very unexposed three year-old’s and they may be best watched on just their third outing.

MYSTERY POWER also looks a good candidate at a respectable price and can be given another chance now back on favourable ground. He was six lengths off Al Suhail last time out in a Listed event on good to soft, but only one rival has beaten him on good to firm ground on his two outings; including at Group 2 level. He could be on a lenient mark to bounce back, but it will take a big improvement to get in the frame.

2:45: Unibet Golden Mile (Class 2):

The Unibet Golden Mile looks a wide-open handicap this year as it does every renewal. Fifteen of the finest thoroughbreds will be competing for Class 2 honours over a mile. Prompting is favourite after being slashed in price after his impressive victory in a Class 4 handicap at York. He stayed on well that day and will without doubt appreciate the step up to a mile. Sixteen of the last eighteen victors of this race had won over at least a mile, whereas Prompting has only had two runs at a mile, not being victorious in either. He looks very short in the market for David O’Meara and others are preferred.

Thirteen of the previous fifteen winners have been drawn in stall nine or lower, therefore it looks like Montatham may be up against it unless Jim Crowley can manouevre his way out of stall fifteen. That being said, Montatham’s recent form could be the pick of the bunch, getting the better of subsequent listed winner Dark Vision.

Sir Busker outstayed Dark Vision in June at Newcastle and has since followed that up with a success in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. He holds serious claims but the handicapper may not have done him any favours, seeing a 5lb rise for his recent second in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket behind Motakhayyel. Oisin Murphy, who takes the ride, stated that “if he gets luck in-running he’s going to be one of the ones they have to beat”.

VALE OF KENT looks poised to put in another grand performance at a track he knows so well. The Mark Johnston trained horse has form of 32142 in big field handicaps at Goodwood and he’s due to run another big race here. His last two performances have been a bit lacklustre, but that was with the unusual jockey booking of Frankie Dettori. Joe Fanning is back in the saddle which is a bonus and he may go well again out of stall three.

3:15: King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2):

Ladies and gentlemen, in the King George we have on display possibly the fastest horse on earth. The brutal sprinter Battaash will be coming here on Friday aiming to triumph in this affair for the fourth time in as many years. We may have seen one of this superstar’s most emphatic performances last time out when finally grabbing the Royal Ascot victory which had been eluding him until this year.

The retirement of Blue Point meant that Battaash could capitalise on the weaker King George field and stretch to a comfortable two length victory. We seemed to see a much calmer animal than is associated with Battaash, which could be due to the fact that racing is contested behind closed doors. He is an antisocial horse and these conditions will mean he will hopefully thrive again.

The opposition includes runner up in the Coral Charge Liberty Beach and also Ornate, who finished sixth here on Tuesday. Today, ORNATE has Oisin Murphy in the saddle and is a huge 150/1. He finished third in this last year and on quick ground he may be able to make the running and follow Battaash home.

3:45: L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes (Group 3):

Our Group action for the day ends over a mile and a half in the Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes. Desert Encounter will be trying to make it back to back successes for David Simcock after taking this race last year off the same mark. His form going into this is almost identical to last year off the back of a Prince Of Wales at Newmarket. In 2019 he finished two lengths behind Communique and this year he was one and a half.

Communique opted to miss this last year and will be aiming to grab his second Goodwood success here. He was second last time out in the Group 3 John’s Smith Silver Cup Stakes and will be hoping for similar success now dropping back to a mile and a half. He’s very versatile ground wise and will definitely be in and around there.

Alounak takes a drop back into Group 3 company after having three huge tasks so far this campaign. He was very keen in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes when three lengths adrift of Desert Encounter and would need to bounce back if getting in the frame here.

LE DON DE VIE is an intriguing candidate with Oisin Murphy in the saddle having made the jump from handicap company. Oisin has a record of 141 on board this four year old and won here at Goodwood last year. Hughie Morrison has an exceptional record with four year-old’s at Goodwood and that record gets even better when you refine that to firmer ground. He’s seriously up against it here rated 101 when nine of the last ten winners have been rated 110 or above; but I think he may well take to Group company nicely and put in a grand effort against Desert Encounter and Communique.

4:20: New Unibet Instant Roulette Nursery Handicap (Class 2):

Our penultimate race of day four is a nursery handicap in which favourite Zamaani sets the standard for Simon & Ed Crisford. The 210,000 guineas colt won by a comfortable margin when odds-on favourite at Windsor and could take some beating here today. In the last fortnight the Crisford’s have an impressive 41% strike rate and they have a nice record with two year-old’s. Of those behind him that day, two have gone on to mark creditable performances elsewhere and it looks like he is the one to beat.

Julie Johnston will be attempting to strike for Mark Johnston and Silvestre De Sousa and could put in a creditable performance. Whereas the in-form Marcus Tregoning sends PEROTTO having won here in June. Although it was just a three runner race, he finished a length ahead of creditable Vintage Stakes fifth Fountain Cross and could make a bold challenge against the favourite.

Porfin is an interesting contender having stayed on well despite finishing sixth last time out. He recorded an encouraging final two-furlong time and this step up to six furlongs should be a plus.

4:55: British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes:

A very tricky affair ends day four of Glorious Goodwood with a maiden over six furlongs. Only four of these fillies have had a run before and it looks like John Gosden’s Sarsaparilla is the pick of the bunch. She was a runner-up at Newbury last time out and it looks like six furlongs is her preferable trip.

One to watch at a huge price is Emulate Rose who stayed on nicely on debut when finishing third at Kempton. Last time out she was very keen and was stepped up to seven furlongs so it seems this return to six may suit. If taking to turf and relishing this sharper track she may well get involved at around 100/1.

Richard Hannon has a good record with two year-old debutants at Goodwood so an eye must be kept on the 440,000 euro filly ENOUGHISGOODENOUGH. She is a sister to Group 3 winner Angel’s Hideaway and the 106 rated Perfect Angel and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her land the spoils with Silvestre De Sousa on board.