Can Haggas' York winner follow up as Goodwood's three days of action starts?

Three successive days of top-class racing take centre-stage at Goodwood this weekend - with the highlight being the Group Two Celebration Mile on Saturday.
William Haggas has a strong chance in Goodwood's Friday feature race / Picture: GettyWilliam Haggas has a strong chance in Goodwood's Friday feature race / Picture: Getty
William Haggas has a strong chance in Goodwood's Friday feature race / Picture: Getty

The three-day extravaganza gets under way on the Downs on Friday with a competitive eight-race card.

The feature event on Friday is the £11,000 Ladbrokes Get Your Daily Odds Boost Fillies’ Handicap (2.30pm).

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Oti Ma Boati sets a clear standard based on her impressive victory at York last time. Previously trained by Richard Fahey, she was recording her first win for new trainer William Haggas on the Knavesmire last time out and should improve for that comeback effort. Raised 6lb by the handicapper, there is clearly more improvement to come and she makes plenty of appeal with James Doyle in the saddle.

Lady Lynetta represents Richard Hughes and bids to follow up a smart win at Haydock on her latest start. The three-year-old stayed on strongly to record a length and a quarter victory on that occasion and is of interest given she has been raised 10lb for that win.

Newmarket handler Roger Varian has his team in fine form with 13 winners from 50 runners in the last two weeks – a sparkling 26% strike-rate. He saddles the unexposed Jaaizah who is chasing a first win on her fifth career start. She shaped with promise at Beverley last time out when fourth, but needs to take another step forward here.

Aroha had form in Group company last term, including when third in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot but is beginning to look exposed, having not son a race in ten career starts.

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Strict Tempo needs to take another step forward following a good third at Sandown earlier this month, whilst Hateya is the highest-rated horse in the field and has form in Group company, but will have to defy top-weight to land this event.

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has ridden 88 winners so far this season as he attempts to retain his crown and rides Lone Eagle in the £8,000 British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1.55pm) over a mile. The two-year-old finished an excellent second behind a talented rival at Goodwood last time out and this son of Galileo cost 500,000gns. With normal improvement, he should prove tough to beat.

Richard Hannon is enjoying a 10% strike-rate in the past two weeks and saddles debutant Clay who is related to a number of winners, whilst Zakaria should come on a bundle for his fourth-placed effort at Sandown on his first start.

In the opening £7,000 Chichester Observer Nursery Handicap (12.15pm), Sibaaq bids to follow up an easy three and three-quarter length win at Beverley earlier this month for Mark Johnston. His chief rivals looks to be London Palladium who has to shoulder top-weight and Babajan who finished a good third at Newmarket last time out and is of interest on his first start in handicap company for trainer Richard Hannon, who is currently enjoying a 10% strike-rate in the last two weeks.

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In the £6,000 Ladbrokes Giving Extra Places Every Day Novice Stakes (12.45pm), Quickstep Lady failed to justify odds-on favouritism at Windsor last time out, but the return to seven furlongs is in his favour and she makes plenty of appeal given she is related to a Group Three winner.

Friday Goodwood selections

12.15pm – Sibaaq

12.45pm – Quickstep Lady

1.20pm – Old News

1.55pm – Lone Eagle

2.30pm – Oti Ma Boati

3.00pm – Tigerten

3.30pm - Something Lucky

4.00pm – Napping

Odds and tips via MyBettingSites