Goodwood’s Friday night card can have an Enchanting end

The Sussex track hosts a six-race card on Friday evening in their final Three Friday Nights fixture of the 2024 series, which ends with a DJ set by Dimitri from Paris.

Racing gets under way at 5.45 with a nine-runner maiden stakes before rounding off at 8.35 with a five-runner handicap.

The opening contest on the Goodwood card (5.45) is over the five furlong distance in class four and is for the two-year-old’s making their way in their racing careers. Soldier’s Heart for the Simon and Ed Crisford team looks to be the one to beat in the opener, a clear second of nine in a Lingfield novice last time out and is taken to get the win from Kalahari Blue, an interesting newcomer for trainer Ollie Sangster.

Race two on the card (6.20) is a staying contest in class four for the three-year-old’s with eight of them set to take on the 1m3f trip. Road To Wembley lost his unbeaten handicap record last time out at Southwell having won two on the bounce but is taken to bounce back to winning ways here ahead of Cool Legend, who is back in calmer waters here having been in some high-profile outings at the Dante meeting and Derby meeting in recent weeks.

Nine runners will head to the stalls for race three on Goodwood’s Friday card - another 1m3f handicap in class four at 6.50. Goblet Of Fire from the top Nicky Henderson yard is a very clear progressive type having won four of his last five starts and is backed to go in again here with his claiming jockey offsetting the 5lb hike in the weights for his previous win. The best of the rest is likely Mr Freedom, pulled up over Jumps at Haydock last time out but was a consistent performer on the Flat last season.

Open Secret is the one to beat in race four of the evening (7.25) despite fading towards the end of a Doncaster handicap three weeks ago but is clearly up this level in class four and should take all the beating, while race five (8.00) can go the way of Dashinwhitesargent, who took a big step forward when finishing second at Epsom last time out is another one who is open to further improvement.

Finally, the Goodwood card comes to a close with a five furlong sprint in class four (8.35) and preference here is for Enchanting trained by Andrew Balding. The three-year-old was a very good third in the Dash at Epsom and followed up with a win over course and distance on June 14 so will take plenty of stopping on current form despite being saddled with a penalty.

Goodwood selections - Friday (via Betway)

5.45 - Soldier’s Heart

6.20 - Road To Wembley

6.50 - Goblet Of Fire

7.25 - Open Secret

8.00 - Dashinwhitesargent

8.35 - Enchanting