Play or lay? Assessing the big-race favourites on day one at Glorious Goodwood

Two of the eight favourites were successful on day one of Glorious Goodwood last year but no winner returned a bigger price than 13-2. Here we assess the claims of today’s favourites for the ITV action and whether they are a play or a lay . . .

Just Fine (1.50 Goodwood)

Favourites have won three of the last four runnings of the 1m2f handicap but this looks even more open than recent years. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Just Fine is among three runners vying for favouritism and he was an eyecatcher in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot before not being beaten far in the John Smith’s Cup at York.

Ryan Moore’s mount has only won one of his nine handicap starts though and finished last of four on his previous visit to Goodwood. He can be taken on in a tricky opener.

Verdict: Lay

Holloway Boy (2.25 Goodwood)

Shock 40-1 debutant winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and potentially could prove a top notch juvenile.

The form has already taken a few knocks, however, and Goodwood is a much less conventional track for his second start. His main rivals, unsurprisingly, have more experience and Toormore and Expert Eye were the only Vintage winners on their second start in the last decade.

Verdict: Lay

Sacred (3.00 Goodwood)

This lightly raced four-year-old returned with a near best on Racing Post Ratings when a close fifth in the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

Her best RPR came over this trip when winning the Hungerford at Newbury last year and she is 2-2 over 7f. This looks an ideal opening.

Verdict: Play

Kyprios (3.35 Goodwood)

The Gold Cup hero is battling it out with Trueshan for favouritism in the feature Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup and he has obvious claims on the back of a career-best effort to win the historic Royal Ascot event.

Kyprios (left): landed the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last monthCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

This is without doubt his stiffest test yet though, with the popular Stradivarius boasting a 4-4 race record, star stayer Trueshan likely to take his chance on better ground and the improving Coltrane and top-level winner Princess Zoe warranting plenty of respect. Another career-best will be needed.

Verdict: Lay

Celsius (4.10 Goodwood)

This Tom Clover-trained sprinter won a three-year-old handicap at this meeting in 2019 and was unlucky in running in 2020.

Celsius ended a 12-race losing run with victory on his return this season at Ascot and followed up at Newmarket this month. He is still 4lb below his peak official mark of 91 and a RPR of 94 last time suggests there could be mileage in his revised mark.

Verdict: Play

Celtic Champion (4.45 Goodwood)

Celtic Champion was a notable eyecatcher when a staying-on third at Windsor on debut and the half-brother to Dragon Symbol will no doubt be more streetwise for this second start.

Andrew Balding: trainer of Celtic ChampionCredit: Edward Whitaker

A line through the winner gives him similar claims to fellow market principal Mischief Magic though, while Supreme King, Master Of Chant and intriguing newcomer Atomic Impact are among a host worth considering.

Verdict: Lay

Read our Tuesday previews . . .

1.50 Goodwood: could the John Smith's Cup at York prove the key to this competitive handicap?

2.25 Goodwood: 'He's favourite and rightly so' – Burke bullish about Holloway Boy in Vintage

3.00 Goodwood: 'He should have an excellent chance' – who is feeling confident for the Lennox?

3.35 Goodwood: Bjorn Nielsen on what could be Stradivarius's farewell in Goodwood Cup

5.10 Galway: Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott go head-to-head for Listed novice hurdle prize

6.40 Galway: who does Ado McGuinness like best of his eight BMW Mile contenders?

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