CALUM McCLURKIN: Fantastic four that can make Goodwood Glorious for punters
The first banker of the week appears to be ILLINOIS (5/6, bet365) in the Goodwood Cup.
With no Trawlerman in the field, this seems to be there for the taking for Aidan O'Brien's four-year-old.
Illinois travelled into the Ascot Gold Cup in stylish manner buy was outstayed in the end by a more experienced rival in Trawlerman.
The drop in trip back to the bare two miles appears to be a huge positive for Illinois.
He holds Sweet William on Ascot running and the sole danger looks to be the equally progressive French Master, who took out the Copper Horse Handicap in good style.
But this is a much deeper race and takes on a tough rival in Illinois.
Favourites have a good record in the Goodwood Cup, with six of the last seven going in. Illinois looks poised to enhance that record and while 5/6 is no gimme there's a case to be made that he ought to be shorter.
Illinois can be joined in the multis with the peerless FIELD OF GOLD (4/7, William Hill) a day later in the Sussex Stakes.
John and Thady Gosden's three-year-old was unlucky in the Guineas but won the Irish equivalent and the St James's Palace Stakes in good style. Connections sensibly swerved the Eclipse to freshen him up for this and it will be very difficult for Rosallion to give Field Of Gold weight.
On official ratings, Field Of Gold is 1lb superior to Rosallion but the three-year-old receives eight pounds from their elders. A tough task has just got even tougher.
Field Of Gold showed plenty of speed in the St James's Palace Stakes and it's understandable why the Gosdens are keeping him at a mile for now.
Henri Matisse has three and a half lengths to find on Royal Ascot form, while Queen Anne one-two Docklands and Rosallion are probably bigger dangers.
However, they have their work cut out in giving Field Of Gold weight. Again, odds of 4-7 are prohibitive but it's not hard to envisage him going off even shorter than that.
It's the feature race on day three where a warm favourite can be opposed.
Whirl is a tough filly but she's had two hard races from the front against Minnie Hauk in the Oaks and Kalpana in the Pretty Polly Stakes. 2-1 seems short enough.
See The Fire is interesting but it wasn't really the plan to go to Royal Ascot and was beaten in this last year by a fellow three-year-old. She's improved subsequently but all her best performances have been at York.
We have yet to see the best of BEDTIME STORY (8-1, bet365) but she's always given the impression that the Nassau Stakes is for her. A 10-furlong test with the emphasis on speed looks right up her alley.
O'Brien's three-year-old filly has been unlucky in her two Classic runs over in France this season. She made late gains in the French Guineas when she probably needed the run. The wide draw was her undoing in Chantilly when running a mighty race in second in the French Oaks.
There was strong money for her that day and Bedtime Story has shown indications that she's back to her very best. The impression she left at the Chesham Stakes at last year's Royal Ascot is still burned into the mind of many.
Not a lot has gone right since but perhaps she can make up for lost time and cause a mini surprise at Goodwood in what could be the race of the meeting.
The sprinters take centre stage on the Friday and it is little surprise that ASFOORA (5-2, William Hill) heads the market.
The sprinter from Australia ran with credit when fifth to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race she won last year.
She went to the royal meeting this year without a prep run and that probably told for Asfoora. She ought to be sharper for the King George at Goodwood where she lost out by a head to Big Mojo.
They reoppose again but Asfoora also had a penalty to contend with last year. She was conceding 5lb to Big Mojo last year but they'll compete off levels here.
In an open division on the home front, Henry Dwyer's Aussie raider is fancied here to improve on her Ascot effort and take the spoils at Goodwood.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK…
She was made to work very hard to complete the Epsom and Irish Oaks double… but MINNIE HAUK was able to run down Wemightakedlongway to win at the Curragh.
Ryan Moore was always in control and her superior staying power sealed victory at odds of 2-11 by around a length.
There was a fleeting moment of concern around the bend but Minnie Hauk got organised down the home straight and despite taking some time to reach the runner-up she pulled away nicely.
Stamina is definitely her forte and it'll be interesting to see whether the keep Minnie Hauk over a mile and a half or eye up a St Leger with the fillies' allowance.
The former looks the more obvious way to go, with races such as the Yorkshire Oaks and the Arc on the agenda.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
20 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Ella Toone: Back-to-back European Championships would be a 'dream'
The 25-year-old scored the opener in the Lionesses' 2-1 victory at Wembley in 2022 as they won their first major tournament trophy, and they could repeat the feat just three years later. They face a rematch of their World Cup final defeat in 2023 as they lost 1-0 to Spain in Australia, and now they are aiming to avenge that with victory at St. Jakob Park. '[Back-to-back champions] is the dream. That's the aim. You want to come into a tournament, and you want to put on performances,' said Toone. 'You want to make the country proud, and you want to inspire a generation and those were our aims for the tournament. 'We've got all this way, so we want to go out into the game and give it everything. No one wants to lose a football match, especially a final, so we'll do everything we can to put on a performance. 'We'll fight, we'll believe in ourselves, we'll have that togetherness like we always do, so we will hopefully get over the line." England's route to the final has been far from straightforward with their quarter-finals and semi-finals both requiring extra time, and in the former, penalties, to decide them. It has led to tense viewing for fans and family of the Lionesses alike. Against Sweden, Michelle Agyemang's late equaliser saw England recover from a two-goal deficit to take the game to penalties. Then in Geneva against Italy, Agyemang once more popped up to take the game to extra-time where Chloe Kelly struck the winner to send England to the final. 'It's mad. I'm not all for the drama but we've definitely made it dramatic this tournament. Sometimes football's not always how you want it to be,' said Toone. 'It would be lovely to win in 90 minutes, but the teams we've been playing against have been really tough and we've right until the very end. 'We've never given up and we like to add that little bit of drama. I know the fans at home we've probably given a heart attack. 'You can see the fight from the team that we want to win whatever game we play in.' That fight has emerged from what the Lionesses are dubbing a 'proper English mentality'. It has come to sum up their approach to the positions they have found themselves in, seemingly escaping from scenarios they seemed destined to go out. 'We spoke a lot about a 'proper English performance' at this camp. We have it in us all individually and as a team that we want to fight, and we want to not stop running,' added Toone. 'You've seen that in games where it's 90 minutes and it might look like we're down and out, and then someone comes on and we have one moment, and we take that moment. 'That's what it's all about. It's squad depth and players having that belief that they can come on and really change the game. 'But it's all in us individually that we're competitive and we want to win and we know what it takes to win in tournaments. That's what we've managed to do and that's what has got us to a third consecutive final.' The Lionesses will face their toughest test yet in Basel as they meet the reigning world champions to defend their European crown. Having faced each other twice already this year, the teams have one win each from their recent meetings, but Spain are yet to lose at Euro 2025 with a perfect record in their group. They boast a midfield three of Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati who play together at Barcelona and have looked unbeatable at times this tournament. It will likely be Toone, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh who come face-to-face with the trio, but they are under no illusion about their own strengths, too. 'In football, games can be won and lost in the midfield. We know that we have to be on our game,' said Toone. 'We have so much respect for [Patri, Putellas and Bonmati]. All three of them are world class players and are very talented. 'But we know what we're capable of. Whoever plays in the midfield will do an important job. No matter what, we'll go into that game, we'll give 100% and we'll fight like we always do.'
ITV News
20 minutes ago
- ITV News
Sarina Wiegman hints she won't start the Lioness' match-winning substitutes for the Euros final
England Manager Sarina Wiegman has told ITV News she believes certain players are 'best to come from the bench," as she prepares for the Euros final.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sarina Wiegman: I have fallen in love with England after ‘craziest' tournament yet
Shortly before Sarina Wiegman walks into one of the grand rooms at England 's five-star Dolder base overlooking Zurich, Ella Toone can't help but laugh. 'We've nearly killed her twice in this tournament,' Toone says. It sometimes feels like at least twice in single games, especially those against Sweden and Italy. 'You've definitely aged me,' Wiegman told the players after the semi-final. You wouldn't think it as she walks in for a more informal chat with media on the eve of the Euro 2025 final. Wiegman is all smiles and laughs, as you might well be when your team repeatedly get through emotional late rescue acts. Everyone conspicuously looks to the coach in such moments. That isn't always the case in football. Wiegman admits that she finds focus on her 'awkward', if of course 'very special'. Except, it's hard not to focus on her. This is the 55-year-old's third consecutive major final in the England job, and fifth as a manager, going back to Euro 2017. It sums Wiegman up that she says it's a record she doesn't even want to think about until she retires. For everyone else, it defines her. While there have been a number of factors in England's rise, not least FA investment, the money they have spent on Wiegman is well justified. She is almost certainly the single most important figure in the history of the women's team. Hence the FA being 'in awe' of Wiegman, according to many insiders, to the point chief executive Mark Bullingham says she's priceless. If England loves Wiegman, however, what does Wiegman think of England? As a manager, she can come across as an abrupt figure, especially when talking in that matter-of-fact manner. Some close to her just say it's part of being Dutch. Nevertheless, Wiegman's success comes as her own players talk about how she's changed; maybe even softened. She is relaxed enough to elaborate on her relationship with England outside the job, something she hasn't really done before. 'I have been here four years and it just feels like my home away from home. I always enjoy it when I'm at work, when I'm in England. It is just the people, the sporting culture. I really love the sporting culture and the fans of course. It is the connection I have with the people, we are very, very close. The people at the FA, with everyone.' Wiegman is eventually asked whether she's 'fallen in love' with England? 'Yes, I have,' she says. 'Otherwise, I would not be sitting here with such a smile on my face.' Wiegman has certainly harnessed some of England's distinctive sporting traits, most visibly in the resilience of this team. 'Proper England', as her players keep saying. 'I absolutely see that,' she says. 'People that really want to work hard and are very committed.' That quality has been honed for this England team through Wiegman's nurturing of a proper old-fashioned team spirit. It has meant that, no matter how the team plays - and, in this tournament, that hasn't been very well - they always have a chance. Hence her resistance to speak about herself, except in the most couched way. 'I think I'm pretty good at bringing people together. But, without the quality, you're not going to win a tournament. So you need very good players and the support staff. The environment we created, the performance, how we do recovery… but they're important things to be the best prepared. 'What I'm trying to do is bring people together in the best possible way. Players and staff and the people around are really, really good.' As is always the case with such figures, you can't truly separate the real personality from the sporting personality, much as they try to. 'I'm kind of a caring person,' Wiegman says. 'I care about them… but at the same time I'm the coach.' The England players say she now lets out more emotion when they score. 'That comes from these performances,' she laughs. 'It's so intense. Of course I look very calm, but when the whistle goes and we score a goal and we change the game, when you have one minute left, of course that is emotional. Now, yes, like every person, I develop too with experiences. 'What I really wanted to do over all these years was try to enjoy it a little bit more, instead of always being so…' Wiegman interrupts herself. 'You have to be focused in this job, but you need to celebrate the moments that are good. It's really nice.' Some of the squad go even further and describe her as 'a mum'. 'Yeah, you know, sometimes when people say about 'the girls', I think 'do they mean my daughters or my team?!'I care about them but at the same time I'm making these hard decisions at the moment. So sometimes you should leave that caring and leave it up to them. They're grown-up women! But at least a mum should care.' Being in the job for four years has naturally seen her become closer to players, though. 'Those informal moments are just nice, to have a conversation in so you get to know each other better on and off the pitch. I say this a lot, but I truly believe connections make a difference. That's why I like team sports so much. That's what I like about the tournaments because you have more time together, so you have more time to have these informal moments.' Wiegman even admits that she misses the players away from camps. 'When we go into international breaks it's 11 days… you don't have much time. And then I'm not a person who just goes out and has a conversation where there's no purpose.' Much of this comes from the amount of consideration she put into actually taking the job in 2021. 'I think from both sides, before 2021, we have been really diligent to figure out if we were a good match. And you never know until you go in.' They now know so well that she's signed a contract to take her at least to the 2027 World Cup. There was 'a click', as Wiegman puts it. No matter how long she goes in the job, though, she's unlikely to face a tournament as tumultuous as Euro 2025. From the retirements beforehand to the being on the brink throughout, she admits there's been nothing like it. 'Before the World Cup, we had challenges with players who were injured. But in this tournament, it has been the craziest one with how the games went. That has been different.' The words don't quite reflect the mock exasperation on her face. Wiegman does admit that she now recovers from matches better. 'I've worked on that, too, because I always say don't put too much emphasis on the result. Of course, we are here to win, but you can't control winning. You can control what you do and what you try to do to win the games. And I do better at that.' As another tournament proves, however, she's not bad at winning either.
