Glorious Goodwood 2022: Best Bets

An excellent week ahead for racing fans as one of the most anticipated events of the season gets underway. Kicking off on Tuesday 26th July, and running through to Saturday 30th, the 2022 edition of Glorious Goodwood promises five full days of top-class action. With the final fields now beginning to take shape, here we pick out our best value bets on Day 1 and Day 2.

Day 1: Tuesday 26th July

Vintage Stakes: Dear to Deliver

Shock Chesham Stakes winner Holloway Boy heads the betting in this juvenile event and merits the utmost respect on the back of that impressive debut success. The Karl Burke runner is possibly a little on the short side though, particularly as those in behind at Ascot haven’t done too much for the form since.

Take a chance instead on Charlie & Mark Johnston’s Dear My Friend. Having landed this race four times in the past, Mark Johnston knows what it takes to succeed, and looks to have another likely sort on his hands here. Winning from what looked an impossible position over 6f on debut, Dear My Friend then took the step up to this in his stride when bossing it from the front for an eased down 5l success at Beverley last time out. This demands more, but we wouldn’t be surprised should he prove up to the task.

• Betting Tip - Dear My Friend @ 13/2 with William Hill

Nicholson Gin Handicap: Celsius Too Hot for Rivals

Since making its debut in 2015, every edition of this contest has been won by a runner between the ages of four and six, saddled with 9st or less on the day – with six of those winners emerging from a single-figure stall. Of those to fit the bill this time around, the one we like best is the Tom Clover trained six-year-old, Celsius. Sent off joint-favourite for this in 2020, he endured a nightmare run that day – missing the break and suffering a rough passage throughout. Returning two years on, from a 4lb lower mark, he looks worth a bet to make amends from a nice draw in 6. Current form is certainly no concern, with the mount of Jack Mitchell a perfect two from two in his outings so far this season.

• Betting Tip - Celsius @ 9/2 with Coral

Day 2: Wednesday 27th July

Coral Beaten-By-A-Length Handicap: Light has Bright Prospects

Mark Johnston has sent out the winner of this event four times in the past ten years - a mightily impressive strike rate in such a competitive heat. Now in tandem with son Charlie, Johnston is responsible for five of the current 22 entries, all of whom are well worth a second look. To our eyes, however, there is a clear standout amongst that quintet, and he goes by the name of Luminous Light.

This son of Iffraaj will be making only his third handicap start since a gelding operation and arrives on the back of consecutive third-placed finishes over 1m2f at Chester and Ripon. Enjoying a pretty luckless passage in that Ripon event, the manner in which he hit the line very much suggested a step up in trip was the order of the day. He gets that additional distance here, and getting in off an unchanged mark of 85, is fancied to go close under Franny Norton.

• Betting Tip - Luminous Light ew @ 25/1 with Ladbrokes

Molecomb Stakes: Trill to Thrill in Juvenile Sprint

Richard Hannon landed this 5f event with Armor 12 months ago, and we like his chances of repeating the dose with the improving filly, Trillium. In common with Armor, Trillium is sired by strong speed influence No Nay Never, and has really caught the eye in her two starts to date.

Beaten over 6f at this track on debut, that form nevertheless looks solid, with the fourth-place finisher, Beautiful Sunrise, having previously finished second to Norfolk Stakes runner-up Walbank. Sent to Newbury for her next assignment, Trillium stepped up on that effort when rattling through the gears close home for a 4l success. Looking to be a filly on the rise, she can take the next step up the ladder here.

• Betting Tip - Trillium @ 8/1 with betfair sports