Nick Luck’s blog: Away He Goes a huge price in Goodwood Cup

Glorious Goodwood kicks off with a bang on Tuesday with a stellar card, featuring the Goodwood Cup, where Stradivarius aims to win the race for a historic fifth time.

Our racing ambassador Nick Luck has previewed the action.

Goodwood

IT’S GOOD TO LAUGH can put a smile on punters’ faces by running a bold race in a wickedly competitive opener at Glorious Goodwood (1.50pm) at 10/1. Jennie Candlish produced this horse to run really well on his stable debut at Chester, before he was worn down late. This drop back in trip should suit well on softish ground and, from a reasonably good draw, I can see him getting a lovely tow into the race just behind the duelling front runners Majestic Dawn and Cockaorum from their inside stalls. The booking of Oisin Murphy is clearly another plus.

BERKSHIRE SHADOW gets the vote at 7/4 to follow up his success in the Coventry in the Vintage Stakes (2.25pm). Although he faces a stern opponent in July Stakes winner Lusail, the selection has done really well to win over sprint distances this early in his career as a grandson of the brilliant middle-distance filly Islington. He should move forward for a step up to seven furlongs and, although he was undoubtedly favoured by his track position at Ascot, he may not have been given enough credit for what was nonetheless a resounding win.

SAFE VOYAGE can underline his return to form in the Lennox Stakes (3.00pm) at 6/1. He was pretty unlucky behind Space Blues in this last year before a golden run of form, which was then stemmed by a disastrous trip to the Breeders’ Cup. He’s taken a little while to get his mojo back, but he was sharp at Chester last time, is beautifully drawn here for his running style and – crucially – will have loved every drop of the deluge that hit the track on Sunday.

AWAY HE GOES is a huge price at 50/1 for the Goodwood Cup (3.35pm), but this could be ripe for a boilover and he is just the type to deliver it. I’m not sure how unlucky Stradivarius was at Ascot: yes, he had trouble in running, but his ultimate finishing effort was a bit tame and there has to be a chance he is now past his prime. On the basis that Sir Ron Priestley is not certain to relish the trip, Trueshan and Spanish Mission are the obvious dangers, but neither is really a decent each-way price, so step forward the selection. He was unlucky not to be a clear second to Subjectivist in Dubai (clear of Spanish Mission), handled cut well enough over an inadequate trip behind multiple Group One winner Skaletti in Deauville last winter, and should be much better for his pipe opener at York, when not beaten far by the very smart Hukum. A return to two miles will suit, and he’s simply a massive price.

BLUE DE VEGA has a good chance of producing one of his better efforts in the five furlong handicap (4.10pm) at 16/1. Although there is a fair measure of pace among the low numbers, a position near the stands rail could well be an advantage, particularly with trailblazer Ornate doing the honours two stalls away in 12. Ornate himself, and fellow speedball and previous winner of this race El Astronaute are in calmer waters than usual and are the principal dangers.

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