Nick Luck’s blog: English Oak unlikely to Crack in the Lennox

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.

Goodwood, Tuesday

CRACK SHOT is a reasonable way to start proceedings at Glorious Goodwood this week (1:50pm). His last two runs have been undistinguished, but he’s eased down the weights a little, showed form at this fixture last year, and is reunited with Jamie Spencer, who seems to get a good tune out of him. Perhaps more significant is that he’s well drawn to enable the more positive tactics that show him in his best light. With a couple of trailblazers set to go forward, he should get the perfect trip stalking the pace on the inside.

WOLF OF BADENOCH can give the owners and rider a big-priced double in the Vintage Stakes (2:25pm). The form represented by the front of the market is no more than fair, and it might be worth taking a chance on one from an in-form stable with a nice looking pedigree (out of a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Even So) who showed plenty of ability on debut. He was never stronger than at the finish at Doncaster under hand riding and his stable has a good line in two-year-olds this year.

ENGLISH OAK is fancied to take the step up in the Lennox (3:00pm). On paper, he shouldn’t beat Noble Dynasty at level weights given their running at Newmarket earlier in the year. That said, English Oak was on his seasonal debut that day, and looks to have taken a big step forward at Ascot with a very stylish performance. A truly run seven (as this surely will be with Audience and Pogo in the line-up) should play to the strengths of this strong travelling, upwardly mobile horse.

KYPRIOS is pretty hard to oppose in the Goodwood Cup (3:35pm), however hard you try. If you’re interested in betting without the favourite, one for the forecast, or simply feel you can get him beaten, then I’d recommend GREGORY as much the best alternative. Too keen at Ascot, a more swinging tempo over a slightly shorter distance should see him return to form.