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Goodwood Day Five Bets: Graham Cunningham on every race

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Last, but by no means least. The fifth and final day of Glorious Goodwood beckons and Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham is back in search of value in a series of top races including the Nassau Stakes and the Stewards' Cup.

2.05 Bluesquarepoker.com Handicap (3yo, Class 3, 1m 3f, 16 runners)

It often pays to take two against the field in demanding handicaps and Deep Winter and Cosmea look a likely pair here. Granted, Deep Winter didn't beat much at Carlisle last week, but she bolted up and looks set to progress again over this longer trip. There is no real angle to Cosmea other than she is bang in form. A 6lb hike for beating Spell Caster at Newbury looks very fair given that the runner-up went on to score at Goodwood this week.

Several of the other market principals have hurdles to overcome. Addikt doesn't look well in having been hiked 9lb for his Doncaster win, while Bencoolen got a very easy lead at Warwick, but Stow is improving steadily and could go well at a price.


2.40 Blue Square Premier Stakes (listed) (3yo, Class 1, 1m, 9 runners)

A fascinating blend of thriving handicappers and horses who haven't quite cut it at the top level. The pace will probably come from Alfathaa, who took a fierce hold at Newmarket last time, but Perfect Stride and Alexandros appeal as the pair to focus on.

Perfect Stride's Ascot win came from a mark of just 89, but he bolted up with subsequent Goodwood winner Yamal back in third and is open to plenty improvement. Alexandros is more of a speculator having faded quickly at Royal Ascot, but he was probably feeling the ground there and his previous second at Epsom means he could be overpriced here.

River Proud and Stubbs Art boast Classic form but can't be recommended without reservation. The former was surely flattered when coming from miles back in a French Guineas run at a frenzied pace, while Stubbs Art flopped at Ascot for no apparent reason.


3.15 Blue Square Nassau Stakes (fillies' Group 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 1f 192y, 10 runners)

Opposing Aidan O'Brien in Group 1 company has been financial suicide recently, but will the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Halfway To Heaven really be as good over ten furlongs as she is over eight? Her pedigree raises doubts and I suspect the admirable Coronation Stakes winner Lush Lashes represents the best chance of an Irish win.

Indeed, Lush Lashes has all the attributes you look for in a potential Nassau Stakes winner, but she doesn't have masses in hand on the book and Passage Of Time appeals as the value for anyone seeking an each way alternative.

Henry Cecil's filly has plainly taken time to find her form this season, but she looked right back on track when beating Bankable and some other smart males at Newmarket this time and these conditions look ideal for her to produce a peak performance.

Heaven Sent came up short at this level at Newmarket but is ultra consistent. Muthabara and Cape Amber both look held by Lush Lashes. Soft Morning could be the sort to run well at massive odds if her rivals grant her an easy lead.


3.50 Bluesquare.com Stewards' Cup Heritage Handicap (3yo+, Class 2, 6f, 28 runners)

Much hot air will be expended on the draw, but being well handicapped remains the key to winning races like this and Knot In Wood is plainly on a good mark after following his fine Wokingham third with a valuable Hamilton success. He ran a cracker for third in this race last year and is so consistent that another bold each way bid looks assured.

Borderlescott has a fine record in this - winning in 2006 and being short headed last year - and looks primed for another big run despite his big weight. Last year's fifth Beaver Patrol and the speedy Off The Record also figure high on the short list, but I'm not as convinced as some that Prime Defender will transfer his good Pattern race form to the handicap arena.

Of the rest, King's Apostle let his followers down at Ascot last week for no apparent reason. Mac Gille Eoin is another who flopped at Ascot on his latest start, and Machinist and Northern Fling are both likely to struggle to make the frame given that they have been tending to get behind recently.


4.25 Blue Square E.b.f. Maiden Stakes (2yo, Class 2, 7f, 18 runners)

The Newmarket maiden in which Holyrood and Cloudy Start made their debuts is beginning to work out nicely and looks a key guide. Most punters will incline towards Holyrood, who came home strongly after running green, but I suspect Cloudy Start could represent better win and place value given that he raced a shade too freely and left the impression that faster ground will see him in a much better light.

Full Toss has shown clear signs of ability along with Dreamwalk, but this is a race full of potential dark horses and it's well worth noting that well related newcomers like Dialogue, Jukebox Jury and Asateer all hold entries in the major autumn juvenile races.


5.00 Bluesquare.com Nursery Handicap (2yo, Class 2, 6f, 10 runners)

Richard Hannon and Dandy Nicholls have supplied five of the last ten winners of this, so Tishtar, Noble Jack and Parisian Pyramid all command respect.

Tishtar has been absent for ten weeks since his Salisbury win, but he bolted up there. He makes more appeal than stablemate Noble Jack, while Parisian Pyramid's bright pace makes him an ideal Goodwood sort and a potential back-to-lay candidate.

Fault has had this as his target ever since his Bath win, but a small win and place interest on the smooth travelling Golden Rosie might pay dividends here. The form of her Doncaster win is solid and the way she travelled for a long way before fading at Leicester suggests this faster track will be right up her street.


5.35 Bluesquarecasino.com Apprentice Handicap (4yo+, Class 3, 1m 1f, 13 runners)

The only problem with Zero Tolerance is that he has tended to have a zero tolerance attitude to fast ground in recent years. Conditions may well be against him unless the rain arrives, but fast ground is no problem to Sunnyside Tom and Richard Fahey's gelding is a lively each way chance. Granted, he failed to run to his best mark at York last time, but he travelled very sweetly for a long way on deep ground and left the impression he should still be very competitive from this mark.

Count Ceprano is a holdup horse who needs the breaks at the right time, while Benfleet Boy and Danetime Panther are both lightly raced enough to suggest their best is yet to come.