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Goodwood Day One Betting: Through the card with Graham Cunningham

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Five days, thirty-odd races, dozens of potential star names and untold hard luck stories on a course which blends beauty and risk like few others. It's Glorious Goodwood time again and Racing UK summariser Graham Cunningham is on the trail of the best Betfair betting angles for day one.

2.15 - BofS Scotland Investment Service Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

You can spend hours wrestling with Goodwood handicaps and still come up short, but Proponent, Luberon, Caravel and Monte Alto all have plenty to recommend them.

Proponent's win in a hot Newmarket handicap means he just tops the short list back at his ideal trip, while Monte Alto is way better than he showed in a York quagmire.

Luberon's freewheeling style will hold appeal for the back-to-lay brigade, while Caravel finished behind Gulf Express at Sandown but travelled better than that rival for a long way and holds bright prospects of reversing the form.

This is the acid test of whether Mr Aviator was favoured by the draw in winning the Hunt Cup. A 5lb hike will make life tough, while Humungous looks place lay material under a penalty for winning a lesser race at Ascot.


2.50 - Betfair Gordon Stakes (Group 3)

Three subsequent St Leger winners have landed this in the last decade and Conduit will be the hottest favourite of the day as he bids to continue his improvement.

Can he do it? Of course he can. Is he value at odds-on? Possibly not given that he took a little time to find top pace at Royal Ascot. In short, I expect to see him trade at odds against in running in a race where a true gallop is far from guaranteed.

Hebridean pulled too hard when behind Conduit at Ascot and is better than he showed there, while Alon Devonshire also needs to settle better. Scintillo came back to form last time and handles Goodwood well, while Donegal and Bouguerau are very closely matched on Newmarket form.

All in all, this looks tough. Laying Conduit in the hope of trading out at [3.0] could be worthwhile, though, and don't be surprised if Bouguereau runs well at fair odds.


3.30 - Betfair Cup (Group 2)

Just 6lb between the entire field on official figures, so tactics look sure to play a part, and the freewheeling Dunelight offers back-to-lay potential given that he skipped clear before finishing third in this race last year.

Arabian Gleam was fifth having been checked that day and has since won in Group 2 company, but he's penalised here and that's a worry. King Of Dixie looks a good bet to reverse HQ form with Racer Forever, but Infallible and Il Warrd appeal most.

Goodness knows what Fortune has done to lose the ride on Infallible. It's a tough break for the Irishman, but Infallible has been knocking hard on the Group 1 door against her own sex and should go really well for Moore here.

Il Warrd is more of a speculator - as he can be a shade fiery - but he ran a blinder when second in the Jersey at Ascot (with the likeable Stimulation just behind in fourth) and is the type to trade short if he settles into a rhythm.


4.05 - Betfair Molecomb Stakes (Group 3)

This was red hot in 2007 - when Fleeting Spirit pipped Kingsgate Native and Captain Gerrard - and some of the quickest youngsters around are present again.

Spin Cycle and Flashman's Papers tie in together after reaching the frame in the Norfolk Stakes and, with stall 2 a possible plus, the former can confirm the form and go very well indeed.

Jargelle is less convincing given that her Newbury Sprint win came with a charmed run in a bunched finish, but Light The Fire appeals as one who could shine at longish odds given the way he quickened to land a Sandown Listed event.

Richard Hannon has trained over 50 juvenile winners in 2008, which is remarkable in itself, and Bonnie Charlie and Icesolator warrant respect. The former lacks experience but bolted up on his Windsor debut, while the latter bombed at Royal Ascot but is plainly much better than that.


4.40 - Summer Stakes (Class 2 Handicap)

Something of an Ebor trial and a big day for leading York fancy Milne Graden, who is unbeaten in three but is 12lb higher than when overcoming traffic trouble to beat Formax over ten furlongs here in May.

Connections plainly feel he will stay, but whether he will be value is another matter. That said, sorting the wheat from the chaff among the rest is tricky. Sanbuch has bags of ability - as he showed when charging from somewhere near Chichester in a first-time-visor to score here last year - but he remains prone to running in snatches and will almost certainly drift in running.

Stablemate Bauer may well be being primed with York in mind, while Raincoat looks quirky these days. Of the rest, Players Please looked on the way back at Ascot over the weekend and steps up in trip now, while logic suggests a penalty for a game Sandown win should make things hard for Rajeh.

Last but not least, we have Formax. He's another unproven at the trip, but he boasts a powerful finish when on song and could outrun his odds on a course which suits.


5.15 - Tatler Summer Season Stakes (Class 3 Handicap)

Sad to say, this looks one for the 'Too Difficult' tray, with the draw and trouble in-running almost certain to play their part. Swop's early pace should help him avoid traffic and his progressive profile makes him of obvious interest.

Orchard Supreme impressed here in the spring but will need the breaks from stall 2, while Kavachi's tendency to get behind makes him a hostage to fortune, too.

Rain would suit Axiom, while Yamal and Mountain Pride also rate a mention, Yamal was plainly up against a very well handicapped rival in Perfect Stride at Ascot on Saturday. He ran a fine race in the circumstances, while Mountain Pride seemed to relish forcing tactics at Sandown but faces tougher rivals here.


5.50 - EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 2)

The last nine winners all had previous experience, so it's probably best to watch the likes of Count Paris and Ben's Dream with a view to another day.

Splitting those who have run isn't easy, but Magaling and Pocket's Pick both have plenty in their favour. Magaling's Yarmouth second to Khor Dubai has been franked by the winner, while Pocket's Pick is much better than he showed when caught up in heavy traffic in Newbury's Super Sprint.

Run For The Hills showed plenty when third against more experienced rivals at Newmarket. The fourth has won since to frank the form, while Gyr shaped nicely on his debut here and is bred for the job given that his half-brother Invincible Spirit won this back in 1999.

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Cunningham's Goodwood day one angles:

2.15 Positive - Proponent, Monte Alto
Negative - Gulf Express, Humungous

2.50 Conduit to drift in-running
Bouguereau to shorten in-running

3.30 Positive - Infallible, Dunelight and Il Warrd
Negative - Arabian Gleam

4.05 Positive - Spin Cycle, Light The Fire
Negative - Jargelle

4.40 Too hard
Mild negative - Sanbuch

5.15 Even harder

5.50 Positive - Magaling, Pocket's Pick
Negative - Frognal