Today's Racing Tips: Mawes the merrier as great Scott looks to strike again

Goodwood, 13:50 - Back St Mawes each-way @ 10/111.00

Selections can be like London buses, you wait all week for one and six come along at once.

Apologies for those that prefer a more cautious approach, but sometimes a card appeals and, although this could easily be a case of 'six and out', each horse has its merits and will be supported by your correspondent.

That said, please remember to gamble responsibly.

Anyway, enough of the lectures and on with the reasoning.

Recently purchased with this race in mind, St Mawes is first up in the hope he can put this season's course experience to good use and see off a raft of Irish raiders and the enigmatic Valiancy who could easily prove a cut above over this trip for the first time.

Another first for this race is the use of stalls which will hopefully take out some of the randomness caused by a flag start and this step up to a marathon trip could induce further improvement for his in-form stable.

Golden Mile, Goodwood, 15:00 - Back Scoville @ 8/19.00

First the disclaimers: Scoville has no Goodwood form and is drawn 18 which isn't ideal.

However, Toimy Son and Johan have both won in the last three years having been drawn 21 and 18 respectively so a high stalls berth isn't always a curse.

The selection dipped into handicap company for the first time at Royal Ascot when running a blinder from a poor draw in the Royal Hunt Cup and it could be notable that he makes the cut for this race from a number of other stable possibles.

Hopefully, the wind operation undertaken after a disappointing comeback at Thirsk allows the lightly-raced son of Too Darn Hot to continue progressing and, if can build on this Ascot exploits, he could make a bold bid from the front under Tom Marquand.

Golden Mile, Goodwood, 15:00 - Back Cerulean Bay each-way @ 16/117.00

The loveable Cerulean Bay will be written off by many given he tackles this highly competitive handicap off a career high mark.

That is an understandable take, but the profile of this race has changed a little in recent years with many of the lightly-raced three-year-olds which used to frequent this contest sold to race abroad.

It has been seven runnings since one from the Classic generation obliged and Bunyola Bay, outclassed in the Irish Derby last time, is the sole representative in this year's renewal.

Although Cerulean Bay has been around a while he is only five and he returns to the South Downs looking to defend an unbeaten 2-2 record at the track.

A recent warm up in a Pontefract Listed event will have hopefully put the selection spot on for this assignment and, at 16/117.00 with enhanced place terms available, he appeals as a sporting each-way play with Colin Keane booked.

King George Qatar Stakes, Goodwood, 15:35 - Back Jakajaro @ 11/26.50

There wouldn't be many quicker horses in training than Jakajaro and he may put that blistering early speed to good use in this exciting renewal.

Trainer Robert Cowell is adept at finding improvement with maturing sprinters and the five-year-old has taken his form to another level this term, including when a fine third in a Group 2 event at the Curragh last time when the climb to the line found him out late on.

This downhill track should play to his strengths ideally and he should go close to landing this for his owners who love a winner at this meeting.

King George Qatar Stakes, Goodwood, 15:35 - Back Jm Jungle @ 9/110.00

Those with long memories may recall Jm Jungle was a popular winner in these parts 12 months ago (apologies for the after-timing) as he landed his second win at this meeting following a handicap success in 2023.

John & Sean Quinn have made a habit of capturing sprint events at Goodwood for a number of seasons now and the son of Bungle Inthejungle has shown signs of recapturing his best form in his last two starts at Royal Ascot (when overcoming an early stumble to run creditably) and latterly at York.

He is no good thing to spring from a podium finish in that Listed race on the Knavesmire to victory in a Group 2 here but, with double figure quotes available about his chance, I'm willing to risk a couple of units he is back to near his best.

Goodwood, 16:10 - Back Naqeeb each-way @ 9/110.00

And finally (congratulations and thanks to all of you that have stayed until the end of this lengthy piece) we come to Naqeeb.

The son of Nathaniel has been a superb flagbearer for Julie Camacho and Steve Brown and it was agonising for the Norton training operation that their versatile six-year-old was beaten a short-head in a Listed affair at today's venue back in May.

That narrow defeat meant his track stats now read 212 and the selection ran right up to his best in the Summer Mile at Ascot last time when a creditable fifth to Zeus Olympios, a race which has already thrown up a win for runner-up Holloway Bay.  

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