ITV Racing Tips: Three plays at home on rain-softened Goodwood going

The final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is the focus for Saturday’s ITV Racing programme, with five of the seven televised races coming from the picturesque South Downs circuit.

A wet week has seen the ground change from good all the way through to heavy and given punters plenty of cause for revising pre-meeting allegiances. Our best bets are all expected to thrive on the going having proven themselves in conditions previously.

ITV Racing: Back Haggas hat-trick seeker to make it third-time lucky at 1m6f

The Coral Summer Handicap (1.50) is full of interesting contenders, not least Galashiels, who managed to lower the colours of subsequent King George winner Goliath last season.

However, he finished last in a Listed race on his UK debut for Nicky Henderson and preference is for the hat-trick seeker SAM HAWKENS for the in-form William Haggas operation.

At the time of writing Haggas has saddled 16 winners from 54 runners for a strike-rate of 30% in the past 14 days.

The selection won his maiden over 1m4f on heavy ground last term and scored over 1m5f last time out. In the form of his life, he can claim a first win over 1m6f on his third career try at the distance.

ITV Racing: Ground has come right for Gosden mare on first run at Lillie Langtry trip

The Lillie Langtry Stakes (2.30) has the feel of a race in which it could pay to side with a runner beyond the market principles, with likely favourite Goodie Two Shoes having landed her recent hat-trick on good ground and last year’s winner Term Of Endearment coming off a disappointing second try at 2m.

Course scorer Waardah is interesting with her three-year-old’s allowance, but is stepping up 4f in trip here and the form of her 1m2f at Goodwood hasn’t worked out amazingly.

The John Gosden pair Sueno and DANIELLE appeal and while the former is sure to improve on only her sixth career outing, the latter is just 1lb off the top-rated horse in the race and has an appealing heavy ground open company Group 3 win over 1m4f to her name.

Similar conditions on her first try at 1m6f should see her to good effect and with James Doyle in the plate she looks good each-way material at double figure odds with three places to play for.

ITV Racing: Claimer could be key to victory for serial Steward’s Cup silver medallist

The 28-runner Steward’s Cup (3.05) is always a fiendishly difficult puzzle to crack and the 2025 edition is no different, with seasoned handicappers like past winners Get It and Commanche Falls up against improving up and comers like Elmonjed or Hammer The Hammer.

However, few can be as certain to relish the unique test the race provides as APOLLO ONE, who can be backed at a very decent each-way price despite having finished second in the last two renewals, beaten half a length off 102 on good-to-firm in 2024 and three quarters of a length off 100 on heavy in 2023.

Peter Charalambos and James’ Clutterbuck’s seven-year-old is back this year on a mark of 107 after a close seventh in the Wokingham over 6f and a handy fifth in the 5f Listed City Walls Stake a York last time out. However Alice Bond’s 7lb claim gives him every chance of going very close at a big price again.

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