Derby and Oaks hints are plentiful at Goodwood

On an overcast and chilly day on the Downs, Oaks contender Beatrice Royal and Derby hopeful Masked Marvel took the honours in the Height of Fashion Stakes and Cocked Hat Stakes – and promptly saw their odds slashed for the upcoming big races at Epsom.

Arundel’s John Dunlop is the trainer of Beatrice Royal and was delighted to see Ted Durcan guide the 2/1 favourite to success in the £30,000 Height of Fashion Stakes. The horse is owned by Benny Anderson of Abba fame and is now 16/1 with most for the Oaks.

Dunlop, who has twice won the Oaks, said: “One couldn’t be more than impressed, but the question is what was the opposition?

“I’m delighted, I think she’s got a bit of class. I talked to Ted about whether she’d stay (in the Oaks) and he was dubious, but she’s settled well and acted well on the two times she’s run here and if she was mine she’d definitely run in the Oaks - I suspect the owner will want to too.

“I think this filly will stay because she settles so well. It depends on the owner. He’s very enthusiastic and I think he’d like to run.”

Later William Buick rode 13/2 shot Masked Marvel to victory in the Cocked Hat Stakes, which saw the horse’s Derby odds halved to 25/1 by some bookmakers.

Trainer John Gosden said he would chat to the horse’s owner Bjorn Nielsen about his Derby prospects.

‘He’s a horse we’ve always liked. He won his maiden, but at Sandown last time the ground was very tacky and he wasn’t tuned up. His work has improved since and he’s got a nice mind for a Montjeu. He stays well and quickened well today.”

“I’ll leave him in the Derby and chat to the owner. The favourite [Carlton House] is outstanding and I’ve seen him work a lot this spring, but something’s gotto be placed and there’s good place prize-money.”

The first race of an overcast and slightly chilly afternoon on the Downs, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, was taken by the 4/9 favourite Glee for the Richard Hannon-Richard Hughes partnership.

It was Hughes’ fourth Goodwood victory of the year and he wasn’t far off a fifth in the next, the Paul Spencer 50th Birthday Stakes, but on Kalahaag he didn’t quite have enough to beat Frankie Dettori on Club Oceanic, trained by Jeremy Noseda.

It was Dettori’s 149th Goodwood winner in his 739th race, giving him a strike rate of 20 per cent.

Hughes was back in the winner’s enclosure with a victory on Cosimo De Medici, trained by Hughie Morrison, in the RUK Sussex Stayers’ Stakes – that after Jim Crowley on Alsadaa had seen a 15-length lead at the halfway stage eaten away when tiring in the final three furlongs.

Pat Dobbs took a thrilling Goldring Security Services Maiden Fillies’ Stakes when he held off Kieren Fallon and Mundana on the line aboard 12/1 starter Doricemay.

The afternoon was rounded off by a 7/2 win for Leonna Mayor on Six Wives, trained by David Nicholls, in the TurfTV Apprentice Stakes.

Going: Good

Results

2:00 | 2 Glee (R Hughes, 4-9 fav); 1 Falls Of Lora (L Dettori, 4-1 2nd-fav); 7 ran.

Distances: ½ length; ½ length; 1¼ lengths;

Winning trainer: R Hannon.

Tote: £1.50; £1.10; £2.00; Exacta: £2.60; Swinger: £1.10; Swinger: £7.20; Swinger: £4.30; CSF: £2.23;

2:35 | 2 Club Oceanic (L Dettori, 9-4 joint-fav); 4 Tropical Beat (William Buick, 9-4 joint-fav); 7 ran.

Distances: Head; 3 3/4 lengths; 2 lengths;

Winning trainer: J Noseda.

Tote: £3.60; £1.90; £1.70; Exacta: £8.60; Swinger: £1.80; Swinger: £3.70; Swinger: £4.50; CSF: £6.79;

3:10 | 1 Beatrice Aurore (T E Durcan, 2-1 fav); 4 Highest (L Dettori, 6-1 ); 7 ran. 7 Poplin (K Fallon, 5-2 2nd-fav);

Distances: 1½ lengths; 1½ lengths; 1¼ lengths;

Winning trainer: J L Dunlop.

Tote: £3.20; £1.60; £2.40; Exacta: £14.40; Swinger: £2.90; Swinger: £2.20; Swinger: £2.90; CSF: £14.93;

3:45 | 6 Cosimo De Medici (R Hughes, 11-4 2nd-fav); 4 Saborido (P Dobbs, 5-1 ); 7 ran.

Non-runners: Epsom Salts;

Distances: Neck; 3 lengths; ¾ length;

Winning trainer: H Morrison.

Tote: £3.50; £2.10; £1.80; Exacta: £16.80; Swinger: £2.90; Swinger: £2.50; Swinger: £1.90; CSF: £16.35; Tricast: £31.72;

4:20 | 3 Masked Marvel (William Buick, 13-2 ); 4 Namibian (J Fanning, 8-1 ); 5 ran. 1 Auld Burns (R Hughes, 2-1 joint-fav); 2 Badeel (L Dettori, 2-1 joint-fav);

Distances: 3 lengths; 2½ lengths; 4 lengths;

Winning trainer: J H M Gosden.

Tote: £6.90; £3.80; £4.20; Exacta: £49.80; CSF: £49.13;

CSF: £16.35; Tricast: £31.72;

4:55 | 5 Doricemay (P Dobbs, 12-1 ); 12 Mundana (K Fallon, 9-4 fav); 15 Panoptic (T P Queally, 11-2 ); 13 ran. 7 I Hate To Lose (L Dettori, 7-2 2nd-fav);

Non-runners: Misrepresent; Lightning Spirit;

Distances: ½ length; Head; ¾ length;

Winning trainer: C G Cox.

Tote: £15.60; £4.00; £1.80; £2.20; Exacta: £55.20; Swinger: £8.10; Swinger: £5.40; Swinger: £10.10; CSF: £39.16;

5:30 | 4 Six Wives (L Mayor, 7-2 joint-2nd-fav); 2 Sherjawy (Matthew Lawson, 9-1 ); 6 ran. 1 Athwaab (Mr C Bishop, 9-4 fav); 5 Simple Rhythm (Bradley Bosley, 7-2 joint-2nd-fav);

Distances: ½ length; ¾ length;

Winning trainer: D Nicholls.

Tote: CSF: £33.25;

Placepot: £190.90 Quadpot: £121.50