Coutts Glorious Goodwood Stakes Preview

The opener on today's card at Glorious Goodwood, the Coutts Glorious Stakes, is a tricky affair in which a strong case can be made for five of the eight-strong field, but the one that makes most appeal is Foxhaven, who can reward the each-way thieves at a tasty 12/1 with Stan James. Pat Charmings' charge was hugely impressive when coming from off the pace to beat Art Eyes by two and a half lengths in the valuable cantorspreadfair.com Stakes over this course and distance at this meeting last year. The runner-up has subsequently proven herself to be a solid Pattern-class performer, while the third home that day, Tawqeet, went onto finish third in the Group 1 St Leger. The four-year-old appeared to relish the give in the ground that day, but he has form on faster surfaces so I wouldn't be too worried about underfoot conditions, and it is interesting that his astute handler has persevered with him as he has. Indeed, Foxhaven was put away for the rest of the season after that victory and shaped well when not beaten far into sixth under top weight in a handicap won by Dansili Dancer at Sandown on his first run for nearly a year last month. The son of Unfuwain has plenty of scope for improvement having had just 14 career starts to date and, in a race where ifs and buts surround every one of his rivals, it is well worth taking the chance that Foxhaven can make a seamless transition from handicap to Listed company, and go very close at rewarding odds. Likely favourite Admiral's Cruise can be a bit hit and miss in as much that he doesn't always put his best foot forward. However, as he has proved twice already at Newmarket this season, when he's on song he's good. The Brian Meehan-trained colt was definitely on a going day on the July Course at that Suffolk venue last time out when readily beating Ouninpohja by four lengths in this grade. If in a similar mood today, there can be little doubt that he will take a good deal of beating. But I am not convinced. That was a pretty weak Listed race he won when you consider that both Art Eyes and hot favourite Hard Top failed to perform to anything like their respective personal bests, so what Admiral's Cruise actually achieved, impressive though he was, is highly debatable. In my opinion, Kandidate will be the toughest nut for Foxhaven to crack. Despite the fact that he has yet to race over this 12-furlong trip, he was not stopping at the end when charging home to beat Windsor Knott by two and a half lengths in a Listed contest at Sandown last month. And, considering that there was a strong end-to-end gallop, and that Sandown is a much stiffer track than Goodwood, I reckon that Clive Brittain's charge will see this trip out with any problems. If Foxhaven doesn't deliver, Kandidate will probably win, but the selection is open to plenty of improvement, whereas we all know where we stand with Kandidate, and at four times the odds of that 3/1 chance, Foxhaven has to be the percentage call. Melrose Avenue, winner of the two miles Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot at York last season, will probably find this trip a touch on the sharp side, and is likely to need the run following an absence of almost a year, while Crosspeace cannot be relied upon to reproduce the finishing kick he showed when landing a handicap here under top weight on Tuesday, and the top priced 7/2 about him is a bit skinny in my opinion, although completely dismissing any Mark Johnston-trained runner at this meeting probably isn't too wise. Verdict - 1pt e/w Foxhaven @ 12/1 (Stan James)