Today / 14.35 Goodwood

14.35

Good To Firm

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £23193
  • 1m 3f 218y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
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Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 6-5095 D

Last run: 84 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Proved somewhat resurgent in the Epsom race won by Too Soon and looks a possible danger provided he builds on that effort; useful on his day and peak form includes a success in the 2024 November Handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(17)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 2

17:20 Epsom

Lord Melbourne

9st 3lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Ralph Beckett

Won 23-runner November Handicap (1m4f, soft) in 2024 and he's 2-3 here (1m2f and 1m4f) including a win on good to soft last September; those are the clear positives but he's been poor in three starts at 1m2f (snow/AW/good) this year; has a tempting mark if he can stage a revival, so needs a market check.

20/1

9th

1

(9)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

16:00 Goodwood

Lord Melbourne

9st 9lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Ralph Beckett

A very useful 1m2f/1m4f winner at his best but lightly raced in recent seasons and came in last of 11 in 1m2f AW Lingfield handicap in February; needs to take a big step forward after a break.

25/1

Form: -23521

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Took well to first-time cheekpieces at Pontefract (1m2f, good to firm) latest start, registering a first handicap win; may have more to offer in the retained headgear; respected assuming he stays this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(5)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 5y

Class 3

17:15 Pontefract

High Degree

10st 2lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

0-7 in handicaps and expensive to follow but he's run some big races this season, most recently second of six at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) behind a well-handicapped winner; wears first-time cheekpieces and can be bang there off the same mark as last time.

10/11

2nd

1

(6)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

18:58 Newmarket (July)

High Degree

10st 3lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

His only race on firmer than good was on debut, when runner-up; sole win came in a 1m Ffos Las maiden as 3yo; that's from nine races and despite being favourite in his last five handicaps but all three starts this season (1m2f, 1m and 1m1f; never nearer at evens last time) confirmed that he is well capable of being seriously involved.

6/5

Form: 8-0451 D

Last run: 84 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Responded well to first-time cheekpieces in useful handicap (1m4f, soft) on Derby day when last seen, taking Epsom record to 2-2; similar type to High Degree and looks a major player in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

22

(16)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Too Soon

9st 1lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Reserve; has usually run with credit here, including on good to firm in May, and scored (from Night Breeze) with first-time cheekpieces under Warren Fentiman at Epsom 13 days ago; however, his only two wins from 15 races have both been at Epsom in the mud and he's also now gone back up 6lb.

33/1

Form: 20-684

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 0lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Losing run is mounting up but he remains useful and shaped well over 1m2f at Glorious Goodwood most recently, leaving the impression this return to 1m4f is worth exploring; possibilities off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

15

(18)

28th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Tony Montana

8st 11lb

J: Toby Moore

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Beaten on his last 13 starts going back to May 2024 but he's run some big races and wasn't discredited in his two starts this term; third and tenth in the last two runnings of this race; claimer ridden for the first time as a handicapper and worth a second look despite wide draw.

16/1

8th

4

(5)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:55 York

Tony Montana

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Beaten on his last 12 starts going back to May 2024 but he's run some big races in the meantime, including when beaten a head in this last year (good to firm) off the same mark as today; reappeared with solid sixth of 24 on stable debut in the Spring Cup at Newbury (1m, good); can be in the mix.

5/1

Form: 411930 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 13lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner in the past and completed a double elsewhere in April; however, finished behind Tony Montana at Glorious Goodwood most recently and is rather weighted to the hilt off current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

(7)

28th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Rathgar

8st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: Jack Channon

Has won twice at this track, albeit in very different races to this; 1m2f wins at Newbury and Epsom (made all) on good ground in April and ran well again when third at Sandown this month on good to firm; each-way player if he's in the same form.

14/1

3rd

2

(10)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 2

17:22 Sandown

Rathgar

9st 12lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Jack Channon

Better than ever with 1m2f wins at Newbury and Epsom (made all) on good ground in April but a further 5lb rise proved enough to stop him at York last time; might be vulnerable again.

9/1

Form: 513-73 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Multiple AW winner; belied his huge odds with close third at Newmarket on belated return to turf last time but this is a step back up in grade; 0-6 in this sphere and others look preferable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(7)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:58 Newmarket (July)

Haku

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Mark Loughnane

Ten-time AW winner who is 5lb lower than when winning at Southwell (1m4f, AW) last November; however, this is his first run since January and he was well beaten at Ascot in May 2024 on his last encounter with turf; 0-5 on grass and others have less to prove.

16/1

Form: 8-7887 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Beaten under 3l in the Shergar Cup Stayers last time and is possibly running into form; however, usually races over further nowadays and this drop back to 1m4f looks a negative; cheekpieces reapplied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(6)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 2

14:10 Ascot

Oneforthegutter

9st 2lb

J: Mme Marie Velon

T: Ian Williams

Only eighth of ten in a 1m6f handicap at Newmarket a month ago in which he was second in 2024 and won in 2025 (on good to firm); that was yet another below-par effort and hopes rest on the tongue-tie making a difference.

20/1

8th

9

(2)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Oneforthegutter

8st 11lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Second in this race in 2024 and won it last year (good to firm); now he has a 4lb lower mark than last year; that's having failed to finish in the first six in any of his seven races since, but at least his latest start was better than reappearance and it's not unheard of for runners from this stable to surge back to form.

14/1

Form: 1-2506 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 4yo who ran well behind Constitution Hill in AW novice event on reappearance; rather disappointing in handicaps since but may stage a turnaround if he settles; raced too freely last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(1)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Classical Allusion

9st 11lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Made a winning debut at Southwell (1m4f, AW) last September and finished a 2l second of eight behind Constitution Hill in a novice over this C&D in March; however, he didn't get home when sent off favourite on his handicap debut at Newbury (2m) and was tailed off at Ascot (1m4f) in May; returning to the AW may help.

12/1

14th

13

(15)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

14:55 Ascot

Classical Allusion

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) on debut last autumn and best of the rest behind superstar hurdler Constitution Hill in Kempton novice (1m4f again) on his return in March; on the back of that he was sent off 11-10 favourite for his 2m Newbury handicap and turf debut three weeks ago but pulled too hard; retains potential back down in trip, but the outside stall has the potential to make life awkward.

10/1

Form: 451114 D BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Came up short off revised mark last time when bidding to take her record for new stable to 4-4; may be somewhat assisted by Charlie Tucker's 7lb claim but has something to prove upped further in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(6)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 5y

Class 3

19:34 Salisbury

Green Sky

10st 1lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Rod Millman

Rampant since joining Rod Millman and she was 7lb well in when completing a July hat-trick at Newbury (13.5f, good to firm) four weeks ago; runs off her revised rating this time but this drop back in trip should be no bother and she needs to be taken very seriously.

11/2

Betting Forcast

10/1 Lord Melbourne, 5/2 High Degree, 3/1 Too Soon, 7/2 Tony Montana, 14/1 Rathgar, 20/1 Haku, 12/1 Oneforthegutter, 10/1 Classical Allusion, 12/1 Green Sky

Verdict

After a very encouraging effort at Glorious Goodwood, TONY MONTANA is a plausible alternative to last-time winners High Degree (second pick) and Too Soon who nevertheless both warrant respect in retained cheekpieces.[Steve Boow]

Selections

NEWMARKET:

High Degree

The Times:

Classical Allusion

Telegraph:

Too Soon

SPOTLIGHT:

Tony Montana

TOPSPEED:

Haku

WEST COUNTRY:

Green Sky

POSTDATA:

Rathgar

The Guardian:

High Degree

Daily Mail:

High Degree

D Express:

High Degree

Daily Record:

High Degree

The Star:

Too Soon

RP RATINGS:

Tony Montana

Daily Mirror:

Haku