May 22 / 16.17 Goodwood

16.17

Soft

Fitzdares Festival Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £39697
  • 1m 1f 197y
  • Class 1
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Fitzdares Festival Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 421-43

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Defied top weight in the 2025 Cambridgeshire (1m1f, good to firm) and holds a leading chance provided that smart handicap form is reproduced; hasn't transferred it back to Group level this term but he's respected on ratings and is a similar type to last year's winner of this race (for same connections).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(1)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Goodwood

Boiling Point

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Has produced two sound performances at Goodwood this term, namely Listed win (1m2f; gamely beat Naqeeb) in May and close second in very useful conditions race (1m1f) last time; ties in with Seagulls Eleven on Diomed (8.5f) running; solid claims.

4/1

2nd

1

(6)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Boiling Point

9st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) last September and added a Listed win here (1m2f, good) in May, narrowly beating Naqeeb; this front-runner has remained in good form and can make a bold bid.

9/2

4th

1

(5)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Boiling Point

9st 12lb

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

Ran creditably, one place behind Persica, in Epsom Group 3 last time but is now worse off with that rival; has to overcome a 3lb penalty for narrow Listed win at Goodwood (1m2f, good) in May.

16/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 8281-5 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Performed well twice over C&D last term but had the run of the race when belying his 33-1 odds for neck success at Listed level in September (good to soft) and looks no certainty to defy a 3lb penalty back here, unless things again fall his way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(9)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Goodwood

Naqeeb

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Has form over a variety of trips; Goodwood record (1m2f) reads 212, the last two performances at Listed level, including an effort that ties him in closely with Boiling Point; only 2l behind Seagulls Eleven over 1m at Ascot most recently; could go well.

10/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 2/543- D BF

Last run: 307 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Unlucky second at Glorious Goodwood in 2024 when bidding for a notable 1m2f handicap double; best effort in a truncated 2025 campaign when fourth to Haatem in Listed grade at Royal Ascot; should be thereabouts, provided he's in top form after ten-month layoff.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(2)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Enfjaar

9st 3lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

He's run well on both visits to Goodwood, latest a close third in 1m2f Listed race here (good) in May after an absence, and the late headway he made when eighth in the Listed Wolferton at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) suggests this step up in trip could be a good move; each-way chance.

12/1

8th

5

(7)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Enfjaar

9st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Best effort in a truncated 2025 campaign when fourth to Haatem in this race (good to firm); showed enough to think he retains all his ability when third in 1m2f Goodwood Listed race (good) on reappearance 25 days ago; could reach the frame in this again.

11/1

3rd

5

(7)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Enfjaar

9st 3lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Unlucky second at Glorious Goodwood in 2024 when bidding for a notable 1m2f handicap double; best effort in a truncated 2025 campaign when fourth to Haatem in Listed grade at Royal Ascot; should be thereabouts, provided he's in top form after ten-month layoff.

5/1

Form: 35/013 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Missed 2025; last two performances, namely success at Meydan (handicap) and third at Longchamp (Listed), show that he retains plenty of ability; however, has something to find back on home soil.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(7)

29th Aug 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 2

14:15 Sandown

Involvement

10st 1lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won Meydan handicap (9.5f, good) in March but has been mostly treading water since, finishing last of eight in Group 3 at Goodwood four weeks ago; back down in grade but others still make more appeal.

20/1

8th

4

(6)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Involvement

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won Meydan handicap (9.5f, good) in March and ran well in defeat in Listed races on next two starts (including here over 1m2f); however, no match for Al Aasy in Listed race at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) four weeks ago and others have more substance to their claims.

20/1

3rd

4

(3)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 23y

Class 1

16:02 Beverley

Involvement

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Very useful gelding who landed 9.5f handicap in Meydan in March; posted a good fourth in Goodwood Listed event in May but last of six in similar company there (1m4f) last month; needs to bounce back.

8/1

16/1

Form: 2044-7

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Record of 0-5 since debut win (Wood Ditton) but he's useful and ran creditably in sole C&D attempt, namely fourth to Naqeeb in Listed event; could go well with Chester (Group 2) reappearance under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

High Stock

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Record of 0-5 since debut win (Wood Ditton) but he's useful and ran creditably in sole C&D attempt, namely fourth to Naqeeb in Listed event; could go well with Chester (Group 2) reappearance under his belt.

16/1

7th

2

(4)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

High Stock

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Highly tried after his winning Newmarket debut in April last year and ran well on a couple of occasions, as when beaten a neck in the Dee Stakes over C&D (good); has a bit to find to mix it with the majority of these, though.

25/1

4th

7

(11)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

High Stock

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Absent since heavy defeat in Group 3 at Royal Ascot; has otherwise shown highly notable promise, namely a success in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket (1m) and close second in the Dee Stakes at Chester (1m2f Listed); may still have more to offer.

10/1

6th
1 (4)
Ice Max

7/2

Form: 711-53 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in 2024; creditable third, faring best of the runners who came off steady pace, in Group 2 at Chester (good) upped to 1m2f last time; unexposed at this distance and enters calculations despite carrying a 3lb penalty for Listed success (1m, soft) last autumn.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Ice Max

9st 8lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Very useful performer whose good-ground form includes a close second in this race last year and respectable sixth to stablemate Boiling Point at Goodwood latest start; has registered the majority of wins on softer, notably in Group 2 in 2024 and Listed grade in 2025 (both 1m); major player.

5/1

6th

1

(4)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Ice Max

9st 6lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in 2024; creditable third, faring best of the runners who came off steady pace, in Group 2 at Chester (good) upped to 1m2f last time; unexposed at this distance and enters calculations despite carrying a 3lb penalty for Listed success (1m, soft) last autumn.

7/2

3rd

3

(3)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Ice Max

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Ended last season with a pair of 1m victories, the latest in a Nottingham Listed event (soft); not totally disgraced when fifth of eight in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf (1m, heavy) on last month's return, but that does indicate his limitations; races beyond an extended 1m for the first time; stable also runs Royal Rhyme.

20/1

7/2

Form: 54136- C BF

Last run: 286 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Has form on all types of ground; smart performer whose strong CV includes wins in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a 2yo and two Royal Ascot contests, more recently last year's Wolferton (1m2f Listed); best figures give him a major chance at the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(8)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Haatem

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Below-par results this season but he may have needed his reappearance run here and got no run in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot (eased), having won that same Listed contest last year (good to firm); won the Group 2 Vintage Stakes here in his 2yo campaign in 2023; major player if at his best.

5/2

16th

9

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Haatem

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Landed a second win at this meeting when seeing off Galen, King's Gambit and Enfjaar in this race on good to firm 12 months ago; below-par seventh on 1m2f Goodwood reappearance 25 days ago but this has presumably been the target again; the mount of James Doyle from the three Wathnan runners.

11/2

7th

6

(3)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Haatem

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Has form on all types of ground; smart performer whose strong CV includes wins in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a 2yo and two Royal Ascot contests, more recently last year's Wolferton (1m2f Listed); best figures give him a major chance at the weights.

7/2

7/1

Form: 42-407 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Unlucky second in last year's Britannia at Royal Ascot then caught the eye on reappearance; hasn't exactly lived up to expectations in two starts since but remains of interest assuming this new scenario (steps up from 1m) prompts a positive effect; too soon to give up on him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

16

(5)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

La Botte

9st 4lb

J: Mark Zahra

T: Harry Eustace

Has failed to build on an eye-catching reappearance effort but seemed to be outstayed over 1m2f most recently; unlucky second in the C&D Britannia at this meeting last year (good to firm; might well have won but for traffic issues) and looks very interesting back here, bidding for compensation.

9/1

8th

9

(9)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

La Botte

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Eustace

Unlucky second in last year's Britannia at Royal Ascot then caught the eye on reappearance; hasn't exactly lived up to expectations in two starts since but remains of interest assuming this new scenario (steps up from 1m) prompts a positive effect; too soon to give up on him.

7/1

7th

7

(9)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

La Botte

9st 5lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Eustace

Went close in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) last June on his fourth start; not seen again until a good fourth at Wolverhampton (8.6f, AW) this March, despite a slow start and having to come very wide in the straight; disappointing favourite in the Lincoln at Doncaster three weeks later, perhaps with the good to soft ground against him but overall improvement is required moving from handicaps into this Group 3.

8/1

14/1

Form: 36743- D

Last run: 215 days

W: 9st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Certain Lad

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.

14/1

3

(3)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Certain Lad

9st 7lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Strike rate of 11-49 reads well although hasn't won in over a year and this season has been restricted by quick ground; had his favoured soft ground but still good bit below best at Ayr last month so must be doubtful he can run to current mark and ideally wants a bit further.

8/1

3

(1)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Certain Lad

9st 5lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £64.10
Straight Forecast £80.99
Trifecta £391.40

Selections

The Guardian:

Ice Max

SPOTLIGHT:

Boiling Point

POSTDATA:

Enfjaar

The Times:

La Botte

NEWMARKET:

Involvement

Daily Mail:

Naqeeb

LAMBOURN:

Certain Lad

Telegraph:

La Botte

The Sun:

Ice Max

The Star:

Ice Max

Daily Record:

Ice Max

RP RATINGS:

Boiling Point

TOPSPEED:

Boiling Point

D Express:

Enfjaar

Daily Mirror:

Enfjaar