ITV Racing Tips: Can Regal Reality win the Ladbrokes Celebration Mile?
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The Ladbrokes Celebration Mile and the Ladbrokes March Stakes are the two feature contests on a seven-race card spread across Goodwood, Newmarket and Windsor on ITV this Saturday.
It’s another fantastic afternoon of action, with no fewer than four Group races in total, three of which are taking place at Goodwood where Ladbrokes are sponsoring the entire card.
We can’t wait for the action to get underway, and we’ve previewed the headline renewals in our ITV Racing Tips.
RACE OF THE DAY – LADBROKES CELEBRATION MILE – GOODWOOD, 15:35
The weather has already played its part in the Ladbrokes Celebration Mile, with early favourite Benbatl declared a non-runner due to the ground. That meant a hasty rewrite from us, and leaves Century Dream, Regal Reality and Sir Busker at the top of the market.
The former should enjoy the heavy conditions most based on his ¾l third behind the late Roaring Lion in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in 2018, although he might not have enough to see off the consistent Regal Reality.
Sir Michael Stoute’s inmate regularly mixes it in company much hotter than this and is rarely disgraced, finishing within 3l of Enable in last season’s Coral-Eclipse and just under 6l behind Ghaiyyath in the same race this term.
He defied the odds to win a decent renewal of the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last time out too, with the application of headgear sparking a further jolt of improvement in the five-year-old.
We think he’s a better horse over 1m than he his over 1m 2f, and while better ground would aid his chances this afternoon, he has run well on both soft and heavy before and shouldn’t be overlooked lightly.
Two-time course and distance winner Duke Of Hazzard is also one to note as he bids to land the contest for the second successive year, although he would prefer much firmer ground.
NEXT BEST – LADBROKES MARCH STAKES – GOODWOOD, 15:00
This looks set to be a straightforward battle between Subjectivist and Cabaletta, with the latter preferred on the basis of her run behind Enbihaar over course and distance in the Lillie Langtry earlier this month.
Roger Varian’s filly was beaten by a dependable Group 2 horse that day, with the winner subsequently coming out and winning again over an extended trip at York’s Ebor Festival last week.
Cabaletta is continuing to improve and will strip better for that defeat against an older mare, and now back in a similarly tight field, there’s every chance she’ll get her head in front.
Rival Subjectivist has won a Listed contest this term and his form behind Mogul in the Gordon Stakes is rock-solid, but he has something to prove after bombing out in the Great Voltigeur at York.
This is his first go over the distance, and against Cabaletta, who has a decent turn of foot towards the finish, the Mark Johnston-trained runner may come up short once again.
ONE TO WATCH – LADBROKES PRESTIGE STAKES – GOODWOOD, 13:50
None of the six-strong field can be decisively ruled out in this Group 3 contest over 7f, but it’s impressive debut scorer Pomelo who rates as the one to beat.
Ralph Beckett’s inmate posted a spectacular effort on her first racecourse appearance to forge clear of the field before being eased down to win by 5l at Newbury last month.
She could be anything at this stage, and with further improvement all but guaranteed, it’s dangerous to underestimate just what she might be capable of.
Elsewhere, Happy Romance won at York last week to go along with her victory in the Super Sprint and should appreciate another step up in trip for Richard Hannon.
Isabella Giles is another who looks set to welcome the extra furlong on offer here after rallying at the finish over 6f in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last time out.
SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST, ITV RACING SCHEDULE
13:50 Goodwood – Ladbrokes Prestige Stakes (Group 3)
14:05 Newmarket – Hopeful Stakes (Listed)
14:25 Goodwood – Brian Chattaway Celebrating 50 Years At Ladbrokes Handicap
14:40 Windsor – August Stakes (Listed)
15:00 Goodwood – Ladbrokes March Stakes (Group 3)
15:15 Windsor – Winter Hill Stakes (Group 3)
15:35 Goodwood – Ladbrokes Celebration Mile (Group 2)
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
