Racing Tips – Top Tipster Steve Mullen’s best racing selections for Friday, August 4
Steve Mullen guides you through Friday's racing from Goodwood, Bangor, Newmarket, Thirsk, Bath and Musselburgh
GOODWOOD
1.50
SCARLET DRAGON is worth an each-way tickle in the Glorious Stakes.
He’s stepping out of handicap company on the back of an unlucky defeat in the John Smith’s Cup at York last time out.
He was going really well but couldn’t get any racing room as the race was won.
Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is in good form and her four-year-old saves his best for when he can get his toe in.
He was a close second in the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury in September when conditions were testing. So he likes a big field, is suited by the trip and likes the ground.
Several of the fancied runners have shown their best form on quick ground so it will be interesting to see how Frontiersman and Poet’s Word get on.
The latter has already scored here and has been crying out for this longer distance.
Of the pair his chances look more solid.
2.25
MAKE TIME goes on soft ground and comes here on the back of a convincing victory at Sandown.
That was the first time he tackled this trip and it seemed to bring out more improvement in him.
Zainhom went through testing ground to win his maiden at York and went well in Listed class latest. He is on the upgrade and will be a threat.
3.00
MASTER THE WORLD can live up to his name.
With an ark being the most useful form of transport in West Sussex for much of this week, you want a horse that likes it soft and David Elsworth’s hopeful more than fits the bill.
There was plenty of cut underfoot when he ran a belter at Newmarket last time out in a race that matched this for quality.
He was second there but there was a big gap back to the third horse home so the form looks solid. Young David Egan was on board that day and it’s telling that Ryan Moore takes the ride here.
Goodwood has been a pretty happy hunting ground for him too, with one of last season’s highlights coming when beaten a neck in this race.
He’s 1lb lower in the weights now, which would have made all the difference 12 months ago. It could have the same effect this time around.
Blair House deserves his place near the head of the betting after finishing second to Zhui Feng in the Royal Hunt Cup last time.
There won’t be a lot between them again but he’ll probably handle the ground better than his Ascot conqueror.
This going could also bring out the best in Withernsea. He came right back to his best when a close-up third in the International Stakes last time with this extra furlong no problem.
He goes off the same mark and won a big-field contest at Newbury the last time he faced testing conditions.
Tony Curtis is another reliable each-way performer in races like this.
He was a close-up fourth in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time and he won’t care if the ground quickens up or gets softer still.
3.35
TAKE COVER goes in any ground and has every chance of following up last year’s win in this.
He looked somewhere close to his best when gamely winning at York last time and, despite being 10, still seems in love with the game.
There are some classy sprinters in this like Marsha and Battaash but it’s anyone’s guess how they will handle the ground.
Washington DC is proven over further and his stamina could be an asset. At a big price he could easily hit the frame.
4.10
QUAYSIDE races from outside the weights but he’ll love the ground and is progressing well.
Forget his poor run at Haydock last time when he almost tripped up and the firm ground didn’t look ideal either. He looks on a fair mark and should be right there.
Rufus King comes from the Mark Johnston yard so will be giving his all and could be the biggest danger.
4.40
PERFECT ANGEL went close to winning in this Group 3 company when second at Newbury last time out.
There was plenty of juice in the ground that day and it suited her well. She’s won at Goodwood too, which can only help.
French raider Al Jazi was far from disgraced in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and will find this a lot easier.
Steve Mullen's Glorious Goodwood tips
- 1.50 Scarlet Dragon
- 2.25 Make Time
- 3.00 MASTER THE WORLD (NAP)
- 3.35 Take Cover (nb)
- 4.10 Quayside
- 4.40 Perfect Angel
- 5.15 Walton Street
5.15
WALTON STREET impressed when winning on his debut at Pontefract last time and is worth supporting.
He didn’t have that much to beat at the Yorkshire track but he got the job done well and looked professional in doing so.
The ground was on the soft side of good that day and he went easily clear over the 1m2f distance so this extra furlong won’t be a problem.
Opinionate has been impressive on the all-weather so far.
He won pretty much as he liked at Lingfield last time over a mile and it’s interesting to see him upped a fair chunk for this handicap debut.
Tuff Rock is another one to keep an eye on. He battled on well to get off the mark here last time out, winning in a bobbing finish.
The ground was similar that day and that proven form on the course could give him an edge.
BANGOR
1.30 Jazz Thyme
2.00 Wynford
2.35 No Likey
3.10 Daulys Anthem
3.45 Mister Universum
4.20 Mizen Master
4.50 Ange Des Malbreux
THIRSK
1.40 Time For Treacle
2.10 Tulip Fever
2.45 Palmer
3.20 Mitchum Swagger
3.55 Sheriff Garrett
4.30 Flowers Will Bloom
5.00 Creek Walk
BATH
5.30 Diamond Express
6.05 Seamster
6.35 Coronation Cottage
7.10 Pivione
7.40 Banff
8.10 Stosur
MUSSELBURGH
5.40 Midnight Warrior
6.10 Collateral
6.45 The Stalking Moon
7.20 Longroom
7.50 Kikini Bamalaam
8.20 Snowy Winter
8.50 Lizzy’s Dream
NEWMARKET
5.20 Peace Dreamer
5.55 Kerrera
6.25 Gabr
7.00 Brorocco
7.30 Shyron
8.00 Euqranian
8.30 Firefright