Horsebetting.com experts give their Lillie Langtry Stakes betting tips from Glorious Goodwood 2018. Lancashire Oaks runner-up God Given is taken to confirm the form of that Group 2 contest here in this same grade 1m 6f contest for fillies and mares on Thursday, 2 August. Precious Ramotswe rates the main danger as the sole distance winner in the line-up for in-form trainer John Gosden and Star Rock looks each-way value. Find out why when you read our 2018 Lillie Langtry Stakes betting tips preview.God Given can go one better in Lillie LangtryGod Given was brave in defeat when going down just a short-head in the Lancashire Oaks last time out, but can gain compensation for that narrow defeat when stepping up to 1m 6f and tackling the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday (14:25).
Trained by Luca Cumani, the four-year-old hit a hat-trick last summer including a length victory over the re-opposing Isabel De Urbina in the Listed Aphrodite Stakes at Newmarket and then a Group 3 in France where she made all.
This daughter of Nathaniel then was far from disgraced when sixth in a Group 1 at Chantilly and shaped as if in need of run when fourth to Barsanti in a Listed race at Ascot on her return to action this season. She clearly came on for it, however, as God Given came out and landed the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock.
Connections sent her to that venue again last time out in search of a big prize. It was a typically prominent, front-running performance from God Given, but she got headed by Horseplay in the Lancashire Oaks inside the final furlong and despite rallying she just couldn’t get back on terms.
What’s worth taking from this run in the grade at Haydock is she stayed on well, suggesting the extra two furlongs in this would definitely suit. God Given also finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Precious Ramotswe and they meet off level weights again here.
There is no reason why she shouldn’t confirm the form with that rival. God Given is also the highest rated in the line-up on an official mark of 105. Although she has to give 11lb to the three-year-olds, this race has tended to favour the older fillies and mares and that means God Given is the one to be on in this renewal of the Lillie Langtry.Precious Ramotswe the main dangerJohn Gosden trained the winner of this two years ago in California and the in-form handler is represented this time around by the aforementioned Precious Ramotswe – the sole distance winner in the line-up.
This other daughter of Nathaniel has made rapid progress this season when following up on her reappearance victory at Brighton by landing the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York over this trip. Although Previous Ramotswe set a steady pace, she quickened three out and found the stands’ rail where she was pushed along and kept on well when ridden out for a half-length success.
Isabel De Urbina was beaten four lengths down in fourth, so like God Given she has nothing to fear from that rival. Precious Ramotswe was dropped back in trip for the Lancashire Oaks last time out, but couldn’t reach the front two.
She lost little in defeat, however, and connections are wise to step her back up in distance to the 1m 6f over which she previously posted a career best effort. Precious Ramotswe, who is partnered by Frankie Dettori following his riding ban here, thus also features among our Lillie Langtry Stakes betting tips because we know she stays.Star Rock also each-way valueThe best each-way bet here, however, may be Star Rock who beat God Given readily by half-a-length in a 1m 4f maiden at Newmarket last season. Trained by Hughie Morrison, the four-year-old also returned to headquarters following a break to land a handicap and rounded off her campaign with victory in a Listed contest at Doncaster.
This daughter of Fastnet Rock is also out of a Galileo mare and has raced over the trip before at York when a 2 1/2 lengths third to Brimham Rocks. Star Rock was off the track for 253 days, but returned to action in France 11 days ago in another Listed affair.
She needed the run when a 1 3/4 lengths fourth to Nonza and is totally unexposed at this level, despite being the second highest rated off a mark of 103. Jockey P J McDonald has been riding out of his skin of later and that is another plus.
If able to confirm the form of her Newmarket win over God Given, then Star Rock has big claims of making the frame here. For that reason, and the fact she’s a double figure price at the time of writing, she looks big each-way value.Your Next Bet
