Hi all,
Get yourself strapped in and get ready for a betting rollercoaster with the start of five-days of high-class racing at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, in addition we have day two of the Galway Festival.
I have selections from both meetings. Let’s begin on the South Downs at Goodwood.
Goodwood Festival – Day 1
1:50 – A competitive 1m 2f handicap gets the meeting underway. Mark Johnston has won this race four times in the past ten years, so his runner Aquarium must be respected. The 4-year-old has dropped down to his last winning mark but remains vulnerable to any improvers in the field. Mountain Hunter won two handicaps in Meydan over the winter, the last of which came off 2lb lower. The 5-year-old was winner here in 2017 over a furlong shorter so there should be no issues with the track. Cieran Fallon takes off a valuable 5lb off the horses back and shouldn’t be far away at the finish. Jazeel, a winner at Sandown two starts back before finishing 9th of 21 in the John Smith’s Cup 17-days. He continues to look like a progressive handicapper and could be better suited by the race than at York. Beringer, trained by Alan King, gets a 1lb for his short head second to Jazeel at Sandown and there won’t be much between the pair again. Beringer ran well here last year on his only start at the course and seems to have a decent draw in stall 8. Soto Sizzler, is surprisingly dropped back to a 1m 2f here given all his wins have come at 1m 4f and he’s got an Ebor entry. Looked to have a good chance of the hat trick at Kempton 27-days ago but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Won here 12 months ago and has since added two wins at Epsom which shows he goes very well on unique courses like here.
Beringer – 8/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power
Soto Sizzler – 9/1 @ Paddy Power
2:25 – This looks an above average renewal of the Vintage Stakes and could be the race of the meeting. The favourite Pinatubo impressed when winning the Chesham Stakes but must give 3lb to most of his rivals, including Chesham runner-up Lope Y Fernandez. There shouldn’t be much between the pair. Mystery Power won’t have any problem if the showers arrive as he won at Haydock on his racecourse debut on good to soft. Last time out he showed a good battling attitude to win the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. Like the favourite he must give 3lb to his rivals. The Visinari bubble slightly burst when he finished third in the July Cup. He will be suited by the step up to 7f and trainer Mark Johnston won this race last year. Positive created a positive impression when running out an easy winner at Salisbury on his racecourse debut. After the race trainer Clive Cox told the Racing Post, “Positive is a very nice youngster and as good we have had” Given the trainer has had plenty of good juveniles, including winning this race in 2009, that’s high praise. This looks a tough ask on just his second start, but he’s got plenty of scope for improvement.
Positive – 12/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
3:00 – Hey Gaman & Zaaki head the market for this 7f Group 2 race. Sir Dancealot came from first to last to win this last year. If he gets his optimum conditions; good ground and 7f, he’s got a good chance of back to back wins in the race. Trainer David Elsworth remains on the cold list, 107-days since his last win, which is a slight negative. The 3-year-old Space Traveller won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and bids to follow Strong Suit who did the Jersey/Lennox double in 2011.
Sir Dancealot – 13/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes
4:45 – A Momentofmadness, was beaten just a short head in this race two years ago, although ran poorly last year. A winner of the Portland Handicap last September off 1lb higher. A reproduction of that run would be good enough here. That said he hasn’t run that well on his four starts this season, apart from his seasonal reappearance. Count Otto, has yet to win over the minimum trip but could be suited by a strongly run 5f. He was unlucky in the run in this race 12 months ago and if the cards fall better today has to be respected. A winner at Epsom 6-days he hails from the inform Amanda Perrett stable.
Count Otto – 12/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – each way – (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
5:15 – A tricky fillies handicap to conclude the card. My two darts against the field are Clara Peeters, trained by local trainer Gary Moore looks nicely drawn in stall 3. The handicapper only put her 2lb for her Newmarket win 31-days ago. She looks capable of a more improvement and finished runner-up over C&D on her seasonal reappearance in May. Will probably prefer the showers to stay away. Nkosikazi, travelled well in a prominent position at Newmarket on her last start and beat the runners on her side to finish second. Looks like she will face competition for the lead here but is in form and looks capable off her mark.
Clara Peeters – 9/1 @ William Hill & Coral
Nkosikazi – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Galway Festival – Day 2
7:40 – Numerian – A Royal Ascot eyecatcher, he showed he wasn’t just an all-weather horse when running well to finish 5th of 28 in the Britannia Handicap. Didn’t get the clearest of passages twice during the race so did well to finish as close as he did. Today’s extra ½ f should suit the 3-year-ol as should the stiff finish. Nicely drawn in stall 4 and trainer Joseph O’Brien was among the winners on Day 1 of the meeting. Hamley won two handicaps last September, the latter at the Curragh off 4lb lower. Ran well when 4th of 9 at Leopardstown 19-days ago, in a race that wasn’t run to suit. The 6-year-old drops back in trip but also gets the first-time blinkers today. Each way claims if the headgear works the trick.
Numerian – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Hamley – 18/1 @ William Hill – each way – (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
8:10 – Dani’s Boy won a C&D handicap here 12 months ago off 1lb lower. Not at that level over hurdles and flat since but given his liking for the track must be respected. Had spin over hurdles 18-days and should be spot on fitness wise today.
Dani’s Boy – 16/1 @ Coral -each way – (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
Cheers
John