Glorious Goodwood Special - Thursday
Day Three of Glorious Goodwood and you will note that I will have my two main tips to start things off – and as an added bonus, I will be covering the rest of the card in brief.
If I find plenty of winners that is a good thing – if I don’t, maybe not, but only time will tell on that one!
3.00pm
A frankly disappointing field with a maximum of six runners, but we won’t care if we can trap the winner! Aidan O’Brien, Charlie Appleby, and Sir Michael Stoute have won eight of the last 10 runnings and as only one is represented here, Espionage is the pick. The son of Galileo did well as a juvenile with a win at The Curragh and a head second in the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud but was always expected to do better over middle distances and so it proved with a return victory over a mile and a half at Roscommon in Listed class. He looked as if he would improve for the race that day and if that is the case, even the 15/8 currently on offer may look good value as they flash across the line.
Espionage to win 3.00pm Goodwood
3.35pm
Another six-horse field, but in this case there is every chance that French raider Blue Rose Cen has frightened off the opposition – or some of it at least. She has now won seven of her nine starts, including all three this season, with a four length victory in the French Oaks last time out. She is out to lay claim to being the best filly in training here, and if she can see off the older Nashwa as I hope, then few if any will argue with that assessment.
Blue Rose Cen to win 3.35pm Goodwood
The Rest Of The Goodwood Card In Brief - Thursday
1.50pm
Perfuse is a lively favourite dropping back to a mile and a quarter after weakening late on over further, but 100/30 is plenty short enough in my book and I am hoping there is better value to be found elsewhere. Alkasib makes his handicap debut and is one to take very seriously, but Coverdale is my idea of an each way call. The winer of all four starts over this trip this season, he keeps on improving and was value for more than the official margin after waiting patiently for a run at Ripon. He is racing off 5lb higher and in a better race but he would not be 12/1 if he was trained by a better known trainer, and I would love to see Ed Bethell land a huge pot here from his Yorkshire base.
Coverdale each way
2.25pm
Jasour has already won at this level after taking the July Stakes by a couple of lengths at Newmarket last month and is an obvious player, but he has to give 3lb away for that success and preference is for Aidan O’Brien’s Unquestionable this afternoon. An easy maiden winner at The Curragh he returned there for the railway Stakes where he was outgunned close home to go down by a short head at the line despite looking as if he still had plenty to learn. If that is correct, we know he is up to his level, and in receipt of the weight and with Ryan Moore in the saddle, he may prove hard to beat.
Unquestionable to win
4.10pm
I steadfastly refuse to believe that you can have a “good thing” in any handicap, let alone a nursery, but how can anyone possibly oppose Gray’s Inn here? Jack Cannon’s son of Inns Of Court was fourth in a Listed race over this trip last time out which has seen his mark put up to 90 – yet he gets in here off his old rating of 73, leaving him a massive 17lb “well in” – according to the handicapper. Sadly I doubt it is quite that clear cut (it rarely is), but I cannot bet against him for the reasons explained and will be watching the race with interest.
Gray’s Inn to win
4.45pm
Isle Of Jura is the horse well in here as he is due to go up 8lb for his latest very easy win at Newmarket, yet he gets in here carrying a 6lb penalty. His stable are in great form with plenty of winners, and although he will need the run of the race in this field, he may still be a step ahead of the handicapper. Sadly, the bookmakers have also cottoned on to his chances but it may just be one of those days and a winning favourite is better than a 10/1 shot who comes home last.
Isle Of Jura to win
5.20pm
It comes the lucky pin for this 14 runner maiden, though if the early betting is to be believed, then Get Jiggy With it is home and hosed for Charlie Jills with Frankie Dettori in the saddle. True Wisdom is a newcomer who could also get involved in the finish, but I am hearing good things about the unraced Really Darn Hot. Ollie Sangster will know how good she is and proved he can handle a good one with the victory of Shuwari in Listed class at Sandown last week, and if her inexperience doesn’t let her down, she could go close at a double figure price.
Really Darn Hot each way
5.55pm
A zippy sprint for three-year-olds rounds off the card this afternoon and past winners show us in advance that when there is juice in the ground, a low draw may be of some advantage. J M Jungle could go well for Jason Hart after winning despite trying to take a chuck out of his nearest rival before winning at Haydock, and although upped 5lb for that, he seems to be on an upward curve. He will pop out of the five stall here and seems likely to be on or near the pace throughout, though this is a tricky race to solve and I will only be betting to my smallest stakes.
J M Jungle each way
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