I'll stop with the negativity there though because these are both tremendously fun and entertaining festivals, especially for Dermot Weld who is already engraving his name on the leading trainer trophy at Galway, having won it the last 30 years! If you can find a horse who acts on either track this is a huge bonus, as is having a jockey who knows what it takes to win on either the unique Goodwood undulations or the hustle and bustle of Galway. And trainers such as Mark Johnston and Dermot Weld need opposing at your peril.
This blog will be focusing more on Goodwood this week, but if a horse at Galway catches my eye I'll certainly mention it. I'm just conscious that Galway is absolutely riddled with plot horses and have been caught out more times than I dare remember recently, so I now tread with much more caution.
Tuesday at Goodwood
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| It really is gorgeous! |
We start off with a handicap over 10 furlongs at Glorious Goodwood where I'm siding with Snoano after a good 2nd last time out at Ripon over further. Prior to that he finished fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock, a hot handicap, but he has previously been successful in the Queen Mother's Cup over a mile and a half at York in lesser company. Tim Easterby's charge may have found his stamina ebbing away late on at Haydock; the softer ground could have done for him after travelling strongly and being the last horse off the bridle. I marked him down as one worth keeping on the right side on a sounder surface over this distance or slightly shorter and dropped in trip on decent ground here think he is an interesting e/w bet as I think the trip also found him out at Ripon at the business end of the race.
In the Vintage Stakes, the big 2 year old race on day 1, Boynton is the one to beat despite the two-year-old having to shoulder a 3lb penalty for his win in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival. He had War Decree back in 2nd there, despite War Decree being absolutely smashed in the betting, and it could be that those 2 are the ones to fight out the finish. However, I'm willing to forgive Hakeem one bad run in Ireland the last day and bet him e/w at a tasty looking 33/1. Hannon reports him to have put weight back on since then and has been working much better than before that race as well which is encouraging. He acts on a variety of ground, has had the experience of three runs, and also a decent enough draw in 5. I think he is certainly overpriced anyway.
The big race of day 1 is the Lennox stakes. Dutch Connection was 2nd here last year in this race, finding only Toormore too good that day. No doubt that the 7 furlong trip around this unique track suit this horse down to the ground and he is also ridden by a jockey in James McDonald who is probably the jockey in form in England at the moment. Dutch Connection has been running well all season over a mile, which is not his trip, and this return to 7f will really suit. Buckstay could run well at a price on his step up from handicap company but for a solid outright win bet Dutch Connection is the one in the Lennox Stakes.
Goodwood has it's fair share of staying races and on day 1 we have the Summer Stakes over 1 mile 6 furlongs in which I quite like Fun Mac from the Hughie Morrison yard. The yard are going pretty well of late and both trainer and jockey have had winners here. Fun Mac has himself finished 2nd over this course over this distance, is only up 1 lbs from that race and this firmer ground should be more ideal for him. Only 5 years old, he should still have improvement to come for a stayer and I'd be hopeful he can hit the frame.
Finally on day 1 I want to be with a trainer in red hot form in Clive Cox in the 4.55, a maiden over 6 furlongs, where Harry Angel sets the undoubted standard to aim at in the race after just being denied at Ascot first time up. He was running on really well that day, just failing to catch a 2nd time up Godolphin horse, and the step up in trip should also suit. After riding a big race winner in France at the weekend, Adam Kirby will be full of confidence and Harry Angel can go one better here.
Thanks for reading and I'll be back on Wednesday
In the Vintage Stakes, the big 2 year old race on day 1, Boynton is the one to beat despite the two-year-old having to shoulder a 3lb penalty for his win in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival. He had War Decree back in 2nd there, despite War Decree being absolutely smashed in the betting, and it could be that those 2 are the ones to fight out the finish. However, I'm willing to forgive Hakeem one bad run in Ireland the last day and bet him e/w at a tasty looking 33/1. Hannon reports him to have put weight back on since then and has been working much better than before that race as well which is encouraging. He acts on a variety of ground, has had the experience of three runs, and also a decent enough draw in 5. I think he is certainly overpriced anyway.
The big race of day 1 is the Lennox stakes. Dutch Connection was 2nd here last year in this race, finding only Toormore too good that day. No doubt that the 7 furlong trip around this unique track suit this horse down to the ground and he is also ridden by a jockey in James McDonald who is probably the jockey in form in England at the moment. Dutch Connection has been running well all season over a mile, which is not his trip, and this return to 7f will really suit. Buckstay could run well at a price on his step up from handicap company but for a solid outright win bet Dutch Connection is the one in the Lennox Stakes.
Goodwood has it's fair share of staying races and on day 1 we have the Summer Stakes over 1 mile 6 furlongs in which I quite like Fun Mac from the Hughie Morrison yard. The yard are going pretty well of late and both trainer and jockey have had winners here. Fun Mac has himself finished 2nd over this course over this distance, is only up 1 lbs from that race and this firmer ground should be more ideal for him. Only 5 years old, he should still have improvement to come for a stayer and I'd be hopeful he can hit the frame.
Finally on day 1 I want to be with a trainer in red hot form in Clive Cox in the 4.55, a maiden over 6 furlongs, where Harry Angel sets the undoubted standard to aim at in the race after just being denied at Ascot first time up. He was running on really well that day, just failing to catch a 2nd time up Godolphin horse, and the step up in trip should also suit. After riding a big race winner in France at the weekend, Adam Kirby will be full of confidence and Harry Angel can go one better here.
Thanks for reading and I'll be back on Wednesday
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