Glorious Goodwood & Galway selections Thursday 1st August
We’ve reached the middle day at both Goodwood and Galway and there is plenty more quality action to enjoy this afternoon. The Nassau Stakes is the latest Grade 1 offering at Goodwood and looks to have an open look. The Galway Hurdle is the big betting race of the afternoon in Ireland and I have selections for both feature races. Lets Go Champ was placed for the each-way bet in the Plate at Galway yesterday (SP 10/1).
Goodwood 1.50: Approval & Midnight Gun
Another 3yo handicap and I like the chances of two potential improvers here.
MIDNIGHT GUN has been brought along with typical steady improvement by Ed Walker and was a narrow but quite impressive winner on handicap debut at Newmarket last month. That run caught the eye of Wathnan Racing who have since purchased the grey, so they clearly think this horse has group race potential along the way.
A 5lbs rise should not be unduly penalising and the form of his win at Nottingham previously worked out well with the second home Condor Pasa winning next time. On breeding he has every change of staying and even improving for the 2f extra distance.
APPROVAL failed completely to try and make all the running in a similar contest at Royal Ascot, but it is very rare for a horse to make all in those competitive races. Those tactics can pay better dividends around Goodwood, although perhaps Tom Marquand might not attempt to make all, especially when there are several other potential front-runners in the contest.
He did make all to win his novice at Windsor in the spring, bouncing off the fast ground he will encounter today. The second home that day was Lord of Love who has since won at the Newmarket July meeting and was just touched off in the opener here yesterday, which suggests Approval has all the ability to be there off 88 today.
Goodwood 3.35: Elmalka
A fascinating Nassau Stakes and the two favourites Emily Upjohn and Opera Singer come into this race without having won a race in 2024 in five races between them. ELMALKA though already has a 1000 Guineas to her name and this race could set up nicely for her this afternoon.
In both the Guineas, and then the Coronation Stakes she was outpaced at halfway. The straight track at Newmarket allowed her to get back into the race and power through to victory late on. The turning track at Ascot though gave her less opportunity to claw back the deficit and this step up to 10f looks a good idea.
On breeding there is every chance she will stay and her running style suggest she will improve for the longer trip. Given Opera Singer likes to go from the front and Emily Upjohn is so keen in her races, there could be an opportunity for a closer like Elmalka to pounce late.
Galway 5.05: Kings Hill
I am going to take a chance on a youngster in KINGS HILL, just coming out of novice company, to step up and land this valuable prize.
He showed plenty of promise on decent ground when fourth behind No Flies on Him at Leopardstown over Christmas. He then won a modest maiden at Thurles, persuading connections to drop him into the deep end in the Supreme at Cheltenham. Whilst he was beaten 15l, he showed more than enough that day to suggest he had big races in him below Grade 1 level.
Since then he has taken well to handicaps, being narrowly touched off at Ballinrobe and then finishing a highly creditable fourth to Daddy Long Legs at Punchestown. A huge 15lbs better off today, he does seem to operate well on good going. A recent outing on the flat at Leopardstown will clearly have been used as a prep for today.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Approval – 1.50 Goodwood– 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Midnight Gun – 1.50 Goodwood – 9/2 William Hill
1pt each-way – Elmalka – 3.35 Goodwood – 9/1 general
0.5pts each-way – Kings Hill – 5.05 Galway– 16/1 Ladbrokes, Coral (1/5 odds 1st5)
