Galway & Goodwood selections – Saturday 3rd August

King for a day

Steve Hughes has his best bets for Galway and the final day at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday

The final day at Goodwood provides the big betting race of the week, the Stewards Cup. I have two against the field for that cavalry charge, plus two other selections on the card. A staying handicap hurdle is the highlight at Galway and again I have two suggestions for that. We had another successful day on Friday with all three horses who ran gaining a return. The highlight was Minella Beau’s 8/1 (advised) win at Galway, but both each-way bets for the Golden Mile at Goodwood were placed – Seniority (advised 11/1) and Escobar (SP 10/1).

 

Goodwood 2.25: Charles Kingsley

It has been yet another good week for trainer Mark Johnston at Goodwood and the fine run can continue with Charles Kingsley in this valuable handicap.

He had appeared to reach the ceiling of his ability over 12f having been defeated fairly decisively on his last three starts at that distance. He gave indications on those runs, when getting outpaced before staying on that a step up in trip might be desirable.

That evidence rang true when he won in some style at Newmarket last Saturday – his first try at 14f. Whilst this represents a different sort of track, he had already won at Brighton and Hamilton this season which suggests he enjoys an undulating switchback such as this.

 

Galway 2.30: Spades are Trumps & Contingency

Great White Shark has been all the rage for this after his big race win on the flat earlier in the week. However this is a quick turnaround for this lightly raced individual and having shown a tendency to pull in his races he could be vulnerable at a short price. I fancy two against him.

Spades are Trumps was a fine second at Fairyhouse’s big Easter meeting over just a furlong shorter and similar going. He might have been feeling the effects of that run when only eighth at Punchestown a week later. He has been freshened up since and represents this very much in-form yard of Gavin Cromwell.

Contingency actually won a chase last time, but this improving 6yo can exploit a generous looking mark of 128 over hurdles. He was a fine second in the same race at Punchestown that my other selection contested. He might have paid for hitting the front too soon but his strong travelling style should be ideally suited to this turning track. That Tramore chase win confirms he remains in fine form and that he handles good ground well.

 

Goodwood 3.00: Enbihaar

Although she appears to have a tough task conceding weight all round, Enbihaar is a scopey and progressive galloper who can improve again today.

Her last two races have seen her have sustained duels with today’s rival Dramatic Queen, with the score between the two reading 1-1. Enbihaar won the day last time, despite conceding first run at Haydock and she was doing all the best work at the finish.

Whilst Enbihaar has been beaten on both previous starts at 14f, she promises to stay and there have perhaps been excuses. She was given too much to do at Ascot last season, whilst front-running may not have suited at York in the spring. This represents only her seventh racecourse start and she did not race at all before last September. Given her size it seems the patience shown by connections is bearing fruit now and I expect her to improve again today.

 

Goodwood 3.40: Summerghand & Justanotherbottle

There seems to be plenty of early pace drawn in the lower half of the field and two horses on that side are favoured.

Summerghand was a fine fifth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, but that stiffer track just seemed to find him out late on and I think he will prefer this sharper track to conserve his stamina. He was only third at Haydock last time, but that was a steadily run affair and he prefers a strong end-to-end gallop that he will surely get today. Despite a fine second at Newmarket in May and that Wokingham performance, the handicapper has chosen to keep him on a mark of 100 and that surely gives him serious each-way claims.

Another horse to be given a serious shout by the handicapper is Justanotherbottle who is 4lbs lower than when agonisingly caught on the line in this race last year. He is another horse for whom a sharp 6f is ideal. I think we can easily forgive him his four defeats since. Two runs on softer going last autumn did not suit, whilst he has not looked fully tuned up on his two efforts this term. This all points to him being primed for today and James Doyle is on board as opposed to the inexperienced apprentice on board last term.

 

Recommended bets:

1pt win – Charles Kingsley – 2.25 Goodwood – 5/1 general

1pt each-way – Spades are Trumps – 2.30 Galway – 9/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt win – Contingency – 2.30 Galway – 10/1 Bet365

1pt win – Enbihaar – 3.00 Goodwood – 9/2 Betfred, Totesport

1pt each-way – Summerghand – 3.40 Goodwood – 12/1 Coral (1/5 odds 1st 6)

0.75pts each-way – Justanotherbottle – 3.40 Goodwood – 8/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)

 

Next column – Sunday 4th August – final day of seven at Galway

 

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