Goodwood selections Tuesday 1st August
Glorious Goodwood gets underway on Tuesday, but with the weather anything but glorious over the past few weeks we need to look for horses who can act with cut in the ground, at least for the start of the meeting. I have selections from three races on the opening day including a nap in the opening sprint.
Goodwood 1.40: Whenthedealinsdone
A winner at this meeting on similar ground two years ago, WHENTHEDEALINSDONE has not gone on to achieve as much as might have been expected since, but he is fairly weighted and can run a big race at Goodwood in the curtain raiser.
In truth his form this season does not suggest a win is particularly near. First time blinkers only served to make him too free at Ascot last time and he again failed to stay 6t at Chester previously. He had finished a fair fourth here off 8lbs higher on seasonal debut though, again with a bit of cut and he wears a tongue-strap for the first time today – perhaps that could trigger a resurgence.
He did finish 2022 strongly, winning at Ascot in September before finishing fourth at the same track the following month and third on heavy at Doncaster. His three handicap wins have come from marks of 88, 93 and 90 so perhaps that is his ceiling. If so he ought to be thereabouts once again today with conditions right in his favour.
Goodwood 2.50: Pride of America & Eagles Way
The first of the big heritage handicaps and two horses who like to race prominently are fancied here on a track that often favours pace.
PRIDE OF AMERICA produced one of the better weight carrying performances in landing the John Smiths Cup at York in ultra-tough fashion off 106. It is a big ask to try and win a similar contest from another 4lbs higher, but the rain has turned the ground in his favour and there is every reason to think this track could suit too.
He likes to go from the front, something that often gets its reward in middle distance races here and his wins have often come on turning tracks like Chester. However it is soft ground that is most important to him and he gets that here. He does seem best suited carrying big weights against lesser opponents and he has won three of his last four runs in handicap company, whilst being well beaten in two pattern races in France in between. A wide draw should not be such a problem today with there being every chance the horses will gravitate towards the stands side anyway.
EAGLES WAY made a strong reappearance when a narrow second in the Racing League meeting at Yarmouth last week. That run proved he can handle softish ground and whilst this is a quick turnaround, he had no problem running up a hat-trick within 15 days at this time last year.
He went on to win again with something to spare at Pontefract on his final start of 2022 and from an 8lbs higher mark he does look capable of winning again before the handicapper fully gets to grips with him. Trainer Mark Prescott is enjoying a strong first half of the season, operating at a 27% strike rate and I liked the way this horse travelled at Yarmouth last week, suggesting he can cope with this step up in grade.
Goodwood 4.00: Kinross
There are few better horses around at 7f than KINROSS and this contest represents a great opportunity to get back in the winners enclosure on ground he has no issues with.
His last four races have actually all been at alternative distances since landing Europe’s premier 7f contest at Longchamp on Arc day. He utilised soft ground to win the Group 1 Champions Day sprint at Ascot before finishing a game third in the Breeders Cup Mile.
Fast ground was against him over 6f on his return at Royal Ascot (also drawn on the wrong side) but his third in the July Cup saw him right at his best. The extra furlong and softer ground today leave him with no excuses and he is unpenalised for all his big wins under the conditions of this race.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Whenthedealinsdone – 1.40 Goodwood – 12/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Pride of America – 2.50 Goodwood – 9/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Eagles Way – 2.50 Goodwood – 7/1 Bet365 (¼ odds 1st 5)
2pts win – Kinross – 4.00 Goodwood – 5/4 Paddy Power
