Glorious Goodwood selections Saturday 31st July
The final day at Goodwood and the Stewards Cup provides the big betting race of the week. I have three choices for the contest, plus selections in three other races. We had a decent Friday with a win for Passion and Glory (advised 3/1) and each-way places for Elysian Flame (advised 17/2) and Escobar (advised 16/1).
Goodwood 1.20: Master Zoffany
Already twice a winner around another turning track in Chester, MASTER ZOFFANY can continue his progression at Goodwood.
In need of some cut in the ground, he will get that after further overnight rain and can race on the freshest ground on the rail with his inside draw. Usually held up, he found plenty for pressure to win against the front-running Just Frank last month – and that same rival can set the race up nicely for Richard Fahey’s charge once more, to turn this race into more of a stamina test. He remains on a nice racing weight with just 8-7 to carry.
Goodwood 2.30: Future Investment
Campaigned as if a thorough stayer, I think FUTURE INVESTMENT is actually better off running over this sort of trip and his last effort at Ascot went some way to proving that.
He put behind him a series of unplaced efforts when failing by the narrowest of margins to catch Vindolanda at Ascot over this 14f distance last time. Admittedly his last win came over 2m at Chester last August, but that was around a very tight track where stamina is not so much at a premium.
Significantly that run came with some dig in the ground and that does look important for the selections who will get similar conditions to face today. Danny Tudhope was on board at Ascot and will know his mount a little better today to time his challenge that bit better here.
Goodwood 3.40: Hurricane Ivor, Bielsa & Atalantas Boy
It is difficult to know if any draw advantage will apply here and there does seem to be a slight bias towards pace drawn low. However I am just taking this race as if there will be no bias and have three fancies for this cavalry charge.
HURRICANE IVOR is a French import who finished last on his stable debut for William Haggas at York. However he has come good since with a win at Sandown over a stiff 5f, then failed so narrowly to catch Significantly in a valuable prize at Ascot last time. Whilst those races were both at 5f, he has two wins to his name over 6f in France and hopefully this sharp 6f will be within his compass. Certainly his tactical pace could prove a help to him.
BIELSA ran a good race over 7f at Royal Ascot last time, but probably did not quite get home. A strongly run 6f is his optimum and he almost got up over that trip to win at Haydock in May. Whilst he is without a win since October 2019, he has been competitive for a while now and ground on the softer side of good will definitely benefit him. A wind operation over the winter seems to have improved him and he should get a good tow into the race from several lowly drawn pacesetters.
I am also going to have a small saver on ATALANTAS BOY who is 4-5 at the track. His big negative is the fact he often plays up in the stalls and he ruined his chance in this race last time – and at Windsor on his last start by playing up. If he does get out on reasonable terms, his ability to act on this downland track is confirmed – as is his ability to cope with softer going.
Goodwood 4.45: Sweet Reward
SWEET REWARD is a sporting selection for the meeting finale.
Still relatively lightly raced, he has already won twice in 2021, including at Sandown off just a 1lb lower mark in June.
Since then he has been well beaten in two starts, but there were excuses on both occasions. He got snatched up on the rail at Epsom at a crucial time and then found the quick ground against him back at Sandown most recently.
He has good form with cut in the ground and won on the only previous occasion Tyler Saunders has been on board. This race can often be run frenetically with apprentices on board, so the fact Sweet Reward has the stamina for 10f, could be important over this furlong less.
Recommended bets
1pt each-way – Master Zoffany – 1.20 Goodwood – 9/2 general
1pt each-way – Future Investment – 2.30 Goodwood – 10/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Hurricane Ivor – 3.40 Goodwood – 13/2 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Bielsa – 3.40 Goodwood – 11/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
0.5pts each-way – Atalantas Boy – 3.40 Goodwood – 22/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 7)
1pt each-way – Sweet Reward – 4.45 Goodwood – 20/1 general (several bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
