Glorious Goodwood selections Thursday 29th July
The focus on Thursday is largely on the youngsters at Goodwood, however the highlight is the Group 1 Nassau Stakes for fillies. The 3yo division showed in the Sussex yesterday their ability and they could come out on top again here. We had a cracking day in West Sussex yesterday with the big winner Alcohol Free (advised 4/1) and Magical Wish also winning (advised 16/1).
Goodwood 1.50: Alfaadhel & Patient Dream
After a ropey run in the spring, the Roger Varian yard has been back amongst the winners of late and I expect ALFAADHEL to bounce back from a modest run at Royal Ascot today.
The colt was impressive when winning at the Chester May meeting in a maiden and then followed up in effortless fashion on the All Weather at Lingfield. He seemed to get bogged down by the very soft ground at Ascot, but with drying conditions today he should not be inconvenienced by the ground here. He looks to possess a good turn of speed, something that is always a big plus around this track.
PATIENT DREAM has been progressing through the handicap ranks and has shown good form around another undulating track in Epsom this season. He won at the April meeting there and then endured a troubled passage when only fourth on Derby Day – value for much closer than that. He has since beaten older horses over this 10f trip at Windsor on soft ground and the juice still in the surface will definitely suit him. He is only up 3lbs and has the experience and track craft to build still further on that today.
Goodwood 3.00: Yibir
A gelding operation might just have been the making of YIBIR and with Godolphin holding such a strong hand in the 3yo middle distance division he could be the one to beat once more.
A solid third in the Sandown Classic Trial in April, that race has turned into an absolute belter as winner Alenquer has since gone on to Royal Ascot success, whilst the second home Adayar has completed the Derby/King George double. He could not build on that in two subsequent runs at Chester and then here, albeit he did chase home Lone Eagle on the latter occasion.
Gelded after that race, he then came out at Newmarket earlier in the month and stormed home to win that valuable Group 3 prize. Formerly a front-runner, he now seems more adaptable tactically and despite a 3lb penalty he rates solid each-way value here.
Goodwood 3.35: Joan Of Arc
Just touched off by Empress Josephine in desperate conditions in the Irish Guineas, JOAN OF ARC made no mistake when winning the French Oaks over this 10f trip last time and she could well enjoy a significant tactical advantage today.
Very happy making the running, such as when making all to win at Leopardstown in the spring, Joan of Arc might well be able to dictate matters under Ryan Moore today and should be extremely hard to catch.
She clearly improved for the step up to this distance in France and in a small field on this tight track, Joan Of Arc has every chance of making all the running in a contest where most of her rivals are happier taking a lead.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Alfaadhel – 1.50 Goodwood – 5/1 general
1pt win – Patient Dream – 1.50 Goodwood – 9/2 general
1pt each-way – Yibir – 3.00 Goodwood – 11/2 general
1pt win – Joan of Arc – 3.35 Goodwood – 15/8 general
