Goodwood & Galway selections Thursday 31st July
I am going in early for just the one race, the opening contest at Goodwood on Thursday. Meanwhile at Galway it is time for the big hurdle race of the week and having once again saddled the winner of the Plate, Gordon Elliott has strong claims in the Galway Hurdle too. Kurakka was placed for the each-way bet yesterday (advised 17/2).
Goodwood 1.20: Parole D’Oro & Best Adventure
There is a tricky weather forecast to weight up with thundery showers expected during Thursday. However they might not arrive in time for the first race in which case my two selections will be suited by the good going.
PAROLE D’ORO has caught the eye in some big mile handicaps this season, but definitely looks worth trying over a sharp 10f like this. He travelled like a good horse in a novice race on his reappearance at Thirsk in April, only to be outpaced late on by the classy Teroomm.
That high cruising speed has been seen to good effect since. Whilst he was only eighth in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, he was ridden for luck from the back of the field and got none when asked for his effort. The way he travelled into that race though was impressive and he would have gone close with a clear run. He did go close at Newmarket last time when beaten in a photo by course specialist Dutch Decoy (winner again since) and the way he finished off up the hill suggested he could improve for the step up to 10f.
BEST ADVENTURE has already won twice over this distance in handicaps this season. Firstly he found plenty for pressure when producing a last to first effort on the Rowley Mile track at Newmarket. Shane Foley came over for the ride that day and is back on board here.
He didn’t stay 12f at Haydock on his next run, but was then an easy winner at Sandown back to 10f last month. He probably did too much too soon back at the same track earlier this month, fading late into fourth. He might well be better suited by the sharper track here and if Foley can overcome a poor draw he remains feasibly treated. That high draw is probably the reason why he is such big odds, but he still looks worth chancing.
Galway 4.30: Ndaawi
Having come so close in some big handicap hurdles already, the 5yo NDAAWI can enjoy his big day in the sun at Galway on Thursday.
His last two runs over hurdles were in this race last season when he kept on strongly for second behind the runaway winner Nurburgring and in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham where he beat all bar Kargese. A strongly run 2m obviously suits and his jumping, which was a bit sketchy in his early days, is far more polished now.
He is not ground dependent. If they get showers he will cope with some more cut, but he showed in those latest two hurdles outings that he copes with decent ground too.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Parole D’Oro – 1.20 Goodwood – 9/1 Bet365, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Best Adventure – 1.20 Goodwood – 22/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Ndaawi – 4.30 Galway – 13/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
