Goodwood selections Tuesday 29th July
Five Glorious days at Goodwood begin on Tuesday with a varied eight race card. I have selections from three races overall to try and get us ahead on the opening day. Both our York selections in the Dash on Saturday were placed for the each-way bets – Pocklington (SP 11/2) and Rock Opera (advised 18/1).
Goodwood 1.20: Tony Montana & Ancient Rome
There are a few likely unexposed improvers in the field here, but none are proven in big field handicaps, or at Goodwood, but both my selections, although more exposed, are very much a factor in this type of race around here.
TONY MONTANA was third in this very race twelve months ago from a wider draw, that coming off the back of an excellent similar placing in the John Smiths Cup at York. This season he has continued that good work over this distance.
He started the campaign back over this course and distance, finding only Sir Lowrys Pass too good.
He then ran a cracker at the York Dante meeting, only to be touched off on the line by Thunder Run. Connections tried something different by dropping him to a stiff mile in the Hunt Cup with headgear. That did not work, but he remains reasonably treated and a low draw combined with a natural prominent racing style will always bring him into the equation around this track.
ANCIENT ROME actually won this race in 2023, on his first start for Charlie Hills. He was given a typical last to first ride by Jamie Spencer that day, who is back on board today. He is actually 5lbs lower today, so handicap wise he must have a serious chance.
Of course he has dropped for a reason. After backing up that 2023 win with a Group 3 success in America, he has failed to win since. However he was campaigned entirely in pattern race company last season, including a third in a Group 1 in America. He has returned to handicaps this season with varied success. His best effort was a third at Sandown earlier this month, but he made little show in the John Smiths Cup at York most recently. Perhaps the return to this more idiosyncratic track with Spencer back on board can rekindle his true ability.
Goodwood 2.30: Jonquil
A few of the older horses in this might be past their best and this might be best left to one of the trio of 3yo’s in JONQUIL.
This horse made an outstanding debut at Sandown last summer when trained by Michael Stoute, only to bomb out just two weeks later at Doncaster. His ability to run fresh showed up once again on his first start of the year, and first effort for Andrew Balding when taking the Greenham at Newbury, again over this 7f distance.
He was able to back up that run with a cracking effort in the French Guineas when just touched off by Henri Matisse. Connections are clearly not convinced he quite stays a mile, so dropped him back to 6f for the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting. He did not have the natural pace to keep up with the leaders then, but 7f does look his trip and he might be a different proposition at this distance.
Goodwood 3.45: Redorange & Rocking Ends
The first of the sprint handicaps this week looks well worth taking two attempts at.
REDORANGE is a progressive sprinter who has the useful knack of breaking very fast from the gates. That should be a particularly useful asset on this sharp track and with a large number of natural pacesetters in the field.
He showed that pace to win around Chester at their big May meeting and since then he has probably been beaten twice due to the draw at Ascot. On the first occasion he was the only horse drawn 10 or below to make the first eight at the Royal meeting. Back at the same course and distance he was fourth – splitting the five highest drawn horses who otherwise had the first six to themselves. There is plenty of pace high, so hopefully his stall won’t be such a disadvantage this time.
ROCKING ENDS came into this race off the back of a win at Newmarket two weeks previously and went on to perform really well here when third to Shagraan. He can actually run off 3lbs lower today, despite the fact he went back to back wins in that same Newmarket race two weeks ago.
On that occasion the application of first time cheekpieces seemed to work the oracle. This keen racer needs a strong pace to run off and will surely get that today in this big field. Provided the headgear works as well, he looks overpriced to go close again this year.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Tony Montana – 1.20 Goodwood – 11/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Ancient Rome – 1.20 Goodwood – 12/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt win – Jonquil – 2.30 Goodwood – 11/4 Bet365
1pt each-way – Redorange – 3.45 Goodwood – 5/1 Skybet, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Rocking Ends – 3.45 Goodwood – 16/1 Bet365, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)
