Goodwood & Galway selections Thursday 28th July
Not the greatest of cards in my opinion at Goodwood today, but I have chosen the two handicaps for selections. Meanwhile at Galway, the second of the two big jumps races of the week, the Galway Hurdle is the highlight and I have a bet for the feature. We got plenty of returns on Wednesday with a win for Secret State (SP 11/4), plus each-way places for The Attorney (9/2), Titan Rock (advised 20/1), El Barra (advised 6/1) and Discordantly (SP 18/1).
Goodwood 1.50: Migdam
A classy looking winner on his handicap debut at Doncaster last month, MIGDAM can maintain his upward curve with another win at Goodwood.
A winner of two novice contests as a juvenile over a mile, he was always likely to relish the step up to 10f this season and won with plenty to spare at Doncaster despite having to overcome a lengthy absence. Well drawn near the inside rail, and perfectly at home on fast ground I expect more to come from this colt and a 6lb rise looks more than fair in the circumstances.
Goodwood 4.45: Le Beau Garcon
On the limited evidence so far, it looks a slight advantage to be drawn high on the straight track, so LE BEAU GARCON should be well placed in stall 14 of 14 to build on a promising start to his career.
Having been narrowly defeated on debut at Catterick last year, he landed back to back fast ground wins in novice events at Beverley and Redcar. Everything went wrong on his comeback at Musselburgh, getting hampered to the rear of the field early on, then having to come the long way around the outside to make a challenge before running out of time to catch Sophies Star. He is 8lbs better off for less than a length beating with that rival today.
He probably failed to stay the 6f at Newmarket last time, though he still ran a fine race for a long way, but he will surely be more comfortable back at the minimum trip. Paul Mulrennan makes the long trek south for just this one ride.
Galway 5.05: Heia
The feature event at Galway comes late on the card and this can go to HEIA who has been building up a good card of results in these competitive handicaps and remains feasibly handicapped.
She was a wide margin winner of a mares novice on her last start at Punchestown in May, but is probably better judged on placed efforts in races of this type at Killarney and the big Easter meeting at Fairyhouse. She has shown a liking for good ground in those races and will get similar going today.
She was only beaten a length by Anna Bunina at Killarney yet is 7lbs better off today. She had also run really well at Fairyhouse behind Glan and can be excused a below par effort at Punchestown in between given the ground was softer and she made a mistake at a critical time that day.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Migdam – 1.50 Goodwood – 7/2 general
1pt each-way – Le Beau Garcon – 4.45 Goodwood – 7/1 Boylesports (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Heia – 5.05 Galway – 20/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)