28/7/2020 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Goodwood, Goodwood Cup day

The Goodwood Festival gets underway on Tuesday night with an eight race card, highlighted by Stradivarius, who will look to win his fourth Goodwood Cup (3219m).

4 Angel Power (Bet Now: $4.20) for me in the opener. Roger Varian trains this filly, who resumed with a dominant win on the All Weather at Chelmsford before going to Haydock when a narrow second to Strait Of Hormuz in a strong effort. Hard fit now third up from a break, De Sousa remains on and should take a power of beating.

Think there’s got to be a market watch when it comes to 3 Wasaayef (Bet Now: $3.25), resuming for John Gosden with Jim Crowley to steer. This filly hasn’t raced since September 21 when a narrow second at Newmarket over the mile to Queen Daenerys. Got better with each run, so with a spell under the belt, expecting her to have come right on.

2 Separate (Bet Now: $21.00) drops a bit in grade after contesting the Sir Henry Cecil at Newmarket when far from disgraced in defeat behind Al Suhail, beaten seven lengths. Not that well treated at the weights but has solid enough form around her, draws well and I think can run an improved race at decent odds. One for multiples.

Taking a chance with 14 Yuri Gagarin (Bet Now: $13.00) for John Gosden. Won her opening two career Novice races, both on All Weather tracks. Then went to the turf at Newmarket over 2400m when a short priced elect and she didn’t really fire a shot behind Country. Suited back here I think and a big tick is dropping back to 2000m.

9 Derevo (Bet Now: $7.00) looks one of the hardest to beat. Sir Michael Stoute trains this four year old, who resumed over 2000m at Doncaster and worked to the line pretty well in defeat when third to Fifth Position. Gets a 3kg weight swing on that horse here and has got more upside to come, plus Ryan Moore remains on. Hard to beat.

12 Restorer (Bet Now: $34.00) rises a bit in grade/depth from the resumption but his confidence would be high given that first up run resulted in a dominant win at Newbury under Jim Crowley, who remains on for this race. Class 3 is when he’s really fired and when going to Class 2, has failed in recent times, so I think he’s one for exotics.

1 Battleground (Bet Now: $2.25) looks to pick himself here. Solid enough on debut at Naas before contesting the Chesham during Royal Ascot and he bolted up under Ryan Moore. The little bit of give in the track will be fine for him given the Chesham was won on testing ground and he has the Aidan O’Brien polish. Clearly the one to beat.

3 Devious Company (Bet Now: $4.75) looks the key and perhaps only threat to Battleground. Opening two career outings at Haydock saw him win each time. That earned him a crack at Group ll level in the Superlative at Newmarket and he ran a beauty when second to Master Of The Seas, beaten three lengths but far from disgraced. He runs well…does he have the quality to beat Battleground?

6 King Zain (Bet Now: $7.00) is an interesting runner. Bolted up on debut at Kempton Park before going to the Superlative at Newmarket where he was one of the first off the bit and couldn’t pick up in a disappointing effort behind Master Of The Seas. Interesting that Frankie remains on for this race despite the last start flop, so watch the market.

12 Space Blues (Bet Now: $3.25) for me. Charlie Appleby trained son of Dubawi who made good progress in 2019 and seems to have really come on furthermore in 2020. Resumed with a dominant win at Haydock before going to Prix De La Porte at Longchamp and was able to beat the well performed stablemate D’Bai. If he holds that form here, think he wins.

I’ve got some time for 10 Safe Voyage (Bet Now: $6.00). Was on him when he saluted at Epsom over 1400m. What I liked was that he got better as the race went on and on the line, was dominant in winning. Good test here against some potential Group l class animals, but off that last start win, he could well reach that level in time.

13 Pierre Lapin (Bet Now: $13.00) is a fascinating runner. Roger Varian trained colt that was well fancied when resuming in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and he was awful behind Golden Horde, failing to fire a shot in a very disappointing effort. If you’re a forgiving type, you’ll get a much better price than what you had to take first up.

I think due to fresh blood in the race, we’re getting a better price for 5 Stradivarius (Bet Now: $1.57). $1.60/thereabouts should be closer to $1.20/$1.30 if you’re going off his Gold Cup win at Ascot. Yes, he didn’t beat much, but it was stunning the way he put them away. Looking for his fourth win in the race and all things being equal, that will be the case.

7 Santiago (Bet Now: $3.00) is the fresh blood. Aidan O’Brien trained three year old that comes here off the back of a couple of impressive wins. Won the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot before going back in trip for the Irish Derby where he was too good. He looks a stayer, so back up in trip will suit, he looks a rising star…is he good enough to beat the champ?

If it becomes a slog, for wider exotics, I could entertain 6 Who Dares Wins (Bet Now: $81.00). He was the good thing of the entire Royal Ascot Carnival and despite a few nervous moments, he was able to get the win under Tom Marquand. Group ll/Group lll looks about his level. Not up to the likes of Stradivarius, but will stay a strong two miles and can fill a first four spot.

8 Celsius (Bet Now: $3.75) won at this meeting last year and I think he’s going well enough to win again 12 months on. First two runs for the prep came at Haydock, winning first up, before having no luck next time out. Then went to Newmarket and ran a strong second to Han Solo Berger. Any give in the track won’t hurt his chances and is proven here.

3 Final Venture (Bet Now: $7.50) hasn’t won in over three years, but more often than not is around the mark and races well despite not winning. Ran over 1000m at Ascot last time out and was solid enough in defeat when fifth to Jawwaal, beaten just under four lengths. Finds a very thin race here, so a win wouldn’t shock at all despite a run of outs.

1 Caspian Prince (Bet Now: $17.00) will give a sight from near the speed. Impressive winner at Newcastle two back before contesting the Coral Charge at Sandown when leading and tiring late. He’ll lead these up for sure and give a sight for you at odds. Just a little query on how strong he’ll be the last 100m but do like the booking of Kirby.

Few first starters and little exposed form, but off what I’ve seen, 1 Alkumait (Bet Now: $2.50) is the clear pick of the raced brigade. Well bred colt who debuted over 1200m at Newbury who looked very raw and new to the caper, but loved the way he picked up late. You’d like to think he’ll come right on from that and Crowley takes over.

4 Majd Al Arab (Bet Now: $5.50) has had two career outings and looks to be heading in the right direction. Didn’t do a great deal on debut at Newbury before going to Newmarket where he went close to winning when second to Bonnyrigg. Ryan Moore is a significant booking and does have the race experience under the belt, which will carry him a long way.

7 Tawleed (Bet Now: $7.00) is a very interesting runner. Shadwell colt by Exceed And Excel that is on debut for the John Gosden team. Dam won over 1200m and showed good talent, plus in the family tree is the above average Elusive City. If there is a little query, it’s the fact of the three Shadwell runners, Crowley rides Alkumait. Watch the market.

Good race to close out the meeting. I’ll go the way of 3 Tulip Fields (Bet Now: $4.50). I was really keen on her two back at Sandown but she was awful behind Be More. Then went to the Glasgow at Hamilton when third to Subjectivist. That was at Listed level, so back to Class 3 suits and I think the big tick is that she steps back up to 2400m.

10 Dancing Approach (Bet Now: $4.50) looks to be heading in the right direction for Roger Charlton, winning her past two, with the latest coming over 2340m at Haydock when taking the leap to Class 4 from Class 5. Now comes to Class 3, but is a winner and remains well suited at the weights, especially after the claim for Greatrex.

9 Believe In Love (Bet Now: $13.00) is a daughter of Make Believe for Roger Varian that resumes. This filly hasn’t raced since March 11 when winning impressively at Kempton Park over 2200m under a lovely ride from Jack Mitchell. Her recent form has come on All Weather tracks, but may improve onto the turf, so for mine is a knockout chance.

BEST BET: Race Five Number 5 Stradivarius

NEXT BEST: Race Three Number 1 Battleground

LONG SHOT: Race Two Number 14 Yuri Gagarin