Tuesday, 1st August 2023
Today is Day 1 at the Glorious Goodwood meeting….
If you missed my selections for this afternoon’s handicap targets – you’ll find them here….
Today I’m focused on tomorrow’s target handicaps….
The Coral Handicap at 1.50 – a 12f contest for the 3yo horses with a field of 12 heading to post….
…. and the World Pool Handicap at 5.20 – where 17 go to post over the 7f trip….
The going description remains good to soft (soft in places) this morning – with some rain forecast in the early hours of tomorrow morning….
Let’s get down to it….
It’s not hard to figure out why Amleto is favourite….
…. in his one run to date this term in May – his first on turf, his first go since being gelded, his first go beyond a mile, and on soft ground that clearly suits – he produced a clear career-best with a ready win in a Chester maiden….
An opening mark of 89 appears generous, he’s likely to be better than a handicapper, the 12f trip looks certain to suit, and he’s the one to beat tomorrow afternoon….
…. but at 3s he’s a bit too short for this column….
The one I’m backing is Sir Michael Stoute’s FOX JOURNEY at the general 7s….
He was beaten at Pontefract on his first go over 12f – his first handicap and a race that’s worked out quite well since….
…. he found himself squeezed out of position at a crucial stage of proceedings – just when the pace was being wound up by the horses on the front end….
…. but he showed a good attitude – sticking to his work and making up ground up the outside – in taking fashion – late on….
He got his rewards last time at Newbury – outstaying a game Sovereign Spirit (a horse that had won three of his previous five)….
He’s up to a mark of 90 tomorrow but you’d think there’s more to come yet given his trainer’s slow-burn approach with middle-distance horses….
It’s a tight and cautious market for the World Pool Handicap that closes tomorrow’s card….
…. all things considered HARRY MAGNUS at the 9s is the one for me….
The 3yo ran out a comfortable winner of a C4 handicap at Newmarket back in April – a race that’s produced multiple subsequent winners….
Dropped back to 6f next time – things didn’t go his way….
… and back up at 7f the time after at Sandown he was too far back and always playing catch-up with a winner that made all and never looked like stopping….
On a mark of 83 he’s at the right end of the handicap – with more to come….
…. drawn in stall 3 he’ll start in the right sort of place on the 7f track….
…. and William Buick is a good man to have on you back around the turns at Goodwood….
There always an ‘if’ or a ‘but’ in any betting scenario – and Harry Magnus probably wouldn’t want it too soft….
… but the forecast rain is not prodigious and the chalk downs – on which the racecourse sits – do drain pretty swiftly….
The pick of the prices….To recap on my bets for tomorrow…. In the 1.50 @ Goodwood….
e/w terms = It’s 1/5 the first 4 generally…. In the 5.20 @ Goodwood….
e/w terms = Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. You can get 1/5 the first 5 generally…. Advised prices are correct at the point of publication – but prices are subject to fluctuation. Consult Oddschecker – you may find better quotes and terms than advised…. |
That’s all for today….
I’ll be back tomorrow with my take on the handicap action on Day 3 at Glorious Goodwood ….
Meantime – contact me direct at – nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
And remember – win, lose, or draw – enjoy the racing….
Stay tuned.
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