The pick of the prices on Day 5 at Glorious Goodwood....

Friday, 2nd August 2024

The pick of the prices on Day 5 at Glorious Goodwood….

If you missed yesterday’s column containing selections for this afternoon – Day 4 at Glorious Goodwood – you can catch up here & here (alternative selection in the Golden Mile)….

I’m already thinking about Day 5….

…. which means the Stewards’ Cup (3.35) – a maximum field of 28 going at it hammer and tongues up the 6f straight….

…. the Summer Handicap (2.25)– over the 14f straight….

…. and the Whispering Angel Handicap (4.10) – a race for the 3yos over the 7f trip….

Let’s get down to business….

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In the Stewards’ Cup – 3.35….

I’m two-against-the-field in this 28-runner feature handicap of the Glorious meeting….

First up – APOLLO ONE at the general 16s….

It may seem like he’s been around forever….

…. but he’s still just a 6yo….

…. and his form has been rock-solid for a while now….

Last year he was 2nd in a big handicap at Epsom off 97….

….  2nd in the Wokingham off 97….

…. and 2nd in the Stewards’ Cup off 100….

He held that form for the first two goes this term – when he was 2nd at Newmarket off 100….

…. and then 3rd at Epsom off 102….

These are all big valuable handicap races that he’s shown up so well in….

…. and he’s clearly at home in a big-field at this level….

The difference this year heading to Goodwood is that he’s skipped Royal Ascot….

…. and instead went to Sandown at the start of last month for a small-field G3 where softer ground probably didn’t help him on the day….

I can draw a line through that effort….

He’s done nothing wrong over the last two seasons….

…. and back in the handicap division….

…. back in a big field….

…. if he turns up in the same mood he’s been in over the last season-and-a half….

…. he can run a big one from stall 27….

…. he certainly deserves to land a big one….

I want to be on one in the other half of the draw and BILLYJOH is the pick at the general 14s….

He too has done little wrong – this term at least….

He was 2nd in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting (put up by this column)….

…. and – earlier in the week – he was 2nd in another big handicap at this meeting….

Like Apollo One he’s been hitting the crossbar….

…. but he’s got a fine chance of striking whilst he remains in this current vein of form….

Trainer Michael Appleby reaches for the cheekpieces tomorrow….

…. which might just be the tweak required to extract that little bit more….

…. and I’m not concerned about the step back to 6f….

…. he’ll be staying on stronger than most off the anticipated strong early pace….

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In the Summer Handicap – 2.25….

GREAT BEDWYN was really good value for his win at Newbury last month….

He prevailed by a nose….

…. but it would have been easier – and the winning distance longer – but for getting trapped in on the straight….

It took Pat Dobbs a while to get him out and into the daylight….

…. but once in the clear the 4yo was quick enough and tough enough to get past and fend off multiple rivals – and put the race to bed at the line….

He’s up 4lb for his trouble – which is fair enough – to a mark of 88….

It was his first run since being gelded in June….

…. the evidence suggests that the procedure has done him a service….

…. and I like the step up to the 14f trip….

Great Bedwyn certainly wasn’t stopping at Newbury….

…. and he can improve again tomorrow….

…. on a track he’s already advertised a liking for – registering a win over 12f last term….

The 12s is a nice price….

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In the Whispering Angel – 4.10….

SPANISH BLAZE ran well at the track earlier in the week over a mile….

…. whilst giving the impression that stepping back down to 7f for this might just be beneficial….

He’s been going well of late….

and the general 11s about him is a nice price….

…. against multiple opponents with well-being and form to prove….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd