Glorious Goodwood - Day three

Glorious Goodwood – Day three

A mixed Wednesday on the punting front. The trends analysis I did here once again went out of the window as none of the short-list made the top three, but to be fair, I did state a lack of confidence yesterday and the decision to go with the last time out victory turned out wrong. However, Firestreak came up trumps at 9/4 in the finale, who I gave a good mention to in my Top Of The Form blog on Tuesday. The Sandown race he emerged from won’t make the Top 20 as the top-half of the field have all run since, including the winner, Main Aim, who disappointed back at Sandown. However, I think he is worth chancing if a backable price next time – been favourite on all three career outings – possibly over 6f as he is by Oasis Dream.

I also managed to make it five wins from six bets with my newly discovered cricket betting method in the England v South Africa test so all was not lost on Wednesday.

There may be some clues in the finale today regarding the draw for Saturday’s Stewards’ Cup, and with Orpsie Boy being drawn in 20, I’m hoping the middle to far side fare well. Having said that, I backed Knot In Wood ante-post in a big way last year and was hoping for a high draw which I got in 25, only for the result to come up low down the stands’ side!
Timeform liked the performance of Orpsie Boy at Ascot on Sunday, making him one of their ‘Horses In Focus’ saying:
ORPSIE BOY left the firm impression that 6f or an easy 7f is his optimum, taken off his feet here before keeping on to be nearest at the finish; he’s not so consistent on turf as all-weather, but has suitable entries in the Steward’s Cup at Goodwood.

On to Thursday’s Goodwood preview, and you may notice an incorrect date on page 142 for the King George Stakes (Audi Stakes), which should be July 31.

I could take the easy option and preview the Goodwood Cup, but there will probably be an obvious outcome with Yeats, like the Sussex Stakes and Henrythenavigator, so I’m going to look at the Heritage Handicap from page 144.

HERITAGE HANDICAP 4.05 Channel 4 (three non-runners)

Khateeb – Official rating of 106 too high.

Dr Faustus – Official rating of 100 too high and no top four slot last time.

Age Of Reason – Official rating of 100 too high and no top four slot last time.

Siberian Tiger – No top four position last time, and yet to be in the top three over this trip.

Ramona Chase – No top four position last time, but ran in the Newmarket handicap that has been a good trial since 2001. Could show a bit more today back on faster ground.

Steele Tango – Was second in the aforementioned Newmarket handicap over this trip, and three runners-up from there triumphed here. Chance.

Hunting Country – Top three slot last time in a five-runner race, but has won over the trip previously. 12lb higher than that here and fast ground possibly not ideal as jockey blamed the good to firm ground last time.

Drill Sergeant – No top four position last time and no winner arrived via Sandown.

Upton Grey – Positives and negatives surround him. Positives are he beat Love Galore (won yesterday) over the trip – his only try – last time on fast ground and yard have good record in the race. Negatives are that he has flopped twice on a right-handed undulating track.

Latin Lad – No top four position last time and yet to be in the top three over this trip.

Indian Days – Third in the Newmarket handicap bodes very well and not done a lot wrong this year, handles conditions. Stable 0-24 here a negative.

Dona Alba – Good fifth in the Newmarket handicap, handles conditions and yard had two placed in this event. Chance.

Dauberval – Will do well from the outside stall 1, yet to try trip and bids to be one of the biggest priced winners of this.

Porthole – No top four position last time, though lost shoe. Won over the trip and unexposed, but yard not known for 3yo winners here and another who will have to defy a big price.

Military Power – Likeable profile and won impressively over the trip last time. Will need the splits from inside draw and yard has shocking record here, especially with 3yos – 1-39.

SHORT-LIST: Steele Tango – Dona Alba – Upton Grey