Well what a fantastic day that was. As if having
Chachamaidee and Harbour Watch bolt in at Goodwood wasn’t enough, two of our cricket
bets came in with James Anderson – Our tip for the Top England First Innings
wicket taker and also to take 3 or more wickets – has one to his name already
and looks in serious touch.
With 3 of the cricket bets likely to be settled today and
one that I like very much in the Nassau Stakes there’s only one that we like in
the Stewards Cup. As with all sprint handicaps nowadays, the draw is of major
importance and while Goodwood’s track is fairer than most I still would be
taking a line, or at least backing one on each side, unless you have one slap
bang in the middle.
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Personally, I would be itching to get across to the
standside rail which seemed a big help to Masamah when he won so impressively
earlier in the week, while it’s also not a disadvantage to come up the middle,
as William Buick showed on Catfish in the last, although the fact he had no
front runner to harass him was a major help as 4 others engaged in a pace burn
up standside.
Victoire De Lyphar (above) is slap bang in the middle with stall 15,
so Adrian Nicholls isn’t going to have too much trouble finding the rail or
some cover and that already makes him an attractive betting proposition.
An easy winner of a good York heat last year, as well as
finishing second in the Stewards' Sprint at Goodwood and the Ayr Gold Cup,
Victoire De Lyphar is well versed in these big-field events, which is always a
plus.
On his seasonal debut, Bated Breath, Society Rock and Royal
Rock all finished in front of him in a conditions event at Haydock but he was
seen as a disappointment by many, which underlines the high regard he is held
in. The winner that day has been second in the July Cup while the second won
the Golden Jubilee and even though that form cannot be taken literally it gives
an idea of this horse’s potential.
He ran no race in the Wokingham but that was all down to the
ground and if you forgive him that then he’s got to have a serious chance for a
trainer with a great record in this. Of
the others, I must put in a good word for Tiddlywinks, who has proven himself group
class with two solid efforts when third behind Delegator in the Group 2 Duke Of
York Stakes in May and then second to Hitchens in a Group 3 at the Curragh. His
seventh last time was only due to Phillip Makin losing his irons late on and
while he’s a lot higher than when he was fourth in the Stewards’ Sprint but he’s
progressed enough to deserve that rating and he can go very well from a plum
rail side draw.
Hoof It is going to be contesting races like the Sprint Cup later
this season and while he should go well here off 10-0 he’ll be putting in a
Group class performance to beat this field off that weight and he had a hard
race only a week ago, so at 7’s others are preferred.
Mac’s Power is of tremendous interest based on his Wokingham
eight where he trashed his side but I was disappointed that he couldn’t win at
Ascot and he ran like a horse held off his mark. Edinburgh Knight’s handicap
form has worked out brilliantly (behind Wokingham/Group winner Deacon Blues) and
he can go well here too.
He’s the only pick advised here given that nothing takes my
fancy on the card. In the opener (2.00) Golden Destiny is a bit overpriced at
10’s but he’s not won for two years and over this trip (he would have won with
further earlier this week) that’s just enough to make me move on.
The Toyo Tyres Handicap Stakes (2.35) is almost too good to
try and solve but the two to concentrate on might be Verdant and Activate. Verdant hasn’t quite proven upto group class
this season but that’s been in slowly run races where he was held up out the
back and in a handicap over a trip that allows for a flat spot even on a track
as sharp as Goodwood he could be seen to best effect. Activate is picked because
his run last time was a non-event when even Hayley Turner couldn’t drop him and
he was out far too wide all the way. Back in trip he still has the widest draw
but over this course it won’t matter and his stamina will be put to good effect
by Jamie Spencer late on. Harlestone Times is best forgiven his run but I
prefer the profiles of the top two.
Advice
0.5 pts each/way Victoire De Lyphar, 3.45 Goodwood ( 15/1 William
Hill, 14’s elsewhere)
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