Selections for Saturday 3rd of August 2024
2.25 Goodwood
1 point each way Great Bedwyn (9/1 Bet365/ Ladbrokes/ Coral, 4 places)
Great Bedwyn is of interest here off a mark of 88 for the Richard Hannon team. He won on this course last season over a mile and a half. He was gelded since and looks progressive having won at Newbury in his last race. He won snuggly on that occasion and the handicapper raised him 4 lbs which might underestimate him. He steps up in trip again today and there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree to suggest he can improve again for the extra distance. He will hopefully be challenging late under a patient ride by Pat Dobbs.
3.00 Goodwood
2 points each way Caius Chorister (3/1 Bet365, 4 places or else 10/3 William Hill, 3 places)
Caius Chorister will enjoy being back among her own sex here and it is hard to see her out of the places. She ran too free against the best stayers around on her last run at Royal Ascot over 2m 4f finishing sixth of nine. The drop in grade here and back to 1m 6f can see her back to her best. She also has track form having won at this meeting in 2022. She won a Group 3 in France over 1m 6f from the front and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was to be ridden prominently today. She is a max bet.
3.35 Goodwood
1 point each way Purosangue (5/1 Skybet, 8 places or else 6/1 888 Sports, 6 places)
Purosangue is officially 4 lbs well in here, making his handicap debut as he will race off a mark of 105 in future handicaps. As a three year old he has possibly further progression than more exposed rivals. He has course form too having finished a neck second to Big Evs in the Molecomb as a juvenile. He has been running in higher graded races throughout this year and this 3 year old will enjoy the drop into handicap company. Oisin Murphy will have plenty of options from stall 14. He has form on all surfaces and the return to 6 furlongs shouldn’t be a problem.
1 point each way Dark Thirty (33/1 Paddy power/ Betfair, 6 places)
With the extra places available I wanted to throw a second selection on and I wanted one drawn near the high numbers. The Richard Hannon trained Dark Thirty was the preferred option. On recent form you wouldn’t give him any chance but all those runs were over 7 furlongs and I feel he doesn’t get the trip fully as he is only a four year old. He may in time but for now I prefer him over 6 furlongs. He won at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance off a mark of 93 and the strong pace here should really suit a horse that gets the 6 furlongs well. He will have to bounce back to form but he is a big price.
2.30 Galway
1 point each way Billericay Dickie (8/1 888 Sports, 5 places or else 13/2 Skybet, 7 places)
Willie Mullins hasn’t been as dominant as usual for this festival but I do like the chances of Billericay Dickie if he handles the track. He won on the flat back in France over 1m 4f and won on debut for his new yard at odds-on in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown. He has disappointed twice since and the handicapper has allocated him a mark of 128. Back on better ground and stepped up to 2m 6f it will be disappointing if this horse doesn’t improve past this mark.
**Date & Time of next Selections Saturday 3rd of August at 9pm..