Selections for Friday 2nd of August 2024
1.50 Goodwood
1 point each way Super Superjack (6/1 Skybet, 7 places or else 13/2 Paddy power, 6 places)
Super Superjack was second in this race in 2022 and is now 2 lbs lower than back then. He was off the track for 654 days before this season and has been brought along slowly by his trainer Olly Murphy. He had a low key comeback run at Nottingham before a staying on sixth of eleven at Ascot. He goes well on good or better ground and the step up in trip to 2m 4f should really suit. He was a very unlucky second of this race in 2022 and can go one better today. The stronger the pace the better for him.
2.25 Goodwood
1 point each way Task Force (9/2 Generally, 3 places)
Task Force has some very good 2 year old form and looks a fair price at 9/2. He was second in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket last September. That was over 6 furlongs but the ground was good to firm and Task Force handled it well. He was seventh in this year’s 2000 Guineas over 1 mile and was seventh again on his last run back at 7 furlongs. He goes back up to a mile here and has a first time tongue tie to help him.
3.00 Goodwood
1 point each way Orbaan (8/1 Paddy power/ Betfair, 6 places)
David O’Meara is mob-handed in this handicap but the one I like is the well handicapped Orbaan. He won this race in 2022 and runs off the same mark today. He was running off 9 lbs higher in last year’s renewal finishing ninth on ground that was unsuitably soft. He won at Carlisle on his penultimate start in a strongly run race. His last run can be ignored as they went far too slow to suit him but there is guaranteed pace in today’s race and he should give a good account.
1 point each way Urban Sprawl (9/1 Paddy power/ Betfair, 6 places)
The Charlie Johnstown trained Urban Sprawl is another I want to have onside in this race. He saddled the second and third in last year’s race and would love to go a place better today. He has a lovely draw in stall 1, has course winning form, is well handicapped on past form and has the cheek-pieces reapplied. Billy Loughnane is a good jockey booking and the faster surface will be right up his street. There is enough in his favour to warrant a bet.
6.00 Galway
1 point each way Hascoeur Clermont (9/1 Paddy power, 6 places or else 9/1 Skybet, 7 places)
Hascoeur Clermont has course form having won over course and distance on heavy ground back last October before going to Cheltenham and winning at the November meeting. He bounced back to form after some disappointing efforts on his last run in the Connacht National at Roscommon. He was second that day on good ground and the handicapper nudged him up 2 lbs. Conor Stone-Walsh can more than offset that rise with his 5 lbs claim and the rain that has fallen at Galway this morning should improve his chances. He will relish a proper stamina test as will Whacker Clan who I rate a big danger.
6.35 Galway
1 point each way Derry Lad (13/2 Bet365, 5 places or else 13/2 Generally, 5 places)
I have been following Derry Lad of late and I thought he was a big eye catcher at Epsom on his last start. He had to come from a long way back to eventually finish third but he looked like the best horse in that race. He was third on his penultimate start at Naas as well off a mark of 82. That was over 1 mile where Epsom was 1m 2f. Now he steps up to 1m 4f which should suit and this stiff finish will make it a stamina test. There has been plenty of rain about this morning also and he has form on softer ground.
8.40 Galway
1 point each way Narlita (11/1 888 Sports, 5 places or else 10/1 Generally, 5 places)
Non Runner
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 2nd of August at 9pm..