GLORIOUS GOODWOOD TOP PICKS FOR TUESDAY. Having enjoyed a fantastically profitable Saturday, it’s time to keep the momentum rolling with three top selections for Tuesday’s opening card at Glorious Goodwood. I’ll also be dropping a fresh YouTube video over the next couple of days to break down the form reading and selection process behind these picks.
GLORIOUS GOODWOOD TOP PICKS FOR TUESDAY
14:25 – PIKACHU (13/2)
Haffner is the clear talking horse in the market, and seeing him vying for favouritism suggests he has plenty of market support. However, I’m keen to take on the son of Justify at those prices, as his recent efforts don’t equate to him having a 33% winning chance.
I’m equally happy to lay the other joint-favourite, the Charlie Appleby-trained Al Hudaiba. The grey is the sole penalized runner in the field, and it’s not as if he’s been blowing opposition away with ease. His supporters will be pinning their hopes on first-time blinkers sparking extra improvement. Dr Rascal could do no more than win his two starts with consummate ease and looks fairly priced, while Undiscovered has also won both career outings comfortably, though I’m not entirely convinced he is up to this grade just yet.
The call is to chance the Charlie Johnston-trained PIKACHU. While the son of Frankel is still searching for his maiden win, he has progressed with every single run and boasts a solid official rating of 104. Last time out, he finished just a length and a quarter behind Al Hudaiba, and he reopposes on three-pound better terms today. While pundits will argue Al Hudaiba didn’t get the best of runs and possesses scope to improve, Pikachu looks far better suited to the unique demands of this track. At the prices, he represents fantastic betting value.
15:35 – TRAWLERMAN (2/1)
With a run under his belt and a handy one-pound pull at the weights, TRAWLERMAN looks primed to reverse recent Royal Ascot form with Scandinavia. The John & Thady Gosden-trained eight-year-old has done nothing but progress in his career, consistently benefiting from his seasonal reappearance. The son of Golden Horn won’t be in the slightest bit inconvenienced by any easing in the ground, allowing William Buick to dictate tactics however he sees fit.
Seven-time winner Scandinavia is naturally the biggest danger, despite running off a rating ten pounds higher than when landing this race last season. That said, he isn’t the easiest steer, and a few from the Aidan O’Brien yard have been slightly underperforming of late.
Illinois looks lined up as a pacemaker for the favourite, and while he picked up silver in this contest last year, the five-year-old arrives out of form with plenty to prove. Similar reservations apply to French Master, while Miss Alpilles simply lacks the class for this level. Charlie Johnston is enjoying a great run with his Group horses, making Oisin Murphy’s jockey booking on Lazy Griff a notable positive—he should be competitive for a place with first-time cheekpieces applied. However, my idea of the best of the rest for third is Ralph Beckett’s Amiloc.
16:10 – TWILIGHT CALLS (15/2)
Lexington Blitz loves a blistering five furlongs and arrives in fine fettle, but he is now sitting on a career-high handicap mark in the most competitive sprint he has ever contested.
Run Boy Run would ideally prefer an extra furlong, while stablemate Rapper’s Delight simply lacks the profile required to figure at this level. Glamorous Breeze is a tough sort and should give Gina Mangan a decent ride, but Seven Questions looks thoroughly anchored by the handicapper. That leaves the door open to chance another Richard Spencer runner in TWILIGHT CALLS.
The eight-year-old gelding seems to be improving with age, and in-form pilot Saffie Osborne consistently gets the absolute best out of him. He is at his lethal best when sitting off a ferocious early tempo, and he is guaranteed to get a target to aim at here. Expect him to be flying late.
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