The fifth and final day of Glorious Goodwood promises to be a cracker, and I’m hoping to sign off the week with a bang. I’ve got two selections for the card – a strong win bet in the opener, plus my each-way play in the Stewards’ Cup Handicap.
1:20 Goodwood – AL AASY (7/4 generally)
The opening race at Goodwood on Saturday rarely produces much of a shock – six of the last ten winners were won by favourites and the biggest priced winner in that time was 15/2. This years renewal doesn’t look the strongest, and I’m finding it difficult to see who can trouble AL AASY, who should take all the beating.
He has a perfect 3/3 record in August, including a cosy win in this race last year. If you watch that race back, he could’ve easily won by more. He reappeared this year with a good win in the Group 3 Gordon Richard Stakes, before a couple of less performances in his most recent two runs – these performances were still some of the highest RPR’s on offer in here.
He’s goes on any ground, and his RPR’s this season are consistent and far superior than his rivals in here. I did try to find one that could potentially serve it up to him, but I don’t think any of his rivals are anywhere near the level he is at. Despite being an 8YO and having to give weight to all his rivals, he should be winning this and he rates my most confident win bet of the day.
3:05 Goodwood – ANNAF (14/1 generally)
The Stewards’ Cup is always a difficult race to find the winner in, so I’ve used recent winner trends to try to narrow the field:
- 10 of the last 10 winners were aged 3-7.
- 8 of the last 10 winners were rated between 101+.
- 7 of the last 10 winners were drawn in stall 15 or higher.
Just focusing on those trends alone cuts the field to three runners – Get It, Annaf and Apollo One. The former might not appreciate the ground conditions on Saturday, whilst the latter has a claiming jockey who has only ridden one winner in Britain this season. With that in mind, the one I have to side with ANNAF.
Michael Appleby’s 6YO has an excellent record on soft or worse ground, including a win in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot, beating 2021 + 2022 Stewards’ Cup winner Commanche Falls in the process. His other two runs on soft/heavy ground saw him finish third in a group 3 at Newbury (behind No Half Measures, who is now a Group 1 winner), before finishing less than five lengths in the Group 1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last year.
His only poor effort over six furlongs this year came in Group 1 company, when tried in cheekpieces for the first time, which have since been left off, and his record outside of Class 1 company is rock solid. With six places on offer with most bookies, Annaf looks an excellent each-way angle in the race, and I’m confident he should be thereabouts at the finish.
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
1:20 Goodwood – AL AASY (7/4 generally)
3:05 Goodwood – ANNAF (14/1 generally)
*Odds correct at time of posting – 8pm Thursday 31st July
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Please note that although Tom has uploaded the tips, he is not our Racing Club Insider – the insider will remain anonymous!
