Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips Dave Stevos
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips and Preview
It was a disappointing start to the week for us at Galway on Monday. Global Energy was clueless and couldn’t land a blow. Rave N Contagion couldn’t overcome his draw. Our NAP Yester at least landed place money for us, advised at 20/1. Bynx and La Hacienda both ran nice races, just missing out on place money in 6th and 5th respectively. Let’s hope for better today, check out our Goodwood and Galway Tuesday tips below.
1.50 Goodwood – Chesterfield Cup Handicap (Class 2)
Given that I put Majestic Dawn up as the e/w NAP when he was a non-runner at Newbury, I won’t be deserting him here. He has an awful lot in his favour, including trip, ground and a plum draw in stall 1. This son of Dawn Approach dotted up in the Cambridgeshire last season when we were on at 40s. Unfortunately, he won’t be as big in this race but I think 9/1 is still a shade generous. He shaped very nicely on his return behind Vintager at Windsor, proving he can be competitive off his mark of 105.
Majestic Dawn improved a huge amount on his second start last year and if he does the same again, he will be hard to keep out of the frame. He is a previous heavy ground winner over 10f and Paul Hanagan retains the ride. The Coles have their horses in fine fettle too. They have had two winners and two thirds from their last seven runners. At odds of 9/1 Majestic Dawn is the each way selection.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: Majestic Dawn e/w @ 9/1 (5 places)
2.25 Goodwood – Vintage Stakes (Group 2)
A field of seven 2yos will line up in the stalls for the first Group race of the day. Berkshire Shadow and Lusail head the market for Balding and Hannon respectively. The former horse was an impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes but soft ground is an unknown. Lusail, on the other hand, has won on good to soft but his sole defeat came when he ran on soft ground at Pontefract. Eldrickjones is also unproven on soft ground, as is Austrian Theory.
One horse with no worries regarding the conditions is Angel Bleu. This son of Dark Angel is trained by Ralph Beckett and Frankie rides. He was an impressive winner on his sole start on soft, beating Lusail by over 3L over 6f. He proved no match for Berkshire Shadow in the Coventry (6f gd/fm) but the step up to 7f elicited an improved performance behind New Science in a Listed contest at Ascot (7f gd/fm). It could well be that this horse is best on soft ground and given the doubts about most of his rivals, a small win bet at odds of 9/2 is the way to go.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: Angel Bleu win @ 9/2
3.00 Goodwood – Lennox Stakes (Group 2)
Another Group 2, this time for horses aged 3yo or older. Some old favourites run in this race, including last year’s 3rd Escobar, last season’s 2nd Duke Of Hazzard and the admirable veteran Safe Voyage. With a rating of 120, Space Blues is the one to beat on paper but he is having his first start since flopping in a G1 at Meydan back in March. Properly soft ground would be a massive worry too and at the odds, I wouldn’t go near him.
Instead, I am going to take a punt on Khuzaam for Varian and Crowley. This 5yo is rated 116 but that is mostly down to his form on artificial surfaces. His signature performance came at Lingfield on All Weather Finals day when he slammed Mums Tipple by 5L. He has won 4 of his 9 starts on the all-weather but remains a maiden on turf after three attempts. So, what is it that makes me think he’ll run well today? Well, all three of his turf runs have come on quick ground and I believe that soft ground could suit much better.
His sire, Kitten’s Joy, is a top class stallion and he had winning form on easy ground. Being a Champion Sire in the USA, you wouldn’t think that his progeny would relish soft ground but plenty of them do. Roaring Lion won on soft, as did Hawkbill and I am hoping that Khuzaam likes it too. If he does, there is no doubt he has the raw ability to play a part in this race. At odds of 33/1, he is a speculative e/w selection.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: Khuzaam e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
3.35 Goodwood – Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)
With Subjectivist absent, it looks like the pathway is clear for Stradivarius to win this race for the fifth time in a row. No doubt John Gosden will be worried about the ground but he has won two Group 1s and a Group 2 on easy ground so once there isn’t another downpour, he should be fine. If he doesn’t produce the goods, Trueshan looks the biggest threat on paper. Alan King’s charge loves soft ground and he was ultra-impressive when winning at Ascot last October (16f sft).
Those two horses head the market but the one I like a bigger price is Emperor Of The Sun. Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, this horse goes well on soft ground. A Listed winner at Leopardstown in May (14f gd/yld), this son of Galileo is very interesting now tackling 2 miles for the first time. 20f may have been a shade too far at Ascot last time and the ground was likely too quick for him also. 16f on easy ground may well be his optimum conditions and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run a huge race here. At odds of 18/1, Emperor Of The Sun is the each way selection.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: Emperor Of The Sun e/w @ 18/1 NB
4.10 Goodwood – Back To Goodwood Handicap (Class 2)
I had originally planned on putting up Glory Fighter for this race but he was taken out this morning. Instead, I am going to take a chance on good old Pettochside. Yes, he is 5lb wrong at the weights but his jockey is taking off 7lbs. So, he is effectively running off 2lb lighter than he would be under a non-claimer. This fella may be a 12yo but he has still got ability. He was only beat 1.75L last time out at Sandown and he won by 5L off 78 in May (5f sft).
Another thing in this fella’s favour is this course. He is a standing dish around here and he has won seven races at Goodwood over the years at 5f/6f. One of those wins came on heavy over 5f so conditions are not going to be an issue and the race has cut up lovely for the old boy. At odds of 14/1, Pettochside is worth chancing each way.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: pettochside e/w @ 14/1 (4 places)
5.45 Galway – Corrib Fillies and Mares Stakes (Listed)
There isn’t really anything jumping out in the opening two races but one definitely appeals as being overpriced in this 7f Listed contest for the mares and fillies. Tellthemi’mhere comes into this race rated just 77 but her first two runs this season suggest to me she has the potential to rate much higher. Trained and owned by Wexford handler/breeder Pat O’Rourke, this 3yo daughter of Belardo showed glimpses of promise on her first few runs at Dundalk. However, slow starts were costing her too much ground and connections clearly did plenty of stalls work after her final Dundalk run back in March.
This filly reappeared in a 3yo fillies race at Killarney and ran a cracker in 4th. She was bang there until the 7 pole and she just ran out of puff in the final furlong. She still finished just 2L behind Belle Image who ran into a close 4th in the Irish Guineas. Next time at Leopardstown over 7f she ran even better. She was beat by just a head by Neptune Rock but she would have won if Gary Halpin had stuck closer to the rail. That horse is now rated 94 and re-opposes here off identical terms. She is 11/2, while Tellthemi’mhere is 100/1.
A mile proved to be too far for this filly on her last outing in a maiden at the Curragh. This drop back in trip will suit and on the evidence of her fine Killarney run, she won’t mind a bit of rain. She is drawn in stall 8 which isn’t too bad and hopefully she breaks well. If she does and she gets to the front, she could easily outrun her odds.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: Tellthemi’mhere e/w @ 100/1 (4 places)
6.15 Galway – Mile Handicap (Premier)
The feature race on Day 2 at Galway is the Premier Mile Handicap. The one I like here is In From The Cold for Mick Mulvany and Gary Carroll. I have been tracking this horse for a long time. I was at the Galway Races when he ran in a nursery a couple of years ago. Ever since then, I have been convinced he is a Galway winner in waiting. That day he made his handicap debut off 70 and he absolutely rattled home up the hill, just missing out on victory by 0.5L.
Unsurprisingly, he has gone on to win 4 races since then but surprisingly, none of them at Galway. His biggest day came when he won the Madrid Handicap at Naas last March off 80. He proved he can be competitive off his current rating of 96 on his comeback at the Curragh. He goes well fresh too so the fact he has had two months off since his last run is another positive. His career form figures at Galway read 324 and he has never been beaten more than 1.25L. Soft ground is absolutely fine, Gary Carroll knows him inside out and I think he has serious each way claims at odds of 33/1.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: In From The Cold e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)
6.45 Galway – Caulfield Industrial Handicap (3yo only)
With conditions turning softer, Coins Cross could go well at a price here. Trained by the Hartys, this son of Dragon Pulse has failed to fire on his last three starts on good ground. His last two runs on soft saw him finish 4th in a handicap at Naas and win a maiden at Sligo. So clearly, this is a horse that enjoys getting his toe in. The handicapper has only dropped him 1lb after his last three runs, which isn’t very generous, but I believe this horse possesses enough ability to make his presence felt off his current rating on this softer surface.
The blinkers go on for the first time so connections must feel he hasn’t been concentrating during recent races. Even though he wasn’t at his best on his last three runs, he was still only beat 2.5L at Gowran and 3.5L at Killarney last time out. The Hartys’ horses are coming into form and Mark Gallagher knows this gelding very well. His two good efforts at Naas and win at Sligo suggest that the stiff Galway finish will suit and his pedigree suggests that 8.5f will suit him well too. At odds of 33/1 a small each way interest is advised.
Goodwood and Galway Tuesday Tips: Coins Cross e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
7.15 Galway – Caulfield Industrial Handicap Div 1 (4yo+)
The one that looks dangerously well handicapped in this contest is Facethepuckout. Trained by Leanne Breen, this 5yo looks like he has been laid out for this race. He has had just three runs so far this season, the best one coming on soft at Listowel. Formerly trained by Michael O’Callaghan, this horse has plenty of course form in the book. He has had five previous outings at Galway and the last one came at this meeting last year.
In off 82 that day, Facethepuckout ran a mighty race to finish 3rd, beat just 1.25L by Sirjack Thomas. He is back for another go and this time he is on off just 69. Kevin Manning rides and he got a spin on him last time out in a Dundalk claimer. His two previous wins came off 74 and 71 and he handles ground ranging from good to soft/heavy. I think this horse ticks plenty of boxes and at odds of 14/1, Facethepuckout is worth backing e/w.
