William Haggas sends out a big squad on Saturday but presents punters with a real poser at Goodwood running both Al Aasy and Opportunity in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at 2.25.
Al Aasy is bidding for a hat-trick of wins in the race and the 9yo who can throw in a complete no show when least expected does have an outstanding record in July and August. He has won 6 of his last 7 races in those two months and is the market leader at 2/1.
Opportunity is a high quality improving 4yo who was an impressive winner at Royal Ascot – over coming a bad draw to win the Duke of Edinburgh handicap. Although he has a couple of pound to find with Ghostwriter and the filly In My Teens – Al Aasy is the big danger.
Al Aasy is something of a law unto himself and Opportunity is a rapidly improving gelding. It looks on the cards that in the same way Tenability was able to beat Hamish at this track in June, Opportunity can get the better of his aging stablemate on Saturday.
The key to the race is the lack of pace and from stall 1 James Doyle, who rode Opportunity prominently when winning at Carlisle can dictate the race setting his own fractionals and is worth a bet at odds of around 3/1 to give Wathnan Racing yet another winner at the festival.
Opportunity 2.25 Goodwood 1pt win Bet Recommended
Santorini Star looks to bounce back in the 14f Group 2 Lillie Langtry at 3.00. She had a terrible trip in the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot and it was the sort of experience that can leave a mark on a mare. She is though ultra tough and it followed a best ever performance when 2nd in a Group 1 in France.
I am though concerned that the extremely hard race she had 2 runs ago was followed by the poor experience at Ascot and it raises the question, if she can bounce back in what looks another tough race. She has drifted in the Ante Post markets which given her owners is a concern and I will watch the race without a bet.
No Bet recommended
Realign completes the Goodwood line up in the Stewards Cup at 15.35 and his odds of 25/1 accurately reflect his chance, although for once his draw in 18 gives Tom Marquand a chance to get involved and track the pace. However , the fast ground continues to put a dent in the 4yo’s chances.
The Wathnan colt is very capable of winning a big handicap of his mark of 98 but James Doyle has chosen to ride Evening Saigon and I will wait until he gets his conditions before backing Realign.
No Bet Recommended
With all the Somerville Lodge horses running really well this week Cieren Fallon goes to Newmarket for four rides and they all have a good chance of success.
Orionis heads back to the track following her listed 3rd placed finish over course and distance two weeks ago. Fallon employed exaggerated waiting tactics that afternoon and made up 7 or 8 lengths to get into a challenging position which took its toll on her finishing effort. That form is the best in this race. A lot of the market is taken up by the Goldophin filly Romantic Symphony who has been disappointing and looks as though softer ground would suit. I have taken the 6/1 available about Orionis and feel sure Fallon will ride her more prominently – she is a good ew bet.
Recommended Bet 1pt EW Orionis 13.33 Newmarket – 6/1
Fallon will be looking to follow up on Hardy’s Hero who is fitted with cheek pieces for the first time in the 7f handicap at 3.23.
It was disappointing that he was beaten in a photo finish at Yarmouth just over a week ago and he also should have won earlier in July here at Newmarket in a three runner race when Tom Marquand had his whip knocked from his hand and he was beaten a head.
The cheek pieces may bring about the necessary improvement but this is tougher race than either of his last two runs and he has become a ‘nearly horse’ from an unchanged mark of 81.
No Bet Recommended
Divine Knight has been high on our list of horses to follow since joining Somerville Lodge this season and he has been given an excellent chance to get his first win for Haggas in the 12f handicap at 3.58. In a small field at Ascot on his latest outing he was forced to make his own running and got collared in the final furlong by the strong staying 3yo Galilean Quality who had previously ran really well at Royal Ascot behind Enceladus who was an impressive winner of the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.
That form is different class to anything on offer in this race and I expect Divine Knight who is well handicapped to gain his first win for the yard as a prelude to further victories this season.
Recommended Bet 2pt win Bet Divine Knight 3.58 Newmarket
On what turned out to be a not so ‘Super Saturday’ Thaluna was quoted by William Haggas as one of his best chances of a winner from the 12 horses sent to post that afternoon.
It initially appeared that she had disappointed, well beaten in 5th but the form has been boosted by the 3rd and 4th placed horses and on reflection she lacked the pace after the race was slowly ran. It has looked likely that 10f will be her best trip and in a small field of 4 she can track the likely pace setter Food for Thought and get her first win of the season for Maltese Cross’s owner George Waud.
Recommended Bet 2pt win Thaluna 4.33 Newmarket
The two remaining entries on Saturday both run in Novice Stakes races Brighton Beach in the 2.43 at Thirsk and Kissmehoneyhoney in the 6.25 at Hamilton.
Brighton Beach’s run at Chester was boosted by the runner up earlier this week and a repeat of that run gives her the beating of the top weight La Samourai who has to give the Palace Pier filly 12lb. She will be a short price.
No Bet Recommended
Kissmehoneyhoney is the only runner from Somerville Lodge to make the journey to Hamilton. The 4yo who was a surprise winner on debut as a three year old is having only her 3rd outing and faces a tough task giving weight away to a couple of colts who have more experience and better form.
No Bet Recommended.
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