Goodwood Tips: Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

As ever, course form is something worth bearing in mind when playing at the Sussex venue and having run well here on all five visits, SEINSATIONAL (best price 14-1) makes a lot of sense from an each-way perspective (most firms offering five places). Carrying form figures of 443 over in to this same race last season, William Knight’s five-year-old kept those solid stats intact when finishing a creditable runner-up to the well-handicapped Timoshenko and he went on to rubber-stamp his love affair with the twist and turns of the downs with another placed effort at the same course next time. Unable to handle the very soft ground at Haydock last time out, at least that run served the purpose of keeping his eye in, and with the conditions set to dry out nicely as the day progresses, the son of Champs Elysees should end up being in his element.

STEEL BULL (NAP) (best price 7-2) made a sparkling debut when winning in the style of smart juveniles at Naas a week ago and the mere fact that connections have gone to plenty of trouble to send him over for this prize off the back of just one run, points heavily towards there mindset coming into this Group 3. 

Well-touted prior his opening gambit at the Co Kildare venue, Michael O’Callaghan’s colt travelled supremely well in what turned out to be a strongly-run affair and then when asked to go about his work in the latter stages, he found a sharp turn of foot to put the race to bed in a short space of time. A well-build colt who looks a sprinter through-and-through, one can envisage the son of Clodovil stalking the pace before being unleashed with a winning run inside the distance and he rates one of the best bets on the card.

A tricky concluding handicap where luck in running is likely to play a huge part, but providing ARIGATO (best price 7-1) and TORO STRIKE (best price 13-2) don’t suffer too much in that department, they have enough quality to play significant roles.

The former has been steadily improving all season and his run when fourth in the Bunbury Cup confirmed he belongs on a big stage. Prior to that excellent effort he rattled up a quick double over on the Rowley Mile, showing a high cruising speed and a smart turn of foot to seal the deal each time. Because of the way he travels through his races, a good break from gate one should allow him to ease his way into contention around the inside and providing the gaps come at the right time, we know he has the gear change to give himself every chance of claiming the prize.

The latter comes out of one of the strongest handicap at Royal Ascot on the speed figures and a repeat of his performance that day should see him go close. Although he didn’t get home as well as some at the Berkshire track, he still kept in well enough to finish a creditable fifth and with today’s better ground likely to play more into his strengths, Richard Fahey’s colt can feature prominently at a track which saw him finish a close-up third at this meeting last season.

As you’d expect for a race of this nature, a wide-open affair with a whole host of permutations, but there looks to be some value to be found in the shape of DINARD ROSE (best price 11-1) and TARA DYLAN (best price 22-1) who both make more appeal than their morning odds imply.

The former arrives here having got no luck in running in the ladies Derby at the Curragh last time, but prior to that she’d finished a creditable fifth in a much better race behind Dalton Highway at the same venue. Clearly in rude health based on those two performances, she now reverts back to a discipline which saw her run well on several starts last season including a fair effort in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. Unlucky at this meeting last season when almost brought to a complete standstill by a loose horse at the second last when seemingly having the race at her mercy, at least she proved that day she has no problems with today’s unique layout and with the rain set to arrive in large quantities later this afternoon, Noel Meade’s filly will handle the going change better than most.

The latter can be a bit of tricky mare but at the same time she has plenty of talent, as was witnessed with her latest effort behind Monday’s big race winner Princess Zoe on the Flat last time out. Although her form dipped a bit towards the backend of last season over hurdles, it’s worth remembering she did finish a close-up fourth in a hot Grade B handicap at the Listowel festival when 9lb out of the weights and now racing off a 15lb lower mark here, the daughter of Dylan Thomas can go close to providing his handler his second successive win in this race.

The recent trends for this summer highlight in the jumps calendar suggests unexposed second-season chasers are the ones to concentrate on, and having plundered this prize with similar types in the past, GALVIN (best price 9-2) and SPYGLASS HILL (best price 12-1) represent trainers who know a thing or when it comes to preparing one for this 2m6f contest.

The former has all the hallmarks of many previous winners of this race and he has enough class to play a significant role with a clear round. Although he fell on his first start over fences here at today’s track last year. The mere fact that connections decided to start him off at Ballybrit strongly suggests they’ve had this race in mind for quite some time. Runner-up to Imperial Aura in a strong speed figure at the Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott’s gelding warmed up nicely for a tilt at this prize with a spin around Killarney recently and with the runner-up that day going on to flaw some useful types at Roscommon next time, the form is even better than what we thought at the time. Sometimes a bit ignorant at his fences, hopefully Davy Russell – surely the best in the business – can navigate a passage whereby he’s bang there with a chance going down into the dip two out and if so, he should have the gears to make himself a huge contender climbing up the line to the line.

The latter also has a touch of class and his effort behind Bapaume at Naas last season strongly hinted he was going the right way over fences. Unlucky when cantering all over the smart Carefully Selected at the same venue next time, he gained his just rewards when lowering the colours of subsequent Kim Muir hero Milan Native on his final start last season. Handicapped out of the Close Brothers Handicap at the Festival due to his 146 rating, missing that gig and arriving here fresh with his mark protected could turn out to be a blessing in disguise and hailing from a combination often deadly in these kind of events, the son of Morozov makes plenty of appeal at his big-looking morning price.

UPDATE: With Galvin now a non-runner, I'm substituting him with THE STORYTELLER (best price 18-1). His run in the Pertemps Final gives him a chance back over fences.

There was a lot to like about the way QUAMINO (best price 6-1) went about his work at Roscommon last time out and he rates a strong choice to make an impact back over fences off what appears a decent mark. 

Better known for his exploits over the larger obstacles, Paul Nolan’s gelding warmed up for a tilt at this contest with a smooth success over hurdles a month ago and the way he went through that race at the Lenebane venue strongly hinted he’s a horse right on top of his game. Although he failed to score over fences last season, he did run some notable races in defeat including a creditable ninth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas period and that finishing position could have been bettered had he not been badly hampered four out. What is his best trip is difficult to say, but the fact that he stays three miles well enough should stand him good stead if the predicted rain arrives and with a clear round his stamina can prove a telling factor at the business end.