Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
The Qatar Goodwood Festival gets underway this Tuesday and there are Glorious Goodwood day 1 betting tips aplenty as a result. Flat stayers and 7f specialists feature in the big races, so see which horses appeal to our experts. There is even an opening handicap selection to ponder too!
Glorious Goodwood day 1 betting tips – Maydanny up for Chesterfield Cup
Kicking off the meeting is the Chesterfield Cup Handicap over almost 1m 2f (13:50), and previous course and distance winner MAYDANNY gets the vote. Trained by Mark Johnston, who loves having Glorious Goodwood winners, this Shadwell owned five-year-old bolted up in this last year. He made all the running and ran out a ready five-length winner.
It was clear that Maydanny was well ahead of his mark of 90. While he hasn’t scored since following a big hike from the handicapper, he has still run well in defeat. The Dubawi gelding chased home old rival Bell Rock in the Suffolk Stakes Handicap at Newmarket on reappearance, but now meets the winner off 4lb better terms taking William Carver’s 5lb claim on the Andrew Balding runner into account.
That gives Maydanny every chance of turning the tables. Although nowhere in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, he was a keeping on three-quarters of a length second in the Coral Challenge on Eclipse day at Sandown last time out. The assessor has also dropped Maydanny 1lb for that, so he now races off 102. That is just 2lb higher than the Suffolk Stakes, so he can certainly be competitive off it.
The only question mark is the wet weather. Maydanny is one of only two course and distance winners in the line-up. He handles the track well, and the owners’ retained rider Jim Crowley is back on board. Although Migration further down the weights also commands respect, Maydanny is a 6/1 shot with BetVictor, who pay five places, and a solid each-way bet.
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Lennox Stakes betting tips – Creative Force appeals most back up in trip
Powerful global owners Godolphin looks as though they have a strong hand for the 7f Group 2 Lennox Stakes (15:00). Our Glorious Goodwood day 1 betting tips say CREATIVE FORCE may just have the edge over stable companion and last year’s winner Space Blues at the weights. Both hail from the Newmarket yard of retained trainer Charlie Appleby.
Creative Force was a big gamble in the July Cup earlier this month, but ran on to be fifth and nearest at the finish. He was only beaten a couple of lengths, yet has always shaped as though this specialist trip is optimum for him. Another by Godolphin super-sire Dubawi, Creative Force oozed class when winning the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start.
Space Blues concedes 7lb in weight for age to his younger rival. It brings the pair very close together and Creative Force comes out 1lb ahead. Although Space Blues has a good record fresh, he also gives race fitness away and that could prove crucial. For that reason, the favourite can be taken on. Creative Force is a 7/2 chance with Bet365 to resume winning ways after landing a four-timer earlier in the season.
The other suggested bet here is last year’s fourth, Safe Voyage, as a solid each-way punt. John Quinn’s long-time stable favourite bounced back to winning ways at Chester in Listed company last time out. The eight-year-old still has ability, having landing a Group 2 in Ireland last autumn. Safe Voyage is 7/1 with Bet365 also, who pay four places, and that looks a free each-way bet.
Goodwood Cup betting tips – Trueshan taken for staying success
In the feature 2m Group 1 Goodwood Cup (15:35), although it breaks my heart to go against him, Stradivarius needs taking on. Every drop of rain that falls suits TRUESHAN, who didn’t take his chance in the Gold Cup. Wet weather didn’t hit Royal Ascot in time for trainer Alan King to run his promising five-year-old stayer.
Conditions may be optimum now for Trueshan, however, and he also has the added bonus of Gold Cup winner Subjectivist suffering a season-ending injury. Johnston has supplemented Sir Ron Priestley for a cool £25,000 here, but our Glorious Goodwood day 1 betting tips say that five-year-old may not like the ground either. He has no form with cut in the ground.
Trueshan relished a soft surface on British Champions Day when capturing the Long Distance Cup in convincing fashion last autumn. Now getting suitable going once more, the Planteur gelding looks great value at 7/2 with 888Sport for another big victory. This should be Trueshan’s time to shine with more rain forecast at Glorious Goodwood.
Of those at bigger odds, I can’t help but wonder if Emperor Of The Sun is capable of better. Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, this four-year-old Galileo colt placed behind Princess Zoe and subsequent St Leger scorer Galileo Chrome during his last two outings on soft ground. He was only fifth in the Gold Cup, but the winner and runner-up aren’t here. My Goodwood Cup betting tips suggest the 25/1 on offer with 888Sport could be worth chancing each-way.
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