BIG HITTING BY DAQMAN: 20-1 AND 20.0 WINNERS: Following Nehaam (WON 20-1) at Ascot on Sunday, Daqman was at it again yesterday with a 20.0 morning take on the unraced Archbishop (WON 8-1) at Sandown last night. It’s easy to check back on the offers Daqman took: all bets are to win 20 points – except where stated – so divide the nominated stake into 20 and the ‘price’ taken is clear.
13.5 GOODWOOD CUP IMPROVER: Daqman today finds an improver for the Goodwood Cup at 13.5 and takes on a Henry ‘Frankel’ Cecil favourite in the big fillies’ race, the Lillie Langtry.
2.15 Goodwood: John Gosden has won this three times in eight years, Mark Johnston twice. Stalls 5, 6 and 7 scored in races on the turn yesterday though, because he managed to get across and lead, Webbow won from 11.
Oceanway is the one among the high draw likely to try to move over early and, as a Mark Johnston contender with De Sousa up, 12.5 offers on Betdaq beckoned as a back-and-lay bet this morning.
However, despite his stall (16 of 16), I wouldn’t write off Gosden’s Tropical Beat (12.0), who has had bad luck in running the last twice (the handicapper hasn’t moved his rating).
Boogie Shoes (11.5) got a massive boost from St Leger entry Whiplash Willie yesterday. He gave weight and a beating to that one at Salisbury and will be better suited going right-handed today than he was at Epsom last time out.
There’s not much between Chain Lightning and Oceanway on Sandown form, so I’m taking Boogie Shoes and Tropical Beat against the field. Labarinto should turn around Newmarket running with Fulgur but is a bit of a bridesmaid this season and seems to want everything to drop right.
2.45 Goodwood (King George Stakes): Kingsgate Native won this two years ago. Group Therapy was second last year, with paper-favourite today, the unreliable Amour Propre, only 12th of 15. Swiss Diva also has Group form, but on soft. Beyond Desire was a Group-3 runner-up at Sandown, just giving way from the front.
That’s about it at the highest level, though both Masamah and Noble Storm have recently moved out of handicaps and into the Pattern as Listed winners. Can they sustain the climb?
Noble Storm has been given time, and he goes well fresh, so is back-and-lay material, alongside Beyond Desire, but I was taken with Masamah’s York win (from Amour Propre, with Golden Destiny, Group Therapy and Rain Delayed beaten off).
3.15 (Goodwood Cup): Group form is also the key to the Goodwood Cup. That means Allied Powers, Blue Bajan, Geordieland, Manighar, Opinion Poll, and possibly Electrolyser, second last year.
The Pricewise horse Fox Hunt is on the upgrade but it’s a top-class four-year-old who can win this, and I can find only one this century, with that age group’s strike-rate just 1-39.
I’d prefer Chiberta King; though behind Fox Hunt in the Spring, he’s an improver who comes into this strongly on a line through Aaim To Prosper (both held Electrolyser at Sandown); his running style looks ideal for Goodwood and his yard is in top form.
Red Cadeaux (trying a new trip) and Tastahil could do with some rain, but the Aaim To Prosper form dictates that we must consider Opinion Poll and Manighar, though all their best form, too, is on good or softer ground. Having said that, yesterday’s times were slow for every single race.
If, as expected, Overturn takes them along at a pace from stall 2, widely drawn Tastahil (normally up with the pace), Red Cadeaux, Opinion Poll and Electrolyser will be dropping in behind, and I see Manighar (7.2) and Chiberta King (13.5) getting the best tuck-in from half a dozen off the rail.
Opinion Poll’s Gold Cup second is the best form on show but he’s a notorious bridesmaid and, in fact, Manighar was ‘all over them’ at this 2m point in that race.
3.45 Goodwood (Lillie Langtry): The favourite is forever a lay in this test for the Park Hill Stakes, the fillies and mares St Leger in September. But arguing with Henry Cecil right now is to lose round after round.
His Wild Coco slammed Meeznah last time out and that one was third in that very Park Hill at Doncaster last backend, when Eastern Aria completed the double after taking this Lillie Langtry.
Pollys Mark and Motrice, second and third in today’s race last year, have continued to run well without looking like Group performers, and the one I like is Field Of Miracles.
Her style, seen in her neck second to Banimpire in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot – the pair seven lengths clear – looks suited to Goodwood. She has improved from 82 to 112 in two races this season. Banimpire has since run a gallant second in the Irish Oaks.
DAQMAN’S BETS
LAY to win 10pts AMOUR PROPRE, plus WIN-30 JACKPOT: BET 2.8pts win BOOGIE SHOES and 1.8pts win TROPICAL BEAT (2.15 Goodwood)
BET: 3.4pts win MASAMAH (2.45 Goodwood)
WIN-30 JACKPOT: BET 4.8pts win MANIGHAR and 2.4pts win CHIBERTA KING (3.15 Goodwood)
LAY to win 10pts WILD COCO and BET: 5pts win (nap) FIELD OF MIRACLES (3.45 Goodwood)
