flat racing sat 1st aug (goodwood day 5)

[richard-westwood]

just finished stewards cup huntsman close 99.34 poyle vinnie 99.29 jack dexter 99.24 typical minefield of a race but would be nice to go out with a bang so as these three are a little clear of the rest ill dutch them for a nice profit huntsman close 8.5 pts win 8/1 corals poyle vinnie 4.5 pts win 16/1 lads jsck dexter 2.2 pts win 33/1 betvic approx 75 pts returned any winner

[BillyHills]

Scoop6 & Goodwood – Saturday August 1^st The final day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting features the Group 1 Nassau Stakes plus the big handicap of the week, the Stewards Cup. Both races are included in the Tote Scoop6 this weekend and we also have two races from Newmarket. No winner last week so the Win Fund starts at £374,777 and should make the half a million figure by the time we kick off on Saturday. Leg 1: 2.00 Goodwood We start off with a right tricky event, the consolation race for the Stewards Cup. We have a cavalry charge with 28 runners spanning the width of the track and the draw could be all-important here. I like those either very high or very low and the favourite Direct Times has drawn stall 3. Very progressive and gone up 20lbs this season, he won at Newmarket last time and looks a serious sprinter for the future. The bottom one Rex Imperator ran in the Stewards Cup off a mark of 108 last season and turns up here off just 85. Having won last time out and showing a return to form he must be followed from stall 25. Lots of others with chances like Barnet Fair and Seeking Magic and you cant discount the Fahey runners either. Selection: Rex Imperator 12/1 Skybet (Direct Times) Leg 2: 2.15 Newmarket A Listed race for Fillies and Mares here and the French raider Sahrawi has to be respected after being placed in a similar event last time out. Gretchen takes a drop in class after a 5^th in the Ribblesdale and then finishing only 7^th in the Irish Oaks. She’s a strong stayer and should enjoy the stiff finish here. Endless Time is on a hatrick after victories at Salisbury and Goodwood and now steps out of handicap company for the first time. Selection: Gretchen 4/1 William Hill (Sahrawi) Leg 3: 2.35 Goodwood Mark Johnston took this last season with Double Bluff and saddles four runners this time round. Novancia is the pick of Joe Fanning and she battled on well at Newmarket last time out and seems to get better the further she goes. The Stoute yard have a chance with Dartmouth who was only 6^th at Royal Ascot but then went back there and won by four lengths from his King George conqueror Space Age. That was a big improvement and if he reproduces that run he will be hard to beat. Selection: Novancia 8/1 William Hill (Dartmouth) Leg 4: 2.50 Newmarket A 20 runner Nursery with half of them having won last time out. It’s difficult to judge some of the form but we do know that the likes of Tutu Nguru, Blossomtime and Alsaaden all have Group entries so are expected to improve on what we have seen so far. The Hannon runner Alsaaden was just touched off over 7f last time so will appreciate the drop back to 6f. Tutu Nguru missed the break in the Albany but won last time out at Doncaster while Blossomtime was quite impressive last time at Newmarket and could be the one for today. Selection: Blossomtime 7/1 Paddy Power (Tutu Nguru) Leg 5: 3.10 Goodwood A decent renewal of the Nassau Stakes with the 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo heading the betting. She has done little wrong since then finishing second in the Oaks and the Pretty Polly and this looks a perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. Diamondsandrubies beat the favourite last time in Ireland but got the run of the race that day and will do well to confirm the form. Star Of Seville should go well at a bigger price for the Gosden/Dettori combo. Selection: Legatissimo 15/8 Betfred (Star Of Seville) Leg 6: 3.45 Goodwood The Stewards Cup, one of the most competitive sprints of the whole season. Tropics heads the weights on a mark of 113, he’s well up to Group class but has to carry 9st13lbs here against some very useful horses. Richard Fahey has been mopping up the Saturday handicaps and he saddles Tatlisu who ran well to be third in the consolation race last season but is 10lbs higher now. Magical Memory will be fancied from the one stall with Frankie Dettori on board. He won at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago and is improving fast. Huntsmans Close is progressing nicely and was unlucky here last year behind Tatlisu, he’s only up 4lbs from his last win and the trainer does well in these big handicaps. Selection: Huntsmans Close 8/1 Coral (Tatlisu) Other races at Goodwood The 4.20 is a maiden race over 7f and it normally pays to side with those youngsters with experience. The Godolphin runner Folkswood (3/1 Skybet) ran well on his debut at Newmarket and shouldn’t be far away here in this company. The Qatar Stakes at 4.55 could also go to Godolphin in the shape of Flash Fire. He won by an impressive 6 lengths at Sandown last time and despite his weight rise can go well. Fox Trotter (16/1 Coral) is the class horse in the race and could be a farewell Goodwood winner for Richard Hughes. In the final race of the Festival we have an apprentice race and last year the combination of Andrew balding and Kieran Shoemark were successful. They team up with Angelic Upstart this time and should be added to any forecasts. I like the Fanshawe runner Knight Owl (11/2 Ladbrokes) who was touched off at Ascot last time, jockey Cam Hardie takes the rides again and he’s as good as anyone in the apprentice ranks at the moment.