It’s Goodwood Day 3 of this week’s glorious meeting, and Dave Massey is back, Panama in tow, to tackle more action on the downs.
Goodwood Day 3: The Strikin Viking (2.25)
The Strikin Viking comes into this off the back of an excellent effort in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh where he was only beaten half a length by Henri Matisse, supposedly one of Aidan’s best this season, the pair nicely clear of the third, Arizona Blaze. After that effort he was purchased privately by Wathnan, presumably with this in mind as an early target, and Wathnan should have a good handle on all the form as Arizona Blaze, in turn, had been third to their Shareholder in the Norfolk Stakes previously.
Given second favourite Tropical Storm was second in the aforementioned Norfolk and on form ought to be held, it makes the 11-8 for The Strikin Viking look a solid price. It would be no shock to see him go off around the even money mark, and with the speed figures backing up what your eyes are telling you as well, he does look the solid bet on the card.
Goodwood Day 3: Jan Brueghel (3:00)
Even if, as is possible, Align The Stars goes for the Summer Cup later in the week (and we won’t know that until this piece has gone to publication) I think I’d like to get Jan Brueghel beaten at odds-on, and have both Bellum Justum and Sayedaty Sadaty running for me. In fact, if Align The Stars is out, Bellum Justum ought to get an easy lead and we saw Tuesday how beneficial that could be to a horse’s chances.
This isn’t a case of simply not liking Jan Brueghel, unbeaten in two starts and showed some good battling qualities to land the International Stakes at the Curragh last time, I do, but the prices just look like they are paying too much attention to the trainer and not enough to actual form, as both Bellum Justum’s Hampton Court third and Sayedaty Sadaty’s Derby fifth are both every bit as strong, if not stronger, and it’s a case of playing the market.
Goodwood Day 3: Ebt’s Guard (5:55)
It’s tough old handicap to finish the Goodwood Day 3 card with, firms going 7-1 the field tells you that, but the consistent and still improving Ebt’s Guard looks a perfectly reasonable selection in the lucky last. The market might ignore him a little as he’s more exposed than a few, but he has plenty of plus points, not least adaptability on the ground, which could be useful if the expected rain Thursday is heavier than we think it might be.
Second to Blake giving him 5lb at Sandown back in May (winner has gone in again since,it’s solid form) he made light work of an easy task at Thirsk before a short-head defeat at Yarmouth and on his latest start at Ascot, on ground with a bit of cut in it, he was a slightly unlucky third to Zain Blue, getting no run at a key point just as they were quickening up.
He lost both ground and momentum as the winner came across him but stuck on gamely to the task once getting clear sailing, and the effort can be marked up somewhat. From a good inside draw, he’s every chance of hitting the frame again and rewarding each-way players.
By Dave Massey
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