The pick of the prices on Day 4 at Glorious Goodwood....

Thursday, 1st August 2024

The pick of the prices on Day 4 at Glorious Goodwood….

If you missed yesterday’s column containing selections for this afternoon – Day 3 at Glorious Goodwood – you can catch up here….

I’m already thinking about Day 4….

…. which means the Coral Goodwood Handicap (1.50)– over the extended 2m4f trip….

…. and the Golden Mile (3.00) – an open handicap with a full take-up of 20 runners….

Let’s get down to it….

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In the Coral Goodwood – 1.50….

I’m rolling the dice in this one….

Hughie Morrison’s won this race a couple of times previously….

…. he has the favourite this time around in the form of Kyle of Lochalsh….

…. and he also runs Vino Victrix – who likes Goodwood and ran a good trial at the track the time before last….

But it’s Morrison’s other runner – PREMIERE LIGNE – that takes my interest at the general 14s….

I look at his profile and his record and I wonder what he’s even doing in the race….

Following a wind-operation at the end of last term the 4yo has been an improver over the 12 trip this season….

…. but he’s still only rated 81 – meaning there are plenty of other options for him….

…. he steps up to the 2m4f trip having never previously raced beyond 12f….

…. and this is a much hotter contest than anything he’s encountered before….

The trip is a BIG change in the horse’s set-up….

…. and I wonder what the thinking is….

He’s been staying on strong in the closing stages at 12f of late….

…. and perhaps connections believe going further will improve him no end….

But jumping straight to 2m4f is still a very bold experiment….

…. and – of course – the horse has a lot to prove tomorrow afternoon as a consequence….

But he’s here….

…. he’s fit and firing….

…. he’s improving….

…. he’s been building up a head of steam….

…. and he’s an interesting participant up against multiple opponents who haven’t really been doing much of late….

It could be he bombs out at the trip when push comes to shove….

…. but his presence in the line up gets the old antenna twitching….

…. and – at the price – I’m happy to have a swing of the bat….

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In the Golden Mile – 3.00….

I’m backing NEW IMAGE at the 9s in this one….

He’s gone very close in big-handicaps the last twice….

…. first when 3/17 and beaten 0.75 lengths in a C3 at York in June off 88….

…. then in last weekend’s valuable International Stakes at Ascot – where he was 2/18 and beaten a neck off 89….

He’s due to go up to 92 but gets in here 3lb well in off his old mark of 89….

…. and the step-up tomorrow to a mile looks sure to suit on the evidence of his most recent performances – where he’s been closest at the end of his races….

He’s very much a horse on a roll right now and he can put another big one in tomorrow….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 5 at Glorious Goodwood….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd