Paul Jacobs’ Goodwood & Galway Racing Tips
19:10 Galway (Wednesday) – Tullybeg (each-way)
15:35 Goodwood (Thursday) – Elmalka
17:05 Galway (Thursday) – Anotherway / Kings Hill
15:00 Goodwood (Friday) – Classic (each-way)
19:10 Galway (Wednesday) – Tullybeg
The Tote Galway Plate is the highlight of the meeting for me and having experienced it at first hand twice, you can understand even more how much luck in the run you need as well as a nicely handicapped individual at your behest. Gavin Cromwell has his team in outstanding form at the moment and his Perceval Legallois looks the right sort for this race despite being unexposed over fences (this will be just his 6th chase start) and open to improvement. His fencing improved in a Listed handicap last time at Punchestown and the fact he races prominently is a plus.
However, there is much better each-way value to be had further down the betting list with the likes of Zanahiyr, Idas Boy and TULLYBEG all in with reasonable chances of picking up a share of the substantial prize money.
TULLYBEG has been running over a wee bit further of late, but has been knocking on the door in similar level races. This time around I expect San Ewing to have him a bit closer than normal so he can put his guaranteed stamina to good use up the final climb to the winning post. The drying ground is also a positive for this consistent nine-year-old gelding.
15:35 Goodwood (Thursday) – Elmalka
All eyes will naturally be on Emily Upjohn and Opera Singer from two of the strongest yards in the land. The former looked in need of the outing when run down by Bluestocking in the Pretty Polly Stakes from which of course has been well cemented since. This should certainly be her peak season performance and she has a fair record when racing on downhill. There have been mixed messages about whether the O’Brien horse wants this trip. On breeding she looks a certainty to see this out, but on her run style, I’m not so sure.
But connections will ensure she starts favourite here and makes the market for a ‘value’ bet at double figure odds. When she flew home to win the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, Roger Varian’s charge ELMALKA looked a natural for this valuable Group One and that view was backed up by her late effort in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when she got shuffled back early on and wasn’t suited by the short home stretch.
It’s worth remembering this will only be her fifth career start, and with several of her rivals set to make this a well run race, she should get the pace in the race as they fly down the home turn and level up. But the key to her chances is the extra quarter mile, which looks bound to suit, based on her running style with both sides of her breeding adding further confidence to that view.
17:05 Galway (Thursday) – Anotherway / Kings Hill
Under Control is a very interesting ante-post favourite for the Guinness Galway Hurdle coming here off the back of a 187 day break and having undergone a second wind operation. If she is strong on course then I suspect the daughter of Doctor Dino may be worth a saver in this 20 runner event.
Still, this column is called ‘Value Bets’ for a reason and I thought one of the eight Willie Mullins’ trained battalion at five times the odds of the market leader was more interesting especially with the enhanced place terms. ANOTHERWAY had problems with his hurdling early on in his timber topping career which led to a fall in the Grade Two Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse just as he was bearing down on the leaders. A run on the flat at Leopardstown should have set him up nicely for this, but he ran way below par when only 10th of the 11 runners, and never got going with any fluency under Rachael Blackmore.
Based on that Fairyhouse run though I think he is more than fairly handicapped off a mark of 137 and the fact he also likes to race prominently will be a positive. Of his 19 rivals, I may also have an each-way play on KINGS HILL with the impressive Jack Gilligan on board. He has been upwardly mobile in the first half of 2024 and shaped very nicely on the level at Leopardstown last time out.
15:00 Goodwood (Friday) – Classic
Tipping up in the Golden Mile Handicap days in advance is not the easiest thing to do, but I’m convinced the make-up and style of this race will suit the Richard Hannon trained charge CLASSIC.
Soft ground has been against this son of Dubawi on two of his last three starts, in between he ran a cracking second of 15 behind Two Tempting at Sandown in a Class two event, closing strongly at the finish up the stiff Esher hill. Last year at the Glorious festival he was unlucky in running a four and three quarter length sixth in the three-year-old mile handicap off a mark of 91 (races off 2lbs higher here).
Of course much will depend on his draw, but the likelihood of fast ground and a good pace to aim at makes him an each-way play in my book granted some luck is in the run. Of his rivals I have the most respect for Benacre (a beaten favourite at Hamilton last time out) and at a shorter price Blue For You from the David O’Meara team. The Upper Helmsely trainer has a cracking record in this race and his handicap entries at Goodwood are always worth a second glance.
Paul Jacobs’ Goodwood & Galway racing Tips
19:10 Galway (Wednesday) – Tullybeg (Each Way)
15:35 Goodwood (Thursday) – Elmalka
17:05 Galway (Thursday) – Anotherway / Kings Hill
15:00 Goodwood (Friday) – Classic (Each Way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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