Glorious Goodwood 2013 - Day Three

A nice winner yesterday with Magic City, Lieutenant Miller going close but taking only each-way money. Richard Hughes was a joy to watch all afternoon.

Another good card today.

2:15 Gordon´s Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 1m1f192y 

Goodwood Noble Gift 2pts each-way AND 1pt win @ 14/1 (Bet 365, Skybet, Paddy Power, 888 Sport)

Has looked lazy as sin so far in his races, but has also been keen enough for his trainer to apply a hood (last time out) which apparently didn't help him leaving the stalls and is discarded today. He got up to beat a half decent field despite all that at Kempton last time, and he shaped for all the world as if the step up to today's distance would be no problem when held up in a slowly run race at Sandown the time before, doing all his best work at the finish. He races out of the handicap effectively off OR85 today, but he has now won three of his four starts since debut, the narrow Sandown defeat being his only loss since. The third and fifth from the Kempton win last time have both won since, and he looked a class above them by the finish when he was pulling away. He should be ideally suited by today's test, the stable have booked an in form lightweight veteran, and given that they have tasted Goodwood success before, their horse looks overpriced at 14/1.
2:45 Audi Richmond Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) Cl1 6f 

Cable Bay 1pt each-way @ 20/1 (Bet Victor, guaranteed, 16/1 generally guaranteed) AND 1pt win @ Betfair SP - E/W 2nd

Apart from the favourite Figure Of Speech, I can pick hols in most of these and it may be that something emerges from leftfield to challenge him rather than something with established form. Cable Bay was keen last time out but ultimately won impressively (still green) from a horse who is now rated OR98. He has a few fancy entries and the booking of a jockey with a 2/7 29% strike rate on the stable's juveniles over the last five seasons catches the eye. He might be well drawn here to take a tow into the race from Miracle Of Medinah, and if he has progressed since his last run (sire's horses usually do as juveniles) he is no 20/1 shot in this company.

3:15 Artemis Goodwood Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 2) Cl1 2m 

No bet for us here, Mount Athos has been carefully campaigned and has the class to justify favouritism here for those wanting a bet, 7/2 generally guaranteed.

3:45 Blackrock Fillies´ Stakes (Registered As The Lillie Langtry Stakes) (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 1m6f

No real betting interest here. There are question marks about many of these, but if the favourite Wild Coco is ready she should win, those looking for a bet have to back her at 11/10 which is plenty short enough in my view.

4:20 EBF British Stallion Studs New Ham Maiden Fillies´ Stakes Cl2 7f

Too many newcomers to be betting here. Amazing Maria looks a decent filly and might be an each-way bet to nothing at 4/1 guaranteed (may drift on course).

4:50 Tatler Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 7f

Yourartisonfire 1pt each-way AND 1pt win @ 12/1 (Generally, get guaranteed) - E/W 4th

Kyllachy Rise 1pt each-way @ 16/1 (Bet Victor, Stan James, Betpack.com, Independents) AND 1pt win @ Betfair SP.

I'm not keen on anything at the top of the market here. Pythagorean hasn't won since may and I'd worry his progression has ended for now. I'm not sure about Homage's head carriage, and Czech It Out's stablemates haven't run well this week. Of those at bigger prices Yourartisonfire is the first that sticks out. He only won a four runner race at Sandown last week, but his trainer seems confident there is more to come and suggested the horse had benefited from a short mid season break, avoiding racing on fast ground. Genuine good ground today will be fine and his handler also suggested he had worked him in a visor, which seemed to really wake him up. He raced lazily even when winning at Sandown, and it may be there is more to come in headgear this afternoon. Jim Crowley rides.

Kyllachy Rise is harded to justify but the stable have been cleaning up this week and he shouldn't be 16/1 when Pythagorean is 7/2 based on their Sandown form. Both had excuses and the ground was too rattling fast for our selection, Richard Hughes easing him up. We saw a similar story with viewpoint earlier in the week. Hughes can't do the weight and the aforementioned in form veteran Jimmy Quinn is drafted in. Quinn was seen to good effect on Yeagar at Ascot last Saturday, and he is a very capable pilot when he gets the right horse.

5:25 Qipco Future Stars Apprentice Stakes (Handicap) Cl3 1m1f

Laughing Jack 1pt each-way AND 1pt win @ 20/1 (Bet Victor, Stan James, Betpack.com, guaranteed, 18/1 generally guaranteed)

Tony Carroll has already had a winner this week and it strikes me that he has campaigned Laughing Jack very cleverly. The selection's 2013 form figures read 2114 and it is possible to excuse his run last time out given he was turned out relatively quickly. He goes well after a short break and he may benefit from a few weeks off today. He gets to race off OR77 having won in an apprentice handicap on his penultimate run, and his win over Mankini on his previous start is really stacking up well given Mankini's winning exploits since. There is a chance of a pace burn up here, but equally there's a chance all these apprentices will be playing Richard Hughes roleplay, and it is hard to know what to expect in terms of pace. At 20/1 I'm prepared to take the chance on Laughing Jack, as I think he remains progressive for a very shrewd handler.

Profit & loss: day: -7.00 / month: -7.00 / year: +126.20