Gary’s been in top form with his sprint tips this week with 3 of his last 4 selections winning (Pinball 16/1, Secret Asset 14/1 and Hotham yesterday at 15/2) so I thought he’d be the best person to take a look at today’s two big sprints from Goodwood. Incidentally, the loser of the 4 was Mister Hughie and he goes in the 2.45 Doncaster today.

Anyway over to Gary…….

I’ll start by looking at the consolation race the 2.05. One thing I will say to start with is that I don’t think the draw is going to make any difference as all week the track has seemed very fair all over. It’s going to be more a case of where there is plenty of pace you have the advantage. In this race there are plenty of old favourites of mine who have both won and lost me loads over the last couple of seasons but as with nearly all sprinters if you stick with them they pay you back in the end. Saucy Brown, Joseph Henry, Oldjoesaid and Baby Strange all fit firmly into that catagory.

The likely favourite here is Golden Desert (Ouch! If any of you backed him on Wednesday and saw the ride ‘Frank’ Spencer gave him you’d forgive me for swearing. Awful, awful, awful.) but I’m not sure the drop in trip is what he needs as one of the major reasons for me fancying him so much was the 7F trip. He has what looks a good draw in 25 against the stands rail but more importantly he has Joseph Henry only 2 stalls away and that guarantees you plenty of pace on this side.

If I look back to the day we all went to Newmarket for Matt’s race day, Gavin told us all to do Novellen Lad at Newbury (which won at 16/1) with the 3rd home in that race my own personal fancy. His name was SECRET WITNESS and he is my main fancy here. He loves big field handicaps where he can get tucked away and he has stall 4 so I’m hoping there will be pace over the far side or better still they all come down the middle and he can get plenty of cover.

My other fancy has stall 15 and can race up with the pace. He again has some creditable form in these big handicaps although his form is very in and out. I think this race will be tailormade for EVERYMANFORHIMSELF.

 Both my selections are available at 33/1 if you shop around.

Selection SECRET WITNESS      33/1
Danger    EVERYMANFORHIMSELF  33/1

3.45 The Stewards Cup is again full of old favourites of mine and it is an ultra competitive event (14 of the runners are rated 100+ which would make a cracking Group 3 race). Top weight and hot favourite Hoof It won well last week but 10st in a race like this takes some carrying. I’m going to stick with my early season prediction when I said that TIDDLIWINKS would win a big sprint handicap this season. He didn’t do his handicap mark any favours when running 3rd in a Group 3 but his last run is best forgotten as his jockey lost his stirrups. He is capable of winning a Group race and I’m very confident of a big run. The dangers include Macs Power who ran a cracker from the wrong side at Ascot, Pastoral Player, Colonel Mak, Tajneed and my mid week winner Secret Asset. There has been a lot of money in the last 24 hours for Edinburgh Knight and he’s now around 10/1 but his form doesn’t look good enough to me and he is a weak finisher. His price is way too short for me to get involved. One I do give an excellent chance to is Fashsta, he was a very fast finisher last Saturday behind Hoof It, but my danger is going to be DOCOFTHEBAY. He is due a change of luck in these big field handicaps as he has been running creditably for most of the season although mainly at 7f. However he showed he can cut it over 6f when a staying on 3rd to Pastoral Player at Newmarket.

Selection TIDDLIWINKS 20/1
Danger    DOCOFTHEBAY 25/1

I will be doing 4 ew singles and 2×2 4 ew doubles but only with firms betting on the first 5 home.

Good luck,
Gary