Ginger Joe’s Goodwood and Galway Preview and Best Bets (Tuesday)

1. 14:25 Goodwood – Coral Vintage Stakes (Group 2) 7f Odds, Analysis, and Best Bet

• • Al Hudaiba 13/8
  • Haffner 2/1
  • Pikachu 9/1
  • Undiscovered 11/1
  • Dr Rascal 12/1
  • Rulers Control 16/1

The first big race of Glorious Goodwood is the Group 2 Coral Vintage Stakes for the two-year-olds. It looks a fascinating contest with several promising youngsters in the lineup!

Rulers Control for Joseph O’Brien is one that could easily outrun his odds. He made a winning debut in a Curragh maiden over five furlongs before producing a really encouraging effort when fourth in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot over six furlongs.

That form has already received a timely boost, with runner up Moonrise winning the Group 3 Japan Cup Stakes at Ascot last weekend, which means Rulers Control remains a very unexposed colt.

There’s plenty to like about him, and this extra furlong should suit him well. He’ll need to improve considerably to win a race of this quality, but don’t be surprised if he significantly outperforms his odds and gets into the frame for Joseph O’Brien, whose team can seemingly do no wrong at the moment.

Pikachu is another who probably hasn’t shown his full ability just yet. His third in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket was full of promise. He travelled strongly and hit the front at the furlong pole before just being worn down late on. He also veered right leaving the stalls, suggesting he’s still learning his craft. The fact he’s already capable of running to this level despite looking a little raw suggests there’s more improvement to come.

He’ll need to find that improvement though, because Al Hudaiba finished strongly to beat him in the Superlative and also got the better of the odds on Abraham Lincoln from the Ballydoyle team. That could prove to be a very strong piece of form.

Al Hudaiba has now won three of his four starts, his only defeat coming when unseating his rider, and while a mile is likely to bring out even more improvement, he’s already shown he has the pace for seven furlongs. If they go a strong gallop, that should play right into his hands.

Haffner represents Ballydoyle and has done little wrong in two starts. After finishing second to Abraham Lincoln on debut, he stepped forward to land a Newmarket maiden in tidy fashion. This son of Justify is almost certain to improve again and importantly, he receives 3lb from Al Hudaiba.

That weight allowance could prove significant in what looks a closely matched contest, and it would be no surprise if he took another sizeable step forward. Dr Rascal and Undiscovered are also worthy of plenty of respect.

Ultimately though, I’m just siding with Al Hudaiba. I expect him to be ridden just off the pace, with Haffner tracking him into the race before Ryan Moore looks to challenge late. The Ballydoyle runner is a major danger, especially with the weight concession, but I just think Al Hudaiba has the perfect blend of speed and stamina over this trip and can hold him off in the closing stages. Al Hudaiba gets the vote.

2. 15:35 Goodwood – Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) 2m Odds, Analysis, and Best Bet

• • Scandinavia 11/10
  • Trawlerman 2/1
  • Rahiebb 11/1
  • Amiloc 16/1
  • Lazt Griff 16/1
  • 20/1 Bar

The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Goodwood Cup over the gruelling two-mile trip, and the market tells us this is between Scandinavia and Trawlerman. I think that’s exactly how it should be too.

You can try to find an each way angle, but when I back a horse each way, I want it to have a genuine chance of winning. In this race, I just don’t see a scenario where one of these two doesn’t come out on top. In all likelihood, they’ll also fill the first two places, leaving just one each way spot to play for, so it simply isn’t worth it.

It really is a fascinating clash though. You’ve got the established eight-year-old in Trawlerman taking on the progressive four-year-old Scandinavia, and I think we’re in for a cracking race.

Trawlerman won this back in 2022, while Scandinavia arrives on the back of six straight victories and just keeps finding more improvement. He got the better of Trawlerman when they met last time, but there was an important difference.

Scandinavia was race fit, whereas Trawlerman was making his first start after a 243-day break. You’d have to think Trawlerman will come on plenty for that run, and if he does, then Scandinavia will probably need to improve again himself. That’s what makes this such an intriguing contest. They’re two top class stayers and for me, the race revolves entirely around them.

My selection is Trawlerman at around 2/1. I think he’ll reverse the form from their last meeting and remind everyone why he’s been one of the standout stayers of recent seasons. He’s incredibly straightforward and should be absolutely spot on for this.

While I don’t expect him to win by far, I do think he’ll have just enough to get the better of Scandinavia this time around with that latest effort behind him.

3. 16:40 Galway – BMW Novice Hurdle 2m Odds, Analysis, and Best Bet

• • Gomez Addams 7/4
  • Lizzie Twigg 15/8
  • Fastnet Crystal 11/2
  • Porcupine Bank 7/1
  • Magicoo 7/1
  • 10/1 Bar

Gomez Addams has a likeable profile and has already shown enough ability to be competitive in a race like this. That said, I do think we’ll see the best of him once he steps up in trip, and in time, goes over fences. He remains a strong contender here, but based on what we’ve seen so far, he doesn’t look the quickest horse in the lineup, so the short price puts me off.

Fastnet Crystal is a really likeable mare for Joseph O’Brien and she certainly has plenty of speed. She also receives weight all round, which is a significant advantage, and that could bring her firmly into the picture. At the prices, she looks the type who could make plenty of each way appeal.

Magico, representing Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, is another who could improve enough to take this, but I’m most interested in Gordon Elliott’s pair, Porcupine Bank and Lizzie Twigg.

Porcupine Bank was a good winner last time out and a mark of 130 could still underestimate his true ability. However, what really catches the eye is that Jack Kennedy has chosen to ride Lizzie Twigg instead.

She looks a mare with plenty of upside and, although her jumping has been a little sketchy at times, she’s shown a good attitude by coming back onto the bridle and still finding enough to win her races. She runs here off a mark of 127, receives the mares’ allowance, and has far more scope for improvement than her current rating suggests.

The fact Jack Kennedy has sided with her, despite Porcupine Bank already having strong form in the book, also feels quite significant. Perhaps Gordon Elliott thinks this mare could be a bit better than we’ve seen so far. So, Lizzie Twigg gets the final vote.

4. 17:45 Galway – BMW Handicap Chase 2m2f Odds, Analysis, and Best Bet

• • Giant Haystacks 5/1
  • Cahirdown Boy 13/2
  • Fort Randall 15/2
  • Driveonwill 15/2
  • Crescent Moon 17/2
  • Butter Fingers 9/1
  • 10/1 Bar

The BMW Handicap Chase is a deeply competitive contest over the extended 2m2f, but I think trainer Ross O’Sullivan holds the aces here with his three runners, Giant Haystacks, Driveonwill, and Butter Fingers.

Giant Haystacks first of all, is a really nice horse who I have seen plenty of times, and this is just the type of contest that will suit him. It will be run at a decent pace, and when he gets into a good jumping rhythm, he travels really well, and his jumping seems to be better that way too. He is only 5/1 in a deep contest though which does feel on the short side from a punting perspective. Still, Giant Haystacks certainly deserves the top spot at the best racebooks online.

Butter Fingers is a nice horse coming here off the back of a small break, but his latest win was full of promise. It’s interesting that the yard are claiming off him here though, and it makes me wonder if he is the third string of the yards trio.

So ,I think the one to side with is just about going to be Driveonwill, who finished ahead of Giant Haystacks on his penultimate start. He did then unseat the rider on his latest effort, but he remains well treated and I see no reason why we won’t get a big effort from him here. I

think Giant Haystacks and Butter Fingers are both genuine contenders, and we could see a magical one, two, three from the Ross O’Sullivan yard, but Driveonwill gets the nod, just!