Friday’s best bets, by Chris Cook
The one thing everyone knows about the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood (apart from the fact that it is now called the Cocked Hat) is that it is the Derby trial which doesn’t produce Derby winners. Troy, in 1979, has been the one and only horse to do the double and therefore it always seems to me that people treat the Goodwood race with a degree of levity.
It seems mildly unfair to me because there have been some very high quality winners, even if they didn’t immediately progress to Classic glory. Dubai Millennium and Pentire are the two names that jump out of the list. There have been St Leger winners liked Masked Marvel and Minster Son, plus horses like Ibn Bey and Rewilding who became Group One winners the following year. Asian Heights and Coshocton may have built bigger reputations but for injuries, a fatal one in Coshocton’s case, sustained in the Derby’s home straight.
There are at least three possible stars among the field for today’s race and I was sorely tempted by John Gosden’s lightly raced Mr Singh, not least because the trainer has won this race three times in six years. But this colt still has to find quite a bit of improvement on his Newbury success.
So Storm The Stars (4.00) is the suggestion at 3-1, he having stayed on strongly to be second in the Chester Vase a fortnight ago, less than two lengths behind Hans Holbein. Chester didn’t really suit him and I don’t imagine that Goodwood will be ideal but he will have more of a chance to build up a head of steam here.
He has taken time to come to himself, as you would expect of a son of Sea The Stars out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, but his head second to Golden Horn in an October maiden looks pretty useful now. His dam was an unraced half-sister to Giant’s Causeway, so he’s bred to be good and I note that William Haggas is “strongly considering” the Derby as a target.
Godolphin have the favourite for that race in Best Of Times but they might have a good day even if he comes up short, as Zoella (3.25) appeals in the preceding fillies’ handicap at 7-2. She made up a lot of ground to score on her debut at Lingfield in February, beating a couple of experienced and more fancied rivals after giving them a head start.
The hood she wore that day has now disappeared, suggesting she has grown up a bit in the intervening months, and its absence may help her to stay in touch through the first half of this race. She has a very fair handicap mark if able to give her running on just her second start and at a tricky course.
Bowson Fred (7.40) is interesting at 3-1 for the sprint handicap at Musselburgh tonight. Althought sent off at a big price, he was fancied by connections for a stronger race at York last week and was beaten less than a length. He gets to run off the same mark and has a capable 7lb claimer in the saddle this time.
Tipping competition, day five
Our winners so far:
Monday
Newera 7-2
Third Time Lucky 7-4
Mutatis Mutandis 6-1
Tuesday
Free Code 9-2
Sail With Sultana 16-1
Harrogate Fair 4-1
Wednesday
War Singer 5-1
Classy Anne 11-1
Chief Executive 8-1
Thursday
Fitzwilly 6-1
Lady Of Dubai 7-4
Dartmouth 11-4
And our leader is ...
GForce1 +18.50
... who strengthened his position by picking Dartmouth. Other good scores: Blitzwing +9.50, Copshaw +5, kingklynch +4.75, Mai11 +4.25, MISTERCHESTER +2.
For today’s thrilling climax, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 4.00 Goodwood, 5.10 Goodwood, 6.30 Pontefract.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to the Duchess Stand on Derby day, generously offered by Epsom. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets to this most prestigious of racing events here.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -12.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day (TODAY).
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
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And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
