FILTER BY

Goodwood and Galway – Avoid At All Costs!

August 2nd, 2018 | Marten's Current Racing Diary

Hi there!

The reason I loathe Goodwood as a medium for betting was perfectly illustrated yesterday, as it has been on many occasions before, when Lord Glitters left the impression that with a clear run he would have gone close in the Sussex Stakes.

I seldom gripe over the past in this game – after over forty years of involvement I’ve seen it all –  but you knew from some way out that Lord Glitters was not going to find a way through and it was galling to see his jockey forced to switch him around the whole field – six horses wide – to finish full of running in third.

Having said that, I did express concerns beforehand that the track would not suit his style of racing – he is better with a long stretch such as at Ascot – but with give in the ground, either here or overseas, I expect a Group 1 to come his way. By the way he won twice over a mile and a quarter as a younger horse in France, so his connections may consider another crack at the longer trip. On this week’s evidence it would certainly suit him.

A fundamental tenet for any serious backer is that they have to believe the best horse in any race has a fair chance of winning. This does not apply, in too many cases, to Goodwood.

As for Galway nothing would induce me to have a serious bet. I readily admit I am not familiar with the demands of the track, but it seems to me that the handicaps are fiercely competitive – and not all of them of a particularly high standard – while the maidens feature the occasional decent horse but look, for the most part, only ordinary.

So for many racing fans, both in the UK and Ireland, I accept this is one of the best weeks of the season. For me I’m afraid it is no more than an intriguing spectacle.

Bye for now

Marten