"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2018 [TUES 31st JULY - SAT 4th AUG] -- DAY FOUR

FRIDAY
Thursday results were very good to us and a small profit on the day with Wild Illusion taking the Nassau Stakes means we wiped out the previous loss and have +0.63 going into today.

While we are busy at Galway this week we only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps through to Saturday which will feature the Stewards Cup Handicap.

Going -- Good.
Weather -- Generally sunny, some clouds and could be another hot spell with a max high 27C

1:50 Bombay Sapphire Glorious Stakes 1m 4f (Group 3) 
Nice field of 7 declared for this first Group 3 of the afternoon and SECOND STEP looks the one to beat here today, still plenty competitive at the age of seven, runner up in couple of Gr3 this season can make it third time lucky. Mirage Dancer looks the one to give the selection most to think about.

Selection - SECOND STEP  [3rd 7/2].

2:25 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes 1m (Group 3) 
Again a small field of 7 three year olds for our second Group 3 of the afternoon, hard to pick one out of these, with strong support for the Irish challenger THREEANDFOURPENCE expected. However we are going to stick with the home team and pick OSTILLO with REGAL REALITY against the field. 

Selections -- OSTILLO [2nd 4/1]  //  REGAL REALITY [WON 10/1]
(forecast paid £47.93 for a £1 too)

Where did you get that hat ... 

3:00 Unibet Golden Mile 1m (Heritage Handicap)

Another mile event now but has 22 runners so will not be straightforward. So will pick a pair against the field and probably going to have one from each side of the draw as we don't know how they will cope with this size field. 

Top weight ZHUI FENG ran in a group race at Royal Ascot finishing 8th and picked up a listed event prior to that, while top weight is difficult could well run into a place if the breaks come and is a course winner too. 20/1 good win/place bet. 

ESCOBAR (drawn 2) has experience in big fields, 11th in the Hunt Cup, and has won earlier in the year, will be one of ours for the win bet. ORIGINAL CHOICE (drawn 17) is another horse still improving this year and is 16/1 on the other side of the course.

Selections -- ESCOBAR  [8th 9/2]  //  ORIGINAL CHOICE  [3rd 12/1]
Win/place bet -- ZHUI FENG [Non Runner]

3:35 King George Stakes 5f (Group 2)

Our last race for today is just as difficult as the big mile handicap above, 11 declared and over 5f plenty of luck is needed, though the one to beat is BATTASH despite his reverse in the Kings Stand by Blue Point and can gain some consolation here.

At a bigger price STONE OF DESTINY ran well to come 4th at 50/1 in the Commonwealth Cup and is given a chance to shine again over the min trip. 

Selection -- BATTASH  [WON 8/11].

That's all for Friday. Results to be updated during the afternoon with Saturday to follow. 

Bet -- 6 points 
Returns - 12.73 points (so far)

+7.36 profit for the week so far.


Saturday will therefore be updated soon and the conclusion of this years meeting will feature a great card including the Group 3 Gordon Stakes and also the Stewards Cup handicap.