The feature race on day three - the Goodwood Cup - looks a good betting contest, but there could be even better wagers to be found
The opening race on day three of Glorious Goodwood is traditionally one of the toughest contests of the week. A big field packed full of unexposed 3yos who could be anything.
One horse that looks sure to run well is Rotherwick. It was strange to see the horse given a hold up ride last time out at Newmarket on a day when front runners were favoured, especially as Rotherwick’s best form has come when ridden handy.
Previous to that he finished a very creditable fifth in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot and on his seasonal debut he found only subsequent Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs too good at Sandown. He is undoubtedly well handicapped, but you have to think there is something a bit more progressive in the field.
The potential group horse in a handicap could well be Willie Haggas’ Awesome Power. He ran in the same race as Rotherwick at Newmarket last time out and was well beaten, but the ground was reportedly too fast on that occasion.
Before that he had won a strong Sandown handicap over 9f, beating two subsequent winners, looking as though this extra furlong would suit well. The way he was backed at Newmarket suggests he is still well ahead of his official mark of 86 and he looks the best bet in the race.
Others to note are Keble who will enjoy the faster ground than he got at Windsor last time out when narrowly beaten and Scooner whose previous second to River Dart over this course and distance has been well advertised since.
Fox set to go wild in Goodwood Cup
The Goodwood Cup is the feature of the day and it looks to be an open contest with Trip To Paris, the Ascot Gold Cup winner, carrying a 4lb penalty. His run style could leave him a little vulnerable around here and he is not even the top-rated horse in the field.
That honour lies with Big Orange, but he was a shock winner of a slightly below par Group 2 last time out and still needs to prove himself over this trip.
The overpriced one here could well be Oriental Fox who looked better than ever when romping home in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot last time out. That is not always the strongest contest but he finished fifth in the Ascot Gold Cup last year and he has also run well at Goodwood before.
Major fancy in the finale
The card ends with another tricky 3yo handicap, this time over 5f. There are several that could be well ahead of their marks here, but all of those have some question marks, so the best strategy here could be to back the extremely solid Major Pusey. He won a fair race over course and distance a few starts back and that effort threw up a few winners.
He has finished second twice since, but was beaten by a decent sort by just a short head in the first of those before looking unsuited by trying to make all at Sandown on his most recent start. He is unpenalised for that effort and with form figures of 122 over this trip he could still have more to come.
Second place special: Betway will refund losing bets on selected races up to £25 if your horse finishes second and is beaten by less than a length. Terms and conditions apply.
