Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook

‘Flying Solow’ says the Racing Post’s front-page headline, which is quite good joke, because, of course, Gleneagles has dropped out of the Sussex Stakes, leaving Solow as the only ‘big beast’ in the line-up. I think he’ll win today’s feature race at 3.10pm but I shall stop short of backing him or tipping him in this space because odds of 8-13 are very short indeed.

It is not as though nothing can go wrong around Goodwood. Excellent pilot though Maxime Guyon is, he does not seem to have ridden at the Sussex track before. And of course Solow may decide, as others have before him, that he doesn’t particularly enjoy running downhill on a drying surface.

Several of his rivals demand respect, though I can’t see why Night Of Thunder should turn around the Queen Anne form, on which he trails Solow by almost five lengths. Cougar Mountain put up an excellent effort in that race but he was disappointing in the Eclipse and the extra distance of the Sandown contest does not seem to me a complete explanation.

Arod and Belardo are really interesting, especially the former, who could pinch this under a well-judged ride from the front by Andrea Atzeni. But the most likely scenario is that he’ll set this up for a closer, while Belardo could have used more juice in the ground. So Solow it is but I shall watch without financial interest.

William Of Orange (2.00) is a hot favourite for the opener but I still quite like the available 5-1 about Sir Mark Prescott’s horse. He has a bit in hand on his current rating, judged on his strong-finishing effort at York last time in a race he should really have won. I feel Luke Morris gave him a bit too much to do and hopefully the same thing will not happen here. He ran well to be third at Goodwood on his previous start and the winner of that race went on to land the Old Newton Cup.

Andrew Balding might be in for a good day and I particularly like 10-1 about his Mime Dance (5.25) in the closing seven-furlong handicap. This one has improved to win two of his last three and in between was a good third over this course and distance.

He’s quite likely to blow the start, so luck will be required but he should have a strong pace to chase and he’s drawn well to save ground through the first half of the race. Edward Greatrex is fine value for his claim and I have every hope they’ll be involved at the finish, while quietly steeling myself for some Goodwood heartbreak.

Later, at the more conventional Sandown, you can also get 10-1 about Balding’s Opera Lad (8.35), who has been given time since his Lingfield maiden win in February, when he was plainly green. The extra distance and turf should help him and he’s bred to be better than his current rating.

Also, it’s the Galway Plate this evening. It’s not a race that’s ever done much for my bank balance but you’ve got to have a go at picking the winner and my eye is taken by Spring Heeled (5.30). Jim Culloty’s horses seem to be running into some kind of form, which was not true last year, when Spring Heeled was fourth in this race from a higher mark. With a first-time visor on, he could be over-priced at 20-1.

William Hill Glorious Goodwood tipping competition, day two

thereason1986 +38

Bacciodilupo +32

PHILYERBOOTS +17

sportingbest -0.75

erifder -0.75

cerises -0.75

goofs -0.75

Copshaw -0.75

Carol Keen -0.75

moidadem -0.75

72luca -0.75

NotABoss -0.75

William36 -0.75

Harrytheactor -0.75

Crasivo -4 NQ

guancheboy -4 NQ

wemeanyounoharm -4

BatmanKaisers -4

16heathermac01 -4

hubertfarnsworth -4

Ormrod76 -4

Aldot -4

waltersobchak -4

Stephen Peter Phillips -4

Ken Woodward -4

Bigboozer -4

factormax -4

m_kirby95 -4

awrbannister -4

dustbag -4

Bonzodrongo -4

lmungovan -4

fatdeano -4

Ellandback -4

JimmyDeuce -4

Goldkid999 -4

15244 -4

23skidoo -4

Mai11 -4

londonpatrick -4

sandiuk -4

ID420312 -4

stanflashman -4

gildedvanity -4

Mulldog -4

Steve Ellis -4

JahLion -4

GForce1 -4

ianj78 -4

jakebuckfast -4

melonk -4

TL127 -4

MrWinnersSonInLaw -4

Topspeedspurs -4

chris1623 -4

Shrewdette -4

kmill68 -4

ID7406624 -4

wiggy12 -4

13eta13 -4

kingklynch -4

BearRides -4

James ‘Jimmy’ Runacres -4

dean055 -4

graftonway -4

ID1813707 -4

ID5386281 -4

RickyVillasBeard -4

diegoisgod -4

paragoncup -4

MISTERCHESTER -4

orso -4

chrisquinn3 -4

KeejayOV -4

yasmin11 -4

alphalank -4

jaem13 -4

We appear to have three prominent runners for our Best Tipster prize, thereason1986 having started with a brace of 20-1 shots. He may be slightly miffed to find he has company at the top of our leaderboard, but Bacciodilupo paired Blue Wave with Ridge Ranger, while PHILYERBOOTS had to make do with just Blue Wave. Paltry!

Competition for the Worst Tipster prize is even hotter than last year, with more than 60 of you remaining in contention. Those on -4 but marked ‘NQ’ are not eligible for the worst tipster prize, having either failed to replace a non-runner or posted their tips after the first race had started.

Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.10 Goodwood, 3.45 Goodwood, 4.55 Goodwood, 5.25 Goodwood.

Winners so far

Tuesday

Toormore 9-4

Blue Wave 20-1

Ridge Ranger 14-1

Mister Music 20-1

We have two £25 bets as prizes this week, generously offered by William Hill, and, as has become our custom for Glorious Goodwood, we’ll be offering two prizes: one for the tipster that does best and one for the tipster that does worst. It’s a way of recognising what a tricky week this is for punters and how things can go badly wrong for any of us. Because of the nature of this competition, we’ll return to having a full scoreboard for one week only.

Prize 1: Best Tipster

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 four each day up until and including Friday. Non-runners count as losers.

If you have not joined in so far, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -4 and you will not be eligible for Prize 2.

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.

For terms and conditions click here.

Prize 2: Worst Tipster

As an additional prize for those at the other end of the leaderboard, we’re offering a one-off prize to whoever does worst this week. Our winner will be the one who finishes on -16 having picked horses at a shorter average starting price than all others who finished on -16.

To qualify for this prize, you must select a runner in each of our competition races. If one of your selections becomes a non-runner, you must replace it before the race starts or you will be eliminated. You will also be eliminated if any of your selections should happen to win.

If, at the end of the competition, two or more people on -16 are tied for the lowest average SP, the winner will be whichever of them posted their Friday tips earliest.

Otherwise, the usual terms and conditions apply.

Good luck! (or bad luck, as appropriate)

And post your tips or racing-related comments below.