Nothing So Glorious As Goodwood

Next week is definitely my favourite week in the calendar as it is Glorious Goodwood and I will again be in attendance for my nineteenth consecutive year. Since my first jaunt south in 1993 with my uncle, I have been hooked by the atmosphere and wonderful setting that greets you when you walk through the gates.

Of course I have been lucky enough to see some ‘greats’ grace the Sussex Downs during that time; Rock Of Gibraltar, Ouija Board, Peeping Fawn, Canford Cliffs and of course the returning Frankel all instantly spring to mind when trying to recall great memories I have shared with close family and friends.

So in my latest betting blog I will give some insight into what to look out for when punting next week, the majority of which I have learned at first hand from my annual trips to the track.

Johnston and Perrett Handicappers

Year in year out Mark Johnston is the first trainer I look to in the handicaps; he openly targets the meeting and often has more than one entry per race. The long straight suits his big striding galloping types and he rarely leaves empty handed whilst the very nature of the race being a wide-open handicap ensures the price is fair in the majority of cases.

Another trainer to note for the handicaps is Amanda Perrett who trains locally and always places her horses to good advantage.

Prominent Racers On Round Course

Front runners and horses which race prominently have an advantage on the round course in races of 7 furlongs or more. The main advantage they gain is by being out of trouble up the long home straight at a track notorious for its hard luck stories for hold up merchants trying to get a run inside the final 2 furlongs.

Low Draw On Round Course

Stick with Low numbers on the round course in races ranging from 7f – 1m4f. The advantage is even greater over 7f and 1 mile as the starting stalls are placed on a camber meaning those drawn wide in high numbered stalls have to climb more of a hill than those drawn low.

Hills and Cox Trained Maidens

There are several maidens run over the course of the 5 day festival and two trainers I always keep on side are Charles Hills and Clive Cox. They both seem to like introducing promising types at the meeting and whatever representatives from these two stables turn up I will be keeping a very close eye on.

I am hoping for a very profitable and highly enjoyable week.

Happy Punting!

The Judge