We are into day three of the Galway Festival, day two of the Glorious Goodwood meeting and we come with some success from the previous two days.
Goodwood 14:25 – 7f Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3) | Andrew Halligan 27/07/2022
You know what they say, “if it’s not broke, then don’t fix it”, and that is exactly what I am going to do with today’s first selection OSCULA.
You will find it hard to come across a filly that is as consistent and tough as Oscula. Her form this season reads 21232, and that goes to show what kind of temperament this filly has.
She ran Saturday just gone in the Group 3 Valiant Stakes where she was headed on the line by Jumbly.
The only worry you would have is, can she back that performance up so soon after running?
I believe that she can, and with William Buick keeping the ride on her, I think she knows he has some unfinished business with Oscula.
Expect her to be delivered later than her last run, and at around 8/1, she strikes me as a great each way bet.
Goodwood 15:00 – 5f Markel Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) | Andrew Halligan 27/07/2022
When you see a horse topping the market and then you glance to the side to see his price, and you realise that he is a lot bigger than you expected him to be…Well, that happened with my selection ROCKET RODNEY.
Currently around EVS but I would have priced him 8/13.
His form alone when 2nd in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot has not half been advertised by horses in and around him.
Seven of his competitors from the Windsor Castle have won since:
• (1st) Little Big Bear – 4 ¾ length G3 winner since
• (3rd) Eddies Boy – 2 ¼ length winner of the Super Sprint
• (4th) Chateau – 1 length winner of the Rose Bowl
• 8th – nose winner of the Listed Tipperary Stakes
• (11th) – 2 ½ length winner of a handicap off 77
• (13th) – 1 ¼ length winner of a Novice Stakes
• (22nd) – 1 ½ length winner if a handicap off 86
If that isn’t form to take notice of, I don’t know what is.
Since Rocket Rodney finished 2nd to Little Big Bear, he went on to bolt up in Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown by 2 ½ lengths.
This is a horse with a big future, and I will be shocked if he was beaten today.
Galway 18:40 – 2m6½f Galway Plate | Andrew Halligan 27/07/2022
The Galway Plate, a race that everyone looks forward to in the summer, and this year is no different. But who will win?
One at roughly 9/1 who is of real interest to me and has the proven Grade 1 Novice form is the Gavin Cromwell-trained GABYNAKO.
Started off last season when a neck 2nd over 2m3f at Galway to the now Aintree Grand National winner Noble Yates. That is one box ticked, course form.
He then went onto beat Fury Road over 2m5f in a beginners chase at Fairyhouse, and then was back over course 19 days later to finish 2nd to Beacon Edge in the 2m4f Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase where jumping cost him the win on the day.
You can write off his run over Christmas as he did not act on the bottomless ground in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.
Roll onto March and the 2m Arkle Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He put in a massive performance at 25/1 to finish 2nd to impressive winner Edwardstone, over a trip short of his best.
In the Irish Arkle at the Punchestown Festival, it looked like he was still feeling the excursions of Cheltenham and is a race I would just forget about as is the case with many end of the season runs.
Now fresh after a well-deserved break and back to a trip that is sure to play to his strengths, I can see Gabynako play a massive role in the finish of the 2022 Galway Plate.
One at a bigger price who should outrun his current odds of 25/1 is A WAVE OF THE SEA.
No stranger to big field handicaps over various from 2m to 3m, so 2m6f around Galway will hold no issues for him.
7lb higher from his last win at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown has been negated by Harry Sawn who is very much value for his 7lb.
Bet on Horse Racing at www.hollywoodbets.co.uk or www.hollywoodbets.ie
Andrew Halligan 27/07/2022
