Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Best Bets from Galway and Goodwood on Thursday
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan returns with her best bets from Galway and Goodwood on Thursday.
Thursday, Galway
In the Listed Corrib Fillies Stakes (2.45pm) I think Paddy Twomey’s BLACK CAVIAR GOLD will be a different league here. She may have disappointed on her last two runs, but she ran with credit in the Irish 1,000 Guineas when finishing fourth. She was second in the trial and then went to the Coronations at Ascot where she blew out too. She’s dropping back to Listed company now, with the tongue-strap and cheekpieces applied as well. The yard had a bit of a lull during the Irish Derby/Royal Ascot period in June, but they’ve turned the corner now and I think Black Caviar Gold will win the second at Galway.
In the Grade 3 Novice Chase (3.20pm) over two-and-a-quarter miles I like WILD BILL KICKOK. He’s been a bit of a revelation since coming over from France to Ciaran Murphy’s. he was quite smart on his chase debut at Wexford back in May and he won well at Roscommon last time beating Workahead by the best part of five lengths. His age allowance as a four-year-old gives him in this type of conditions race and on rating he should be giving a lot more, so I think he’ll have just enough to take this Novice Chase.
The Novice Hurdle (3.55pm) is an interesting race. ROC DINO was highly tried last year as was a little bit unlucky in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. He was a very easy winner at Downpatrick in a very average race last May, but he’s been kept for this and I think on rating he’s going to be very hard to stop.
Tony Martin had a poignant success in the mile on Tuesday night with Orandi who bounced back to form, and I think he might just be lining up PUTAPOUNDINTHEJAR to do the exact same thing in the Galway Hurdle (4.30pm). he needed a penalty to get into this race, so he won at Bellewstown last time which wasn’t particularly competitive race, but he won it as he liked. This is a tougher assignment, but it looks like a plot job for this yard. Putapoundinthejar is a six-year-old who is definitely better than his mark. A light weight of 10st2lb on his back and with Daniel King in-from, I think he’s the potential improver in the field. Tony Martin is a man with a plan, and I think this could be the day for Putapoundinthejar.
Thursday, Goodwood
As the captain of the Diamond Necklace fan club, I would be very disappointed to see her get beat in the Nassau Stakes (3.35pm) but she isn’t really a betting proposition so we will head straight to the Gordon Stakes (3.00pm) where I am a big fan of ENCELADUS. I was at cork when he won back in April when he was fat and he duly obliged at Ascot when fit. The extra two furlong brought about further improvement in him, so I think this is his trip. His official rating of 99 tells you he has to improve to beat some of his opposition, but I think he will. The yard is all-conquering at the moment, so Enceladus is the one for me.
The Richmond Stakes is a very good two-year-old race over six-furlongs and it is a race where I like CUT A DASH. I thought he ran a great race behind Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. That day he had Adaay Of Scarlett ahead of him, Night In Vegas behind him, but considering that was only his second career start I think he’s entitled to improvement.
