Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Novelista can Ghost his way into contention

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over day two of Glorious Goodwood.

Goodwood, Wednesday

NOVELISTA looks way overpriced in Wednesday’s TV opener at Goodwood (1:20pm). There is a disappointingly small field for this race, but it is nonetheless likely to be a fair test at the trip with Cape Breton, Omni Man and Jupiter Ammon likely to buck forward from the gate. The selection ran a fine race over 14 furlongs in both his recent runs at Doncaster and Haydock, and will be finishing his race off best of all. He’s a hardy sort, and can break his maiden in this valuable race with William Buick a massive jockey up switch.

SILVER GHOST is another at a big price that can outrun her odds in the Oak Tree (1:55pm). She was really impressive here early in the year when beating the very smart Miss Nightfall, but nothing went right for her at Royal Ascot, marooned in no-man’s-land, then switched when it was all done. Her earlier form gives her very little to find in an open race, she is well drawn, and can run a big race.

RYDALE FROSTY may be evidence that I’ve gone completely bonkers in the Molecomb, but – outside the obvious Lady Iman, who is much the likeliest winner – they are all much of a muchness, offering us some tasty each-way scope. The selection has been crying out for a fast five furlongs, showing keenness and speed over six all three starts, value on class for way more than the winning margin last time while still recording a decent figure. Prior to that, he’d run into a smart Godolphin horse at Newmarket, when similar comments applied.

HENRI MATISSE is probably not as good as Field Of Gold, but he can get closer to him this time, and his price suggests he’s a small bet (3:05pm). Ridden to pounce with a target on the favourite’s back at Ascot, he may benefit from a slight tactical change-up here, as he wasn’t stopping at the line, and Ryan Moore hinted that all had not gone quite as planned. This track should suit a horse bred for plenty of speed, and expect him to be saving ground throughout from his draw.

OUR GOLDEN ONE completes the sweep of big-priced picks in the 10-furlong handicap (3:45pm). She reserves her best for this track, will appreciate any rain that’s around, and comes here in rare form, having run well in something of a golden form race at Chester last time.