Morning all,

It’s Day 2 of the Galway Festival. The feature race of a seven-race evening card is the COLM QUINN BMW Mile Handicap (Premier Handicap) (6:40).  However, most UK punters eyes will be focused on the start of the Qatar ’Glorious’ Goodwood Festival.  Goodwood which is one of the most beautiful racecourses in England when the weather is fine. You have the Sussex Downs to the north and Chichester and the Isle of Wight to the south.

Looking back 12 months the course was hit by 16mm rain of rain the day before the festival got underway which changed the going to heavy for the start of the meeting. No chance of heavy this year. There may be a passing shower during the week, but it looks set to be dry & sunny and getting warmer on Friday & Saturday.

The Goodwood Placepot paid £108.70 for a £1 stake on day one of the 2021 festival. Now you might be wondering. Why I’m a I waffling on about the Goodwood Placepot? Well, it’s very simple. For the next five days I’m going Placepot hunting in Sussex. More on that inside today's main piece.

Qatar Goodwood Festival – Day 1

The highlights of strong day one of racing are the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (3:35). The Group 2 World Pool Lennox Stakes (3:00) and the Group 2 Japan Racing Association Vintage Stakes (2:25). For those of you able to do so you can watch the first six races live on ITV.

The first three days of the Qatar Goodwood Festival are part of the World Pool. Although the Placepot is only available to UK punters. It would be wise to look at betting in the World Pool as it can offer some great value. At last year’s festival Tote+ win price beat the SP on 17 occasions and matched it on the remaining five races due to the Tote Guarantee being in place. On Saturday for example Fresh was 9/1 with the bookies. However, you could have backed him at £18.37 on the World Pool in Saturday’s International Handicap.

Follow the John Quinn runners

Before I get into today’s action.  There’s a quick Goodwood trainer stat for you.

Malton based trainer John Quinn likes to have a winner at the Goodwood Festival.  Since 2017 he’s 7 winners from 23 runners 30% +57.76 10 placed 43%.  He saddles Lord Riddiford (4:10) and four other horses entered over the next five days. Looking at his entries I would be hopeful that he will be able to add to his impressive winner’s tally.

The going at Goodwood on Monday was being described as good, good to firm in places and it should be that sort of ground on Tuesday.

2:25- Japan Racing Association Vintage Stakes (Group 2) – 7f

Holloway Boy heads the betting after his shock (40/1) racecourse debut success in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. The form of the race has taken a few hits since and he’s probably worth taking on.

Charlie Appleby saddled Pinatubo to win this in 2019 and he runs Mysterious Night. The Newbury winner improved again when a 3 ¼ length 3rd of 7 to Persian Force in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket last time.

The Mark & Charlie Johnson saddle Dear Friend & Dornoch Castle. Both colts are unbeaten on two starts and are capable of more improvement. Its hard to split the pair but I have slight preference for Dornoch Castle. If you do fancy the Johnson horses, you’re probably best dutching them.

3:00 – World Pool Lennox Stakes (Group 2) – 7f

Sacred found things happening a bit to quickly over 6f when a length 5th of 24 in Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. You can see why the filly is favourite she likes quick ground and she’s 2-2 when racing over 7f. If she handles the track’s undulations and they go a good gallop, she’ll be hard to beat. A strong pace is by no means guaranteed though.

Pogo looks set to be well positioned from stall 4 and provided they don’t go to hard early. He’s won his last two starts both in Group 3 company and he’s tough to pass when getting an uncontested lead.

Lusail is running well. A head second to Coroebus in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was a 1½ length 3rd of 11 to Tenebrism in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville last time. Today’s quicker ground will suit the 3-year-old, and this is a slightly easier assignment.

Last year’s winner Kinross bids for back-to-back wins and he’s got to be respected once more. However, it was soft 12 months ago and a bit of ease seems to suit him better.

Sandrine a promising fifth in the 1,000 Guineas ran well as could be expected when a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 5 to Prosperous Voyage in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last time. The drop in class and distance could be ideal for the filly and I think she can go well, if she handles the track.

3:35 – Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) – 2m

It’s potentially a cracker with Ascot Gold Cup winner Kyprios taking on Stradivarius who bids for a 5^th win in the race.

Last year’s winner Trueshan has also been declared and he proved his wellbeing for this when putting up one of the great weight carrying performances in recent flat history in the Northumberland Plate. Will he run though? If he does, he will be tough to beat even on ground that will be quicker than ideal.

I put up Coltrane at 14/1 after his impressive win in the Coral Marathon at Sandown. He showed once again what strong a stayer he is and he’s definite improver. If he takes to the track, he remains the each-way bet at the generally available 9/1.

Goodwood Placepot

The placepot bet isn’t for everyone but for a small outlay you do have a good chance of winning or sharing a nice big pool. The Placepot covers the first six races of the Goodwood card and all six of them are live on ITV.

All placepots are declared to a £1 unit stake and I know a lot of people who just pick 1 horse in each race and do the bet for £1. Most like me do perm bets where you pick more than 1 horse in certain races. Now perming can cost you a lot of money, but also increases your chances of winning.

Today’s looks tricky from a Placepot perspective due to the final leg being a juvenile maiden.

1:50 – Leg 1 – Caradoc, Bell Rock and Moktasaab

2:25 – Leg 2 – Dornoch Castle and Dear My Friend

3:00 – Leg 3 – Pogo, Sandrine and Sacred

3:35 – Leg 4 – Trueshan and Coltrane

4:10 – Leg 5 – Lord Riddiford, Embour and Atalis Bay

4:45 – Leg 6 – Mischief Magic

That’s 108 bets 3 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 1 = 108 bets. I have used 25p unit stakes, so my total stake is £27.  For some that may seem a lot for one bet but it's not 1 bet, it's 108 separate bets.

For those looking for just the one selection its Coltrane in the Goodwood Cup (3:35).

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John