Our expert editor has delved into the early markets ahead of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and recommended a double-figure ante-post selection in Saturday’s Stewards’ Cup. Check out their fancy below, alongside an exclusive promotion courtesy of bet365, which is offering £50 In Free Bets to new customers, when you sign-up and bet £10.
Goodwood Coral Stewards’ Cup, 15:20 30th July
Stewards’ Cup Selection – Regional @ 20/1
Ed Bethell only took over the licence from his father James just over a year ago but has already produced some notable success stories on the track in his relatively short spell in charge. Artistic Rifles provided the North Yorkshire handler with his first victory at Group level at Haydock last September, while progressive sprint handicapper Sandbeck continues to thrive under his care and has now won three of her last four starts. Clearly capable of readying one for the big occasion, the yard will have high hopes of making their mark at the upcoming Goodwood Festival and it would come as no surprise if REGIONAL turns out to be their strongest chance of the entire week.
Highly tried in Listed company as a juvenile for former trainer Richard Fahey, the Territories gelding only joined Ed Bethell towards the end of last season but it certainly didn’t take long for him to make an immediate impact at three for new connections, comfortably scoring at Haydock over six furlongs on good to firm ground on his handicap/stable debut off 94, defying a 328-day layoff in the process. Following a string of creditable efforts in defeat over the winter months, connections decided to send Regional over to Doha to contest the Group 3 Dukhan Sprint in February where the four-year-old again ran a solid race, finishing second and ultimately picking up £45,000 in prize money for his efforts – an extraordinary result considering connections only paid 3,500gns for him at the Tattersalls July Sale last year.
Following his excellent performance over in Qatar, Ed Bethell’s sprinter returned to British soil in a valuable handicap at Epsom just last month off a mark of 101. Well supported in the market beforehand, the four-year-old didn’t look entirely at home on Epsom’s cambers but still managed to stick to his task willingly towards the inside rail and wasn’t beaten far at the line in sixth, in a race that ultimately developed away from him – the first three home that day all coming widest of all. Dropped back to the minimum trip on his most recent outing at Doncaster at the start of the month, Regional again shaped well and went down as a real eye-catcher in defeat on Town Moor, staying on powerfully inside the closing stages to finish a neck second behind Paul Midgley’s in-form four-year-old Burning Cash.
Suited by a sound surface underfoot, Regional should have his optimum conditions as he reverts back to six furlongs in the Stewards’ Cup on Saturday afternoon and with double-figure odds widely available, Ed Bethell’s bargain buy is certainly not one to underestimate at Glorious Goodwood and is worthy of strong each-way support.
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood
Chichester
West Sussex
PO18 0PS
United Kingdom
Goodwood Racecourse
One of the most popular tracks in the country, Goodwood hosts numerous top-class races during the summer. The summer fixture, known as Glorious Goodwood, features five days of top-class action including the Group 1 Sussex Stakes amongst a clutch of pattern races and top-quality handicaps. The track is undulating and favours horses that race close to the pace, particularly on the round course as the field are racing around a gradual bend for much of the contest.
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