Glorious Goodwood - Day 1

It's finally upon us, my favourite flat racing festival of the year. Royal Ascot is all well and good but it's Glorious Goodwood that I most look forward to each and every year on the level. The unique nature of the track and atmosphere, as well as my own punting success there over the last few years is what makes it special for me. My approach on reading the average race is often unorthodox at best and while usually hit and miss it's that style that seems to work here, a peculiar track with unexpected results the norm. Mark Johnston targets this meeting every single year and I fancy a couple of his on the opening day, hopefully he can get off to a good start.

Long term followers will know that Sennockian Star is a horse I have backed several times this year. 12/1 is a huge price and I can't believe he is that big paying four places despite the fact it's a naturally competitive opening race. He won this race last year off 1lb higher and gets on ever so well with Franny Norton with form figures before last run of 14112. He is a course and distance winner, won't mind the ground having won on it before and for the yard renowned for winners at this festival he is the best bet you will find on day one of the festival for me.

Notarised is the only C/D winner in the field in the 3.45 and this makes him of interest despite only fair odds of 8/1. He beat a fair few of these when winning gamely last time meaning he is up in the handicap for that but won well here two starts before and on that form he is porbably just about the one to beat here. He's won three of his last five and could be allowed his own way up front; it's naturally wide open but he's worth a small each way bet at those odds though not one I'm going mad on.

Top Boy really should have won last time and could be the answer to the 16.20 sprint handicap. The favourite has been ultra progressive dropped to 5f this year and did it nicely last time. That said carrying top weight on a totally different track is enough to put you off especially at the likely skinnyish odds. My alternative is from a yard I rarely back but the horseusually runs his race, despite not quite getting his head in front as much as he should. He won a valuable sprint at York last season and is currently in good form and off a very winnable mark. He enjoys a bit of cut in the ground and if the rider can get the fractions right he can go very close here at a double figure price.

Selections:

14.00 Sennockian Star 12/1 ew (4 places) NAP
15.45 Notarised 8/1 ew NB
16.20 Top Boy 12/1 ew IWAC

I quite fancy these three, especially the NAP. Good luck if you follow, hopefully it will be a profiitable week again.