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A fabulous Goodwood Festival but far from Glorious from a betting perspective.
On a course where luck plays a significant role, lady fortune was not on our side over the five days, our final 4/1 selection We’re Goosers (backed into 11/8) looked to be coming with a winning run when hampered several times inside the closing stages before finishing a close third.
P/L for the week ending Sunday, 2 August: -£12.52
P/L for the year 2026 to date: +£149.88
P/L for the year 2025: +£22.38
P/L for the year 2024: +£200.42
P/L since 1st September 2022: +£650.54
Alan Kelly's Tips - Wednesday, 5 August
Wednesday’s four meetings in Britain are all on the Flat, Pontefract and Brighton in the afternoon along with Yarmouth and Kempton Park (all-weather) in the evening.
Ground on the firm side of good is expected for all three turf cards.
3:45pm Pontefract - Spirit Genie
Last year’s winner of this 1m Class 5 Ladies Day Veterans’ Handicap, the Tim Easterby-trained Garden Oasis, may now be the old man of the race at the age of 11, but the Excelebration gelding keeps his form well, David Allan’s mount beaten just a head at Ripon on his most recent start last month.
Now racing off a mark 8lb lower than when beating Kevin Frost’s Bass Player by a neck 12 months ago, Garden Oasis is sure to prove popular in a bid to follow-up. While the front-running veteran is respected, slight preference is for top weight SPIRIT GENIE, one of two runners for trainer Jennie Candlish, the other being Narmar, who would have a chance based on his Ffos Las victory of last year, although the six-year-old has finished stone last on his last two outings.
While it is nearly two years since Spirit Genie recorded his last win, that success coming under a rating of 88 at Haydock, the son of Invincible Spirit has now dropped to an attractive mark of 75. Unplaced in amateur races at Chester and York on his last two starts (excuses both times), Jason Hart’s mount is better judged on his run at York’s Dante meeting when staying-on to finish 7th of 22 behind winner Zarathos over a trip of 7f.
Today’s extra furlong will suit the selection much better, and with the stable in excellent form, Spirit Genie can get back to winning ways.
Recommendation: Spirit Genie - 6/1 with bet365
4:45pm Pontefract - Alfa Whiteburd (Nap)
A cracking 6f sprint handicap in which three of the 9 contenders are on hat-tricks. I’m not sure that the Harry Eustace-trained Uppercase, the winner of 7f contests at Catterick and Epsom on his last two starts, will appreciate today’s furlong shorter trip.
Ruth Carr’s The Good Biscuit has a 5lb penalty to carry for last week’s comfortable course and distance win, although Joanna Mason’s mount is badly off at the weights with Mister Sox based on their run here in June, Tim Easterby’s charge one place in front of The Good Biscuit and now enjoying a 6lb pull in the weights.
The horse of most interest in the third hat-trick seeking runner, Ivan Furtado’s ALFA WHITEBURD (Nap) Whiteburd. After winning a 6f handicap on Newcastle’s Tapeta surface off a mark of 80 towards the end of 2024 when trained by Craig Lidster, the son of Cotai Glory took a while to find his form for current connections prior to winning a 7f handicap at Chester last month by a long-looking 8 lengths.
Jason Hart’s mount had little trouble following up over today’s course and distance 7 days later, and is fancied to complete the hat-trick off that Newcastle mark of 80 before being reassessed by the handicapper. The other one to consider is Mae Amor from the Rebecca Menzies stable, the filly an excellent 4th of 26 at Glorious Goodwood last week.
Recommendation: Alfa Whiteburd (Nap) - 7/2 with bet365
6:40pm Yarmouth - Dowman
Top weight Dubai Charm did us a favour when winning comfortably on her nursery debut over today’s course and distance last month. I thought the daughter of Blackbeard needed every yard of today’s 5f trip however, and off a 7lb higher mark Neil Callan’s mount is reluctantly passed over in favour of last week’s Sussex Stakes-winning combination of trainer George Boughey and jockey Billy Loughnane, courtesy of bottom weight DOWMAN.
The son of Sioux Nation showed promise when runner-up at Bath on his first two starts, the first behind fellow rival Wait Geordie (4lb worse off) before opening his account when justifying favouritism at Windsor two months ago. Gelded shortly afterwards, Dowman has plenty of improvement to come and looks very well treated off an opening mark of 73 on his handicap debut.
Recommendation: Dowman - 11/8 with bet365
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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About Alan Kelly
A passionate follower of horse racing for over 50 years, Alan has enjoyed a 40-year career in the betting industry, 28 of which he spent running his betting shop as an owner/manager.
A successful punter with a keen eye for value, Alan has had many betting highlights, including a Scoop 6 win and has shown a consistent profit in the battle with bookmakers since joining Free Bets in 2008.
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