Tuesday, 28 July 2026

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Preview

Three bets on Monday, three more losers. At least I’m consistent. The first two selections, Inchiquin Star and Unfamiliar, ran absolute stinkers. Utter dogshit. So Must I did actually run well, but was too far back and couldn’t get into the money. My two bets on Tuesday were dire too. We go again on Wednesday at Galway and Glorious Goodwood, god help connections of whoever I tip up.

1.50 Goodwood – Coral Shakers Handicap (Class 2)

In normal circumstances, I am usually very reluctant to tip handicap debutants but I think it might be worth taking a chance on Sea And Sun here. Trained by Charlie Johnston, this son of Sea The Moon is the rank outsider here but he has shown enough in his three qualifying runs to suggest he can win races.

His best effort yet came on latest at Doncaster (1m4f, gd-fm) in a valuable novice (for which he was 50/1) and he displayed a willing attitude to stay on late for a 5l fourth of 8 behind Hatteen, who is the 5/2 fav here. They were racing off level weights that day and Charlie Johnston’s charge is now 8lb better off so theoretically, he should get much closer to that rival here.

The booking of Silvestre De Sousa is another cause for optimism. He’s had 67 rides for Charlie Johnston, firing in 8 winners and finishing in the first four on a total of 28 occasions, a frame hitting strike-rate of over 50%. Johnston also runs the hat-trick seeker Parisian Scholar here, so no doubt he’ll probably win now but I’ll take my chances with Sea And Sun at odds of 33/1.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Sea And Sun e/w @ 33/1

3.00 Goodwood – Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3)

We backed Havana Pusey in a handicap at Newmarket last time out. She could only manage seventh after falling out of the stalls and that wasn’t the first time that has happened her. However, she did actually run well in that race given the circumstances and if she breaks better here, she is no forlorn hope.

John Gallagher is sticking a hood and a tongue tie on the 6yo daughter of Havana Grey today so maybe, the new headgear combo might just sharpen her up at the gate. We know she can compete at this level, as she was a 1.75l third in a Lingfield G3 back in May and while she was beaten in this last year, it was her ninth start of the season and this time, she arrives on the back of five runs.

Another positive is the fact that she is a previous C&D winner (a handicap last year off 87) and she’ll have no issues on the quick ground today. Now, if she blows the start as badly as she did last time, she has no chance here but if she can get away to even a half-decent start, Havana Pusey could outrun her odds of 50/1.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Havana Pusey e/w @ 50/1 (4 places)

4.10 Goodwood – Sussex Stakes (Group 1)

An excellent turnout for today’s feature with a dozen declared and Bow Echo is 5/4 to extend his unbeaten record to six. Gstaad, who he defeated by a short head last time at Ascot, is next best in the betting but the one that looks most overpriced in here is a horse that beat Gstaad at the Curragh last year, Zavateri.

Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, I’m very surprised to see this horse chalked up at 25/1. The son of Without Parole was an outstanding juvenile, whose four wins included one in a G2 here over 7f, so there are no concerns regarding him handling the track.

Yes, Zavateri was beaten in a Group 3 on his seasonal return at Newbury back in April but he might have needed that and the way he kept on suggested he was ready for the step up to 1m. He was due to try that trip in the 2000 Guineas but was ruled out of that race due to a minor setback. Maybe he might need this run too after a 102 day absence but if he’s fit, he shouldn’t be far away from Gstaad and seeing as that rival is a 100/30 shot here, Zavateri has to be worth chancing e/w at 25s. Hopefully he is ready to do himself justice.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Zavateri e/w @ 25/1

5.35 Galway – Tote Handicap Hurdle (110 = 11st 12lb)

Given the characteristics of the track, Sligo form often transfers well to Galway and Cornmarket, a three time winner at Sligo, might go well here at 14/1. Trained in Ballina in Mayo by John Cullen, this son of Elzaam was touched off at Sligo 17 days ago (25.5f) and he won’t mind this drop back to 2m6f.

He was an emphatic winner over 2m4f (good) at his beloved Sligo a year ago and while he runs off a career high mark of 105 here, he’s only 3lb higher than when going so close last time. He’s a prominent racer, so hopefully he’ll be able to avoid traffic problems and with odds of 14/1 on offer, Cornmarket is the each way selection.  

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Cornmarket e/w @ 14/1 (5 places)

6.40 Galway – Galway Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

I fancied the locally trained Buddy One to run big in this last year and he wasn’t disgraced in sixth. Yes, he was beaten 18.5l behind Western Fold but he made a bad mistake at the fourth last and only for that, he probably would have finished a good deal closer.

Since then, he has had just six runs, two of them coming over fences. He was soundly beaten in a handicap over this C&D in October on unsuitable ground and he was last of four behind Impaire Et Passe in a Gowran Grade 2, again on unsuitable ground.

Back in March he took his chance in the BetMGM Cup at Cheltenham (2m5f, gd-sft) and got outpaced before staying on into midfield. John Gilligan gave him a break after that okay run and he reappeared with a modest run on the Flat at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.

He should be sharper for that outing and he is back for another go in the Plate off 5lb lower than he was last year. He’ll get his favoured good ground here, he’s won over C&D before and I am delighted to see that Sean Flanagan takes over in the plate.

Looking at his recent form figures (66P40), it is understandable why he can be backed at 50s but he’s a classy horse on his day and given who trains him, surely he’s been trained for this race and he was sent off at just 15/2 in this last year. If he puts in a clear round of jumping, Buddy One can outrun his odds and is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Buddy One e/w @ 50/1 (6 places)

-DaveStevos

No comments:

Post a Comment