TORO STRIKE – 4.20pm GOODWOOD

0.5 PTS EACH WAY BET ADVISED AT 7/1 AVAILABLE WITH BETFAIR SPORTSBOOK, WILLIAM HILL, & PADDY POWER ALL PAYING 5 PLACES

This is another typically very competitive 19-runner Glorious Goodwood handicap and not normally the type of race I would recommend betting in or tip in because they’re difficult to make money from and you nearly always need some luck in running to win them. With that said, it’s the Qatar Goodwood Festival and I know you guys love a bet in these big race handicaps.

I studied this race for two hours, comparing the horses form against each other, watching race replays, checking which horses would be suited by the ground, the draw, had they course form, were there any eye-catching jockey bookings, which yards are in form, etc, etc, etc, and I ended up not liking very many of them. At bigger prices, course winner Zhui Feng (16/1) has possibilities from a good draw in stall 3 returned to 7f for the first time since finishing just under a length 3rd of 12 over C&D in a higher Class handicap off an 8lb higher mark last August. However, for win purposes I preferred Richard Fahey’s lightly-raced 3 year old colt Toro Strike who seems to have plenty going for him having finished 5th of 22 over a mile at Ascot 6 weeks ago on his seasonal debut in a higher Class handicap to today. Although the 1st & 3rd haven’t ran since the race is working out very well with the 2nd placing in the same Class since off 7lb higher, the 4th only going down by a short-head next time, and the 6th, 8th, and 9th all having won since. The selection should strip fitter for last month’s pipe-opener, he is unexposed, he has shown he handles the undulations of the track by finishing 1 length 3rd of 14 in a Class 2 handicap over C&D last August, his draw in stall 9 is ok, today’s faster ground will suit him better than the Soft he encountered last time having ran well on Good to Firm 3-times last year, he is down in Class running off the same mark, and the first-time booking of champion jockey Oisin Murphy is particularly eye-catching with him being 3-4 for the yard.

All things considered, he looks a good each way bet with Betfair Sportsbook, William Hill, and Paddy Power offering an industry best price of 7/1 while also paying the first 5 horses home. Good luck!

Jibber Jabber

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