Glorious Goodwood / Alex Steedman / 29 July 2010 / 1 Comments Free £25 Bet View Market

It may be an obvious choice but sometimes you've just got to go with a winning team, says Al Steedman

This afternoon's feature race has me remembering that repeated line in Dirty Harry where Clint Eastwood wonders in all the confusion how many bullets he's fired off. Approaching 15:25 you might want to load up a few into your own punting weapon.

Strangely, in a sadomasochistic way, I actually fancy one here in the shape of Irish Heartbeat. It goes without saying that the Fahey-Hanagan axis is rampant again this season and their runner has been in good nick all year. A winner of the Spring Mile at Doncaster early season, Irish Heartbeat was done by the draw as well as track position when way off the pace at Newbury on his next start and I think he ran much, much better than his finishing position last time in the Scottish Stewards Cup. That effort was over an inadequate six furlongs but he kept on more encouragingly than the form book comments suggest and this step back up to a mile is the ticket. Admittedly the draw is not ideal but as Tuesday underlined early pace is just as important and with a winner on board already, Hanagan is the man to get it done.

Sea Lord is likely to run well up to a point but the handicapper is getting close to him and I prefer another 3yr old Oasis Dancer who has some excellent big gig form in the book. He won the Timeform Million at Newmarket last season and returned to the same venue to beat none other than Balducci back there in May. He has an innate ability to perform on the big occasion and ought to be included as an alternative or alongside Irish Heartbeat.

So far Goodwood has indeed been 'Glorious' for Richard's Hannon and Hughes with doubles on each of the first two days including the 2yr olds King Torus and Zebedee. Libranno hasn't garnered anything like the same headlines as that pair but he bids to maintain his unbeaten run in the 16:00. There is no doubt that he has surprised even the yard in winning on both Newmarket courses at odds of ([26.0]) and ([11.0]) but there was no fluke about his defiant win last time. He had Elzaam and Approve behind him that day-both Royal Ascot performers previously - and Libranno has a toughness that makes him difficult to beat.

On a day when there could be at least one progressive sprinter on show, keep a close eye on the performance of Kingsgate Choice in the closing 17:45. He was compromised by a wide draw at Newmarket last time but his victory at Windsor previously was quite brilliant. His jockey Robert Winston has hailed him as a likely Group 1 horse next year so he is very well-regarded and the return to five furlongs, on a speed track like Goodwood, ought to play to his strengths. He could be a talent.

Recommended Bets:
15:25 Irish Heartbeat 1pt Win
16:00 Libranno 3pts Win
17:45 Kingsgate Choice 2pts Win

Tags: Glorious Goodwood, Goodwood, Irish Heartbeat, Kingsgate Choice, Libranno, Paul Hanagan