Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Wednesday including 66/1 Goodwood Festival fancy

Goodwood, 13:50 - Back Bay Royale E/W @ 6/17.00

Handicap debutant Bay Royale beat Hatteen and Infraad in a Nottingham novice event earlier this season showing a good turn of foot to win by two-and-a-quarter-lengths over his reopposing rivals, both of whom have franked the form. He's a bigger price in comparison and could represent value, despite failing to double up in his latest run in softer conditions.

The return to a quicker surface and step up to a mile-and-a-half should allow him to put in a competitive effort under Pierre-Louis Jamin. The 220,000gns purchase is by New Bay and out of a Listed winner in Champs Elysees mare Lustrous, who achieved plenty of black-type and was seen over a mile-and-three-quarters, placing at Group Two level over a mile-and-a-half.

There could be plenty of further improvement to come from this unexposed Harry Eustace-trained colt, and he shouldn't be discounted from a mark of 89, which could prove lenient.

Goodwood, 13:50 - Back Blue Hercules E/W @ 20/121.00

One of the outsiders of the field Blue Hercules is a big price from a mark of 86 for William Muir and Chris Grassick in Wednesday's opener.

The Ghaiyyath colt remains a maiden following five stars but has caught the eye in defeat, finishing second to Echo Of Stars at 14/115.00 in a Chepstow novice contest earlier in the season before being denied only a neck at odds of 18/119.00 at Ascot when last seen.

In his second start, Blue Hercules finished an eye-catching fourth at odds of 125/1126.00 in a Newbury maiden won by Point Of Law, with Hatteen finishing only a length-and-three-quarters ahead in second over the mile-and-a-quarter trip.

Having stayed well over this distance since, the colt could be worth keeping onside at a price and may be capable of outrunning his odds under Billy Loughnane, with some valuable experience in his favour.

Bet of the day: Oak Tree Stakes, Goodwood, 15:00 - Back Flora Of Bermuda @ 9/43.25

Likeable mare Flora Of Bermuda is bidding for her third win of the season in this contest having already claimed Group Three and Listed honours already this term.

She has solid form in Group One company too, having made the frame at the highest level on multiple occasions previously including at Royal Ascot and in the Betfair Sprint Cup, when beaten only a length-and-a-half by Big Mojo last season at Haydock.

A formidable contender on her day, Flora Of Bermuda should be tough to beat as she steps up to 7f if enjoying this extra distance which should be within her capabilities, but she does face stiff opposition in the form of Sayidah Dariyan.

The five-year-old daughter of Dark Angel has winning form at the course, however, and has been enjoying a fruitful season to date, with her only blemish worth forgiving, and she represents an in-form Andrew Balding yard under James Doyle.

Click here to read why Mark Milligan is also backing Flora of Bermuda on Wednesday's card at Goodwood

Molecomb Stakes, Goodwood, 15:35 - Back Sale Shark E/W @ 15/28.50

Hugo Palmer-trained Sale Shark needs to show improvement as he steps up into Group Three company, but has the scope for further progression and has shown promise in three starts to date.

By an exciting young sire in Bayside Boy, who has already made an impact with his first crop this year, the chestnut colt made a successful start to his career with a convincing Hamilton win on debut, before achieving a fifth-place position to King Of Cloughlan in the Windsor Castle Stakes, finishing best of all on his side of the track.

When last seen, Sale Shark finished fifth once again in Listed company but things didn't pan out completely beneficial for him and he appears to still be learning with experience, lightly raced at the beginning of his racing career. 

There could be plenty more to come from the colt, who is a half-brother to two black-type achievers including dual Group Three winner New Providence.

Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, 16:10 - Back Seagulls Eleven E/W @ 66/167.00

The extremely talented Bow Echo should prove tough to beat in a fascinating renewal of the Sussex Stakes, but Seagulls Eleven could represent each-way value at huge odds under Oisin Murphy.

The course-and-distance winner landed Group Three honours at this meeting twelve months ago, following a second-placed effort to Opera Ballo in Listed company, and has shown great progression since then, maturing into a fine Stakes performer.

This year, the four-year-old son of Galileo Gold has achieved form figures of 2113 in Stakes races, winning a Group Three at Epsom on Derby Day as well as a Listed Longchamp contest. 

He was able to outrun odds of 18/119.00 to finish a close third to Zeus Olympios and Holloway Boy in an Ascot Group Two when last seen, too, and, whilst he'll likely need a career best to pose a threat to the main protagonists, he has placed form at this level from his debut campaign. 

In the form of his life, Seagulls Eleven shouldn't be ruled out at huge odds and could put in a creditable effort for Hugo Palmer.

Goodwood, 17:00 - Back Riley Rocks E/W @ 25/126.00

Equipped with a first-time tongue-tie, Riley Rocks is one to note in his first run following a gelding operation from a mark of 75 under 7lb claiming Kyle McHugh.

The Dylan Cunha-trained contender remains unexposed in only his seventh start and could show further improvement.

He has winning from im handicaps from his current rating having landed a double at Southwell in March following a maiden success at Newcastle on New Year's Day, and, although he hasn't posed as serious threat since, he was far from disgraced at Goodwood in May and put in a decent performance at Windsor when last seen too. 

Improvement is required but Riley Rocks could be worth keeping the faith in at a big price and could produce a big performance.

Goodwood, 17:00 - Back Cotai Lights E/W @ 40/141.00

In first-time blinkers, Adrian Keatley-trained Cotai Lights is another to consider in the penultimate race on Wednesday's Glorious Goodwood card. He's another unexposed three-year-old in the race who has shown promise this year, including when third to subsequent Group Three winner Causeway, now rated 111, in a Naas handicap, and when fourth to Velvet Rhythm when rated 3lb higher at Newmarket.

A mark of 76 is workable for the gelded son of Cotai Glory and the first-time headgear could allow him to improve on his latest couple of efforts. He hasn't been seen to best effect in recent runs, but a resurgence is possible and it's too early to give up on him.

Goodwood, 17:40 - Back Hawksbill E/W @ 15/28.50

Four-year-old gelding Hawksbill makes appeal from a mark of 93 in the finale under George Wood, having performed well at Meydan over the winter and had the benefit of a recent domestic run at Newmarket last month.

He could well improve for his return to action following a 111-day break, and is 4lb lower rated than when denied only a length in a higher class Chester handicap by Yanifer last summer. 

On a workable mark, the Richard Spencer-trained contender should give a good account of himself and could add to his sole career win to date in this competitive contest.

Goodwood, 17:40 - Back Rajeko E/W @ 40/141.00

Rajeko is another worth considering in the final race at a big price. He's difficult to rule out on his earlier form, having featured in Stakes races won by the likes of Whistlejacket and The Lion In Winter, as well as finishing second to Al Qudra in an Al Uqda contest and when chasing home Rebel's Gamble at Listed level.

Whilst he hasn't been able to build on a promising debut campaign and good start to his three-year-old season, he was gelded in the spring and shaped with some promise in his latest run behind Room Service at Newcastle, on the back of a 127-day break in a contest that didn't pan out favourable.

It could be worth keeping the faith in the Michael Bell-trained son of Kameko, who has shown he possesses class previously, and a mark of 90 could be workable for him.

Galway Plate, Galway, 18:40 - Back Rocky's Diamond E/W @ 9/110.00

Six-year-old gelding Rocky's Diamond remains unexposed as a chaser and could be well treated from a mark of 143 for Declan Queally in this hugely competitive race. Under 5lb claiming Michael Kenneally, he could go well with winning form over fences at the track in his favour. 

On chasing debut here in September, Rocky's Diamond beat now 141-rated Addragoole by five-and-a-half-lengths impressively. He then went on to finish a close second to Blizzard Of Oz in a Listed Wexford race, before being beaten eight-lengths by Oscars Brother in a Grade Two. 

His latest run left a lot to be desired, but it was his return to action following a 137-day break and he could take a step forward for it.

The half-brother to the likeable The Little Yank has shown enough promise to suggest there could be scope for further improvement in only his fifth start over fences, and he could put in a bold bid.

Galway Plate, Galway, 18:40 - Back Buddy One E/W @ 50/151.00

Buddy One finished sixth to Western Fold in this contest last year when rated 5lb higher under 5lb claiming Jack Gilligan. He put in a creditable effort in a race that didn't pan out favourably for him, and he shouldn't be discounted on his return in the contest with course-and-distance winning form.

Whilst he's struggled for consistency in recent seasons, the likeable performer has put in respectable performances against tough opposition and could outrun his huge odds under Sean Flanagan.

Galway, 20:20 - Back Liam Swagger E/W @ 10/111.00

Equipped with a first-time visor as well as a tongue-tie, Liam Swagger is an interesting contender for trainer William Durkan, who saddled the second and fourth in Monday's 20-runner feature race at this festival, including runner-up Holy See at odds of 40/141.00.

The five-year-old gelding made his first start for the yard when finishing down the field at Roscommon last month. That was his first run for 422 days after changing hands for 23,000gns earlier this year, formerly trained by James Owen for the Gredley family.

For his previous stable, the five-year-old gelding shaped with great promise as a dual purpose stayer, winning a Listed hurdling contest at Wetherby before finishing third in the juvenile handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He finished a decent sixth when favourite for a competitive mile-and-three-quarter Newmarket handicap, before a lengthy absence.

A promising stayer, he's lightly raced and there could be plenty of further progression to come from him if he can prove he still retains the ability he showed prior to his break. A mark of 79 is potentially lenient under 7lb claiming Jamie Orr, and the addition of new headgear could spark a revival.

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