How To bet £20 on Saturday: Open Wide can glide home at 25-1
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Andy Stephens

How To bet £20 on Saturday: Open Wide can glide home at 25-1

By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
The bookmakers are going 8-1 the field for the Unibet Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood on Saturday and that tells you everything you need to know about how open this year’s renewal is.
Unlike in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, when Cape Byron won in emphatic style after going off at 7-2, the 28-runner contest does not appear to feature any unexposed sprinters who offer the potential to be a cut above the opposition.
The one possible exception is the lightly raced Khaadem, but he’s shown his hand in Group races and a mark of 107 gives the favourite little wriggle room.
I much prefer Open Wide, who is 25-1 with Ladbrokes but is worth backing each-way at 20-1 with Sky Bet, as they offer seven places.
Timeform still award Open Wide one of their dreaded squiggles but that looks harsh on recent evidence because he’s been running out of his skin – winning at Windsor before finding one too good in valuable contests at Ascot and then back at Windsor.
The quicker they go the better for him because he tanks through his races and has a turn of foot. He has something of a high head carriage and needs delivering as late as possible but Pat Dobbs has handled him masterfully in recent starts – including when just failing to get up on him at Windsor on Monday.
Connections will have been disappointed that £46,000 prize evaded them but every cloud has a silver lining and, on the plus side, he has escaped picking up a penalty.
The fact he has had only five days to catch his breath is a slight concern but he’s a horse who spends most of his time cruising along on the bridle and, in any case, that is offset by his price.
Most of the pace is among those berthed low, on the far side, so his draw in stall eight looks perfect and ignore the fact he only finished mid-division in last year’s renewal because he raced down the centre and got no run when he needed it a furlong out.
I’m going to throw two darts at the board in the Qatar Summer Handicap (2.25) in the shape of Proschema and Corgi.
This pair have met a couple of times before, including at this meeting last year and then in the Melrose at York, and there is not much between them.
Proschema hinted his turn was close when third in the Northumberland Plate on his penultimate start and palpably did not get home over 2m on softer ground at Newbury last time after travelling best.
Dropped back in distance on better ground, he should put up a bold show and the general 10-1 looks chunky.
Corgi is only half his price but I cannot let him go unbacked because he’s a rock-solid performer who gave it a typically good go when fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He’s had only go at this longer trip and keeps shaping as if it will suit.
My other fancy at Goodwood is the Richard Hughes-trained Harbour Spirit in the Qatar Apprentice Handicap.
He’s given his owners plenty of fun, his runs being divided between Britain and France, and he looked in great heart when bolting up at Kempton last time.
Harbour Spirit has to cope with a 7lb rise but that is offset by Angus Villiers being on his back. The 7lb claimer has wasted little time making an impression, winning four of the 17 races he has taken part in and being placed in five others.
If you are reading this before 7.50pm on Friday, keep an eye on him aboard the well-handicapped Just Glamorous at Bath. It’s his only ride of the day.
Betfair make Harbour Spirit 12-1 and that looks generous.
Hughes can also strike with Prince Of Rome in the totesport-sponsored 5f contest at Chelmsford.
He has won on his past two visits to the track and is only 2lb higher than for the latter success. He shaped well under considerate handling when third at Newcastle last time and is now equipped with first-time cheekpieces having had a wind operation since that last run.
I also like the fact that Finley Marsh takes another 3lb off his back.
Last, but not least, make a note of Star Shield in the William Hill Thirsk Summer Cup (4.00).
David O’Meara’s charge has a progressive profile and there was plenty to like about the way he got the job done at Ascot last time.
He was unlucky not to be completing a hat-trick of wins that day – he had previously won at Doncaster before being an unlucky loser at Doncaster – and his hold-up style is making it difficult for the handicapper to get to grips with him.
Star Shield is unproven on soft ground but he bred to be fully effective on it and, like the past two winners of this contest, he is drawn in stall 12.
How To bet £20 on Saturday:
OPTION ONE
2.25 Goodwood: Corgi £1.50 win at a general 5-1
2.25 Goodwood: Proschema £2 win at a general 10-1
3.20 Chelmsford: Prince Of Rome £3 win at 11-4 with bet365
3.35 Goodwood: Open Wide £3.50 each-way at 20-1 with Sky bet (who offer seven places). Ladbrokes go 25-1 but offer only four places
4.00 Thirsk: Star Shield £3 win at a general 7-1
5.25 Goodwood: Harbour Spirit £3 win at 12-1 with Betfair
OPTION TWO
£1.20 Win Lucky Fifften and a £1 each-way fourfold (bet with Sky Bet, who offer seven places in the 3.35 at Goodwood)
3.20 Chelmsford: Prince Of Rome
3.35 Goodwood: Open Wide
4.00 Thirsk: Star Shield
5.25 Goodwood: Harbour Spirit
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