Saturday’s horse racing tips

West Acre (Goodwood, 15.35) – 1pt each-way @ 25/1 (William Hill)

Wild Desert (Goodwood, 16.10) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2 (William Hill)

Al Wathba (Goodwood, 16.45) – 1pt win @ 9/4 (bet365)

Shafdar (Goodwood, 17.20) – 1pt each-way @ 16/1 (bet365)

It’s day five of Glorious Goodwood and there’s a cracking day of action to conclude the festival. We have four selections using the best odds from betting sites for you to look through.

Coral Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap) (15.35, Goodwood)

There are few more prestigious handicap sprints, nor bigger prizes for such races, than this and it’s a race that presents just as big a challenge for we punters as it does for those with a runner.

While two of the last ten winners have been drawn as low as stalls three and four, no other winner in that period has come from a stall lower than 15 and that is a stat worth trying to stay on the right side of.

Last year’s winner Two Tribes came from stall 25 and he’s drawn in 13 this time, while he’s also 9lb higher. However, there’s no doubt he’s improved and with his trainer Richard Spencer already having saddled Twilight Calls to win a 23-runner handicap this week (stall 19), he has to be taken seriously because he may still be well treated.

Favourites have won just twice in the last decade, when an average SP of the winner has been 17.4/1, so that’s what we’re dealing with. Having said that, I really do respect the chance of this year’s market leader, Far Above Dream, who is well drawn and is also 3-3 at this track. If you’re intent on siding with the ‘jolly’ then I’d get on early as I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes off a fair bit shorter than the 7/1 on betting sites as I write.

I’m going to take a chance on a 25/1 shot in this, in the shape of WEST ACRE. He represents George Scott, who’s already had a winner at the meeting. He’s won 4-13 starts, including on fast ground in a Meydan Group 3 last year. He’s not matched that peak effort since but he came close to doing so when sporting first-time cheekpieces and after a break in a Group 3 at Dundalk last October.

He’s been saved since a decent third-placed effort in a 6f Listed event at Meydan in January and his record when fresh is 1-2-13-2-5, so there’s more than just hope that he can fire after several months off and over a trip at which he is unexposed. If he runs anywhere near his best he is very nicely treated and in a hugely competitive contest, he looks worth a small stakes each-way play from stall 17.

**Goodwood day five racing tip 1: West Acre (Goodwood, 15.35) – 1pt each-way @ 25/1 (William Hill) **

Phase Eight Handicap (15.35, Goodwood)

An interesting and open handicap where I think there may be an opportunity with a first-time handicap runner in WILD DESERT, who represents Godolphin and the in-form Charlie Appleby.

The Newmarket-based trainer hasn’t sent many to Goodwood this week but those who have travelled (think Al Hudaiba and Opera Ballo) have run well. The selection is a classy Too Darn Hot colt who was a debut 7f winner at Haydock (good to firm) as a juvenile, was a very creditable third in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes (7f, good to firm) at Newmarket 13 months ago and was a close second when favourite in the Group 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine (1m, firm) last September.

He’s only had one start since that peak effort, when 9/2 on betting apps and beating just one home in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes back at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) last month. While that was disappointing, it was only one start and he’s still arguably completely unexposed as he tackles a handicap for the first time.

It won’t be easy from a mark of 105 but if class is worth anything, I think he is overpriced and if he can perform to his optimum again, he will give them all plenty to think about.

Goodwood day five racing tip 2: Wild Desert (Goodwood, 16.10) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2 (William Hill)

British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (16.45, Goodwood)

I’d expect to see the Aidan O’Brien representative Speakers Corner to make significant improvement for his debut here but he’d have to make plenty to get close to AL WATHBA on the evidence of the selection’s own first effort and I think he can break his duck this time.

He’s another Godolphin-owned Charlie Appleby inmate and looked very promising when a 4/1 chance and finishing under 2l behind O’Brien-trained Haffner in a recent Newmarket maiden (7f, good to firm).

With that horse having finished second to Dr Rascal in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes on Tuesday, O’Brien will know what he’s up against and while his colt can come on, so too can the selection, who could prove tough to topple.

Goodwood day five racing tip 3: Al Wathba (Goodwood, 16.45) – 1pt win @ 9/4 (bet365)

Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (17.20, Goodwood)

It’s fair to say that things haven’t worked out for trainer Ian Williams with his two previous runners at the meeting this week but that’s not to say that they can’t end well with SHAFDAR, who is a small each-way suggestion in the final race of the lot.

He’s so far been an inconsistent performer, winning a Chelmsford maiden (1m, AW) in February and improving back there next time to be 1l second on his handicap debut from a mark of 80.

After a blip at Newcastle (1m, AW), he scored at Epsom (1m½f, good) in a 0-85 in April, which remains his best effort. He was below par in a big field in the Victoria Cup at Ascot (7f, good) in May, before a better effort behind Beagle Bay in a Class 2 event at Sandown (1m, good) last time. The winner there was engaged today (15.00) at Goodwood, so a big run from him again would at least make the selection’s effort solid.

He got a bit unbalanced in that most recent race, when push came to shove and I’m not giving up on him, especially going up in trip. He just seemed to lack a gear for the closing stages there, so this extra furlong might help him and he’s well treated based on that best effort from Epsom. He is yet another this week who looks worth an each-way interest.

Goodwood day five racing tip 4: Shafdar (Goodwood, 17.20) – 1pt each-way @ 16/1 (bet365)

Responsible gambling

It is important to practice safer gambling online, and regulated horse racing betting sites can help bettors stay in control of their spending through their detailed safer gambling hubs.

As you’ll find on all UKGC licensed betting websites, there is a range of tools available such as deposit limits, profit and loss calculators, reality checks and self-exclusion options.

If necessary, there is also a product block available.

If you need to seek help for a gambling problem, there are various charities that can help if you ever feel your gambling has got out of hand:

• NHS Help
• GambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Independent a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK’s best online gambling companies.

Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare.

Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply to all offers.