A CLOUDY START TO THE DAY

THE Goodwood and Galway festivals are well under way and hopefully you have bagged a few quid up to now as we head into the final days at both tracks.
Totesport Mile Heritage Handicap (formerly Known As The Golden Mile)
We start with the Totesport Mile which is the big race at Goodwood on Friday and we have sided with the Henry Cecil-trained CLOUDY START in this one after his seond at Newmarket last time out. The 10/1 on offer looks cracking each-way value in a puzzling race which looks as wide open as the betting suggests. He was on a winning run before finding Spring of Fame too good at headquarters and we expeact a big run from him.
Blue Square Nassau Stakes
The Group One Blue Square Nassau Stakes is the big race for fillies on Saturday and it’s another high-class field.
Henry Cecil has entered MIDDAY for this one and there is no Sariska in the field on Saturday I think he will take some stopping.
Sean Graham bet: Midday 4, Dar Re Mi 5, Rainbow View 6, Reggane 7, Heaven Sent 8, Spacious 8, Katiyra 10, Moneycantbuymelove 10, Barshiba 12, High Heeled 25, Saphiras Fire 33, Nashmiah 50, Sweet Lilly 50. Others on request.
Bluesquare.com Stewards' Cup Heritage Handicap
On to the cavalry charge which is the Stewards Cup and we put two down for this headlong six-furlong dash.
Recent York winner KNOT IN WOOD rarely runs a bad race and the 16/1 early week pricing looks terrific each-way value.
GLOBAL CITY (25/1) has been in the frame all year for Godolphin and could run a big race at a big price on Saturday
Sean Graham bet: Markab 8, Prohibit 9, Asset 16, Genki 16, Knot In Wood 16, Mac Gille Eoin 16, Barney McGrew 20, Jimmy Styles 20, Tamagin 20, Buachaill Dona 25, Enderby Spirit 25, Evens And Odds 25, Global City 25, Master of Disguise 25, Parisian Pyramid 25, Roker Park 25, Something 25, Sonny Red 25, Striking Spirit 25, Zidane 25. Others on request.
Friday Selections: Crime Scene,Harrison George Rakaan (NAP), Black Snowflake (double), Master Of Disguise
Galway Double: Taralga and Carlesimo
Remember to log on the Punters Guide online at http://thep untersguide.blogspot.com/ for daily tips, market movers, craic and free bets.


Bets of the WEEK:
SOME fascinating bets this week, not least a punter who was left with a sour taste in his mouth even though he caned Ladbrokes for close to a grand.
A local punter who we’ll call David placed a £3 each-way double on Saturday and, like me, this punter likes to take an early price on his bets.
I always call this a gamble within a gamble, but for our punter it turned out to be a nightmare.
On Saturday Ladbrookes were doing an SP Boost on four races at Ascot and our punter was under the impression that this meant guaranteed odds on those particular races. But he was to learn a painful lesson that the prices he took stood, and that he would have been so much better off not writing any prices down at all.
David’s first selection KNOT IN WOOD scraped home in the Sky Bet Dash Heritage Handicap at York and it returned 8/1 – David was on at 9s so a point gained? No, he would have got 10s with the SP Boost, so a point lost.
His next horse was AL MUHEER who again won by the smallest of margins in the Abu Dhabi International Heritage Handicap at Ascot and David took the early morning show of 25/1. It won at 40/1 and, even worse, with the special SP Boost it returned 50/1.
So here’s the difference: our punter picked up £850.69 with the prices he took but would have picked up £1824.75 – nearly a thousand pounds more – if he hadn’t taken prices. It got worse for poor David as apparently the main Ladbrokes facing the Busy Bee guarantee all prices.
So even though he picked up over £800, he was still left cursing his bad luck.
SEAN Graham took a big hit when a local punter hit them for £15,005 last Wednesday night in the Irish Lotto.
His four numbers were 12, 14, 21 and 34 and he had fiver on. When your luck’s in, it’s in.
A North Belfast punter was also in the winner’s enclosure last week when he touched with a £1.50 Lucky 15.
JENINSKY (8/1) got the ball rolling, winning the 7.50 at Doncaster and the sweat was on when HALFWAY HOUSE (4/1) won the 8.05 at Folkstone.
AMAZING BLUE SKY (5/2) coasted home for the hat-trick and his last selection MOON INDIGO (11/8) took the honours in the finale at Leopardstown .
The very lucky and very capable punter picked up £1,996.50 for his troubles to make it a Thursday night to remember.