Orange can peel off a hat-trick
BIG ORANGE is bidding to make history by landing three straight wins in tomorrow’s £500,000 Group One Qatar Goodwood Cup on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.
Trainer Michael Bell, pictured, reported his stable star, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, is almost certain to run.
He said: “Big Orange is likely to run unless it is a bog because there is nothing else for him at the moment. We are doing a weather watch, but you cannot drive yourself crazy about forecasts because there are so many variables, especially where Goodwood is on the top of the Downs, there can be a micro-climate.
“It can be chucking it down at the bottom of the hill but not at the top. Big Orange has won on good to soft going as a three-year-old. We used to think he wanted soft ground but the older he has got, because he has such a good action and long gait, he is very effective on fast ground and gets bogged down on soft ground. So he is a significantly better horse on faster going. “Big Orange is defending his Goodwood Cup crown and long may he reign over it. He would be the first horse to win the race three times on the trot — Double Trigger had a year’s gap in his three. Obviously, Double Trigger was an extremely popular horse and it would be nice for Big Orange to join him in winning three Goodwood Cups. He is a worthy favourite and provided the ground remains on the fast side, he should have a great chance.
“Big Orange is six now but for a stayer that means he is just coming into his prime. He has only run 24 times.”
William Hill bet: Evens Big Orange, 10 Dal Harraild, 12 US Army Ranger, Stradivarius, Higher Power, Simple Verse, Sheikhzayedroad, 18 Prince Of Arran, Wicklow Brave, 20 Pallasator, 22 Qewy, 28 She Is No Lady, Desert Skyline, 33 Sweet Selection, 40 Oriental Fox, High Jinx.