GREEN LIGHT FOR ORANGE
Bell’s Big day out
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.
Michael Bell will run his stable star, with Frankie Dettori up, unless it is on the heavy side of soft.
“Big Orange is likely to run unless it is a bog as there is nothing else for him at the moment,” said the trainer.
“We are doing a weather watch, but you cannot drive yourself crazy about forecasts as there are many variables – especially where Goodwood is on the top of the Downs, and there can be a micro-climate.
Chucking
“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 threeyear-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.
“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 Haggas is one of Big Orange’s many admirers but is hoping Dal Harraild, trained a mile down the road from him in Newmarket, can take his scalp.
The four-year-old, who won at the Qatar Goodwood Festival last year, has solid form to his name over shorter trips and Haggas believes he will thrive now his stamina is tested.
“Obviously we are all petrified of Big Orange but I’m really thrilled with Dal Harraild,” he said. “I’m dying to run him over two miles. Believe you me, I think he will be better over that distance.
“He wasn’t quick enough over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot but his stamina will come into play in a Cup race.”
Coral bet: 10-11 Big Orange, 8 Dal Harraild, 12 Stradivarius, 14 Higher Power, Simple Verse, US Army Ranger, 16 Sheikhzayedroad.