Goodwood best each-way bet: Royal Parade looking to defy outsider odds

20:10 Goodwood:  Degen Distillery X Berniemanski Apprentice Handicap  (1 mile)

With barely more than a single point covering the top five in the betting, the jury is clearly out as to how this race might unfold, and while the market leaders therefore struggled to offer much value, the scene could be set for one of the two rank outsiders to punch above their weight and at least squeeze into the frame.

Poetic Force certainly commands more respect than his current 16/1 price suggests after a decent second place over this distance on Lingfield’s all-weather track eight days ago, and he looks well-treated to contend here under Jack Doughty’s additional five-pound claim.

At almost double those outsider odds, Royal Parade has caught the attention of some of Tipstrr’s each-way specialists, who appear to have seen something between the lines of some unremarkable recent form.

Each-way punt: Royal Parade in the 20:10 at Goodwood

One factor in favour of Gay Kelleway’s five-year-old is that the most recent of his two career wins came at this venue around this time last year, when he won by a tidy four-length margin on similar ground, albeit over just a shorter six-furlong trip.

Unable to replicate that form through the remainder of the summer, Royal Parade was kept ticking over with a couple of all-weather outings over the winter, before emerging from a four-month break at Newmarket 19 days ago.

Pitched into decent company over seven furlongs, his 80/1 odds betray that expectations were low, and although finishing seventh of 11, he was far from disgraced in finishing less than five length behind the winner.

Jonny Peate is no mug in the saddle, and if he can keep Royal Parade in touch and produce him at the right time, then he could well make the final shake-up off a career-low mark.

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