Ben Linfoot: Value Bet

Ben Linfoot seeks out the value in the totesport Mile on day four at Glorious Goodwood.

Two selections to take on Goodwood hotpot

So are you with Green Destiny or aren't you?

That's the big dilemma for punters ahead of the totesport Mile at Glorious Goodwood on Friday and for me it's a difficult decision.

Here we have a horse who is officially 8lbs 'well-in', as he gets to race off a handicap mark of 101 when in the future he'd have to race of 109.

He looked like a future Group horse when sprinting away with the John Smith's Cup at York and the way he put the race to bed with an electric turn of foot suggests he should be able to cope with the drop back to a mile.

However, I do have my doubts that a mile around Goodwood on good ground are his optimum conditions and though stall two is a good draw he is a hold-up horse and there is the danger he could get shuffled back like he did at Ascot.

William Haggas has to go for the big pot with him with the pounds and ounces in his favour but there are enough reasons for me to let him go this time at the prices.

The horse I think can take advantage is CAI SHEN for the Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes team who are having a good week again despite the defeat of Canford Cliffs.

The Julie Wood-owned three-year-old ran an absolute belter under top weight in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot where he travelled well but couldn't quite get to the winner Sagramor in the closing stages.

Next time he was beaten in a conditions stakes at Newmarket but that wasn't such a bad effort and back in handicap company I think he can have a big say off just a 4lb-higher mark than his Ascot run.

Three-year-olds have done well against their elders in this race recently with Fifteen Love winning in 2008 and Sea Lord last year and Cai Shen also looks capable of making the most of the weight-for-age allowance.

Back him at 14/1 with Coral and while you're at it take the 12s about RIGGINS as he looks a very interesting contender for Ed Walker.

He won a handicap around here when trained by Luca Cumani and also ran a very good race in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes last summer when handled by Andrew Balding.

He was staying on with purpose that day but couldn't quite get to them over seven furlongs and he looks an out-and-out miler.

Walker won with him over that distance the first time he ran him at Kempton in November when he dead-heated with Fanunalter, a horse that is now rated 110.

In two runs since then he hasn't set the world alight but he was short of room at Meydan and was too keen early on over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot last time.

The handicapper has dropped him 4lbs to 104 since then and he was a narrow second off 100 in the Royal Hunt Cup last year so it's a mark he can be competitive from.

Back at Goodwood over a mile with William Buick (who is one from one on him) back in the saddle he can go well and should be backed at a double-figure price.

First reserve Sagramor takes the place of Dunn'o after he missed the first race on Thursday and he is another three-year-old that is a danger to all.

However, I reckon he could do with a bit further than a mile at a track like Goodwood and though he's likely to be staying on with purpose he might not get there in time.

Selections: 1pt win Riggins in totesport Mile at 14/1 (bet365) 1pt win Cai Shen in totesport Mile at 14/1 (general).