Horse round the home turn at Gorious Goodwood. (Pic: Jack Terry courtesy of Goodwood).

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson: Top horse-racing tips and the latest news

BIG ORANGE has a stranglehold on the betting for the Group 1 Qatar Goodwood Cup on Tuesday which he attempts to win for a record third successive year.

Double Trigger won the race three times in four years between 1995 and 1998 but no horse has secured a hat-trick in the feature race on the first day of the five-day festival that is contested in a spectacular setting high above the Sussex Downs.

The Michael Bell-trained gelding is trading at around 5-6. All of his 13 rivals are priced at double figure odds for the two mile contest that carries a first prize of over £300,000 and total prize money in excess of £500,000.

Big Orange at his last start won the Gold Cup at Ascot where he was ridden by James Doyle, stepping in for the injured Frankie Dettori, who reclaims the mount on Tuesday.

The 2017 Goodwood Cup has been boosted to Group 1 from its previous Group 2 status. Since last year’s victory, the globe-trotting six-year-old has won two of his six starts which were contested in Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai and the UK.

In Australia he contested the Emirates Melbourne Cup where he finished midfield and behind one of Tuesday’s rivals, Qewy, who was fourth at Flemington.

Qewy was having his first run since a profitable trip to Australia, where he won two of his three starts, when fourth to Oriental Fox in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

“I was pleased with his run at Ascot and he’s come out of it well,” Appleby said of his charge who is on 12lb worse terms with Big Orange than in Australia. “He probably found two miles and six furlongs a bit too far and dropping back in trip will suit him.

“Big Orange is exceptionally good on quicker surfaces and is even money. You can throw a blanket over the rest of us, so we will give it a go.

“The plan is go back to Australia with Qewy, so I’ve got to map his races timing wise to get down there fit and well.”

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.