There’s another excellent card to look forward to on day three of the Goodwood Festival on Thursday, which includes the Group 1 Nassau Stakes along with two further Group races.
The Tote are guaranteeing £250,000 in the Placepot for it, so our editor has given his selections in an attempt to land the big prize pot.
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Leg 1: 1.50pm
Leg 1 Selections: (13) Perfect Play (9) Coverdale
The Johnston yard have won four of the last ten renewals of this, and the first one I’m adding to my placepot is one their runners – PERFECT PLAY. He was just touched off by Coverdale last time out but is 3lb better off with that rival here.
With that in mind, I’m also keen to play COVERDALE too. He’s 4/4 for the season and seems to be getting better with each run. Having won on heavy ground this season, we know he’ll go well on whatever ground and he looks a solid option to include.
Leg 2: 2.25pm
Leg 2 Selections: (1) Jasour (4) Bobsleigh
It’s difficult to see July Stakes winner JASOUR finishing outside the places so he has to be the starting point in this. He does have to give weight away to all his rivals, but he should have the class to be able to do so. The ground is a bit of a question mark but I still feel he’s got the quality to finish in the places regardless of the ground.
The other one I’ll throw in is BOBSLEIGH for Eve Johnson Houghton. After winning his first two, he did well to finish 6th in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and that form received a boost yesterday when the 5th home Haatem won the Vintage Stakes on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood. He was no match for Relief Rally in the Super Sprint, but this is more his trip and I can see him running well at a price.
Leg 3: 3.00pm
Leg 3 Selections: (6) Espionage (4) Chesspiece
The obvious starting point is A P O’Brien’s ESPIONAGE, who was a head away from winning a Group 1 at the end of last season and relished the step up in trip on seasonal reappearance. The Group 1 effort was on heavy ground so he’ll be fine with the conditions and he’ll likely go off a short priced favourite.
Godolphin have won two of the last five renewals so I’m also going to side with their runner CHESSPIECE. Having won three of his races to date and not beaten far in his other two races, he looks sure to be thereabouts at the finish. His win in the Glasgow Stakes last time out was a good effort and this looks to be his optimum trip at the moment, so he’s worth sticking in as a back-up if Espionage fails to fire.
Leg 4: 3.35pm
Leg 4 Selections: (4) Blue Rose Cen
This looks to be a straight shootout between BLUE ROSE CEN and Nashwa, and it’s the former I’m siding with. The three time Group 1 winner was better than ever when winning the Prix de Diane last time out and she’ll relish the cut in the ground. She receives 8lb from her main rival and it’s worth noting that 3YO’s have won 7 of the last 10 renewals. Nashwa may have been impressive last time out in the Falmouth but that was over a shorter trip and it’s over a year since she last won over this trip.
Leg 5: 4.10pm
Leg 5 Selections: (9) Macanudo (1) Balon D’Or
In the last ten runnings of this, the Hannon and Johnston yards have won six of them. They have four runners in here, and the one I like is MACANUDO for team Hannon. He’s still a maiden after four runs but he’s finished runner-up in his last three and I’m hoping the step up in trip, along with the applicaition of first-time blinkers can eke out a bit more improvement.
The other one I’m siding with is BALON D’OR, who I’m surprised isn’t shorter in the betting. Hugo Palmer’s colt finished ahead of Group 2 winner Haatem in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom back in June, and his two runs since haven’t been as bad as the finishing positions may suggest. Harry Davies takes a valuable 3lb off his back and he’s more than capable of running into the places.
Leg 6: 4.45PM
Leg 6 Selections: (3) Skysail (11) Roarin’ Success
With not many stats to go on, I’m keen to side with the only runner to have won over C&D previously – Marcus Tregoning’s SKYSAIL. He was ultra impressive when winning on his sole race here back in May, and he did well to finish runner-up on his last outing at Ascot. He had Metal Merchant behind that day, and he’s 2lb better off with that rival now.
The other one I’m siding with is Harry & Roger Charlton’s ROARIN’ SUCCESS, who made a winning return to action at Ascot last month. Only two runners have raced since – Farhh Too Shy, who won a similar race next time out, and Belhaven, who wasn’t beaten far in a handicap here on Tuesday. Kieran Shoemark takes over on board and he can steer her to be thereabouts at the finish.
Suggested Placepot
Leg 1 Selections: (13) Perfect Play (9) Coverdale
Leg 2 Selections: (1) Jasour (4) Bobsleigh
Leg 3 Selections: (6) Espionage (4) Chesspiece
Leg 4 Selections: (4) Blue Rose Cen
Leg 5 Selections: (9) Macanudo (1) Balon D’Or
Leg 6 Selections: (3) Skysail (11) Roarin’ Success
32 Lines x 25p = £8
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