Glorious Goodwood enters day three on Thursday, with the Nassau Stakes headlining. Matty Sutcliffe has a tip for the big race and two others on the day.
1:50 Goodwood – Coral Kincsem Handicap (Class 2) (3yo) – Into Battle 8/1 1pt EW 4 places
The return to a sharper track looks to be the right move for INTO BATTLE, who was impressive from the front when fending off the 85 rated (8/13F) Midair in game fashion. The third from that contest has given the form a significant boost since, having finished second in the Silver Bowl Handicap at Haydock next time out before taking a valuable prize on the July Course last time, now rated 102 (11lbs higher than when third to Into Battle).
Four of the last ten winners of this race had previously contested the London Gold Cup at Newbury, and Into Battle was far from disgraced when a six length fifth in that contest behind King’s Gambit, who was beaten half a length in the G2 York Stakes last weekend. The horses in behind the winner – the group horse in a handicap – have also boosted the from well since with the fourth Persica winning twice now rated 110 (18lbs higher than Newbury), the 6th Go Daddy was beaten a length in the King George V Handicap before beaten 3/4L in a listed race in France, and Black Run fared best of those from the front when third in the Golden Gates Stakes at Ascot.
Better could’ve been expected at Sandown from Into Battle, who was heavily backed into 2/1 favouritism but wasn’t favoured by a tight gap up the rail while the winner had flown down the outside, though he was only beaten a length and showed battling qualities to get up for third, shaping as if a return to 1m2f would suit.
That last piece of form raises a slight eyebrow regarding this much hotter contest, but he’s been gelded in the interim and returns here off a short break, which is no issue considering he won well off a 167-day layoff in April and he can fare well from the front carrying little weight.
2:25 Goodwood – Markel Richmond Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo) – Black Forza 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
The Strikin Viking was an excellent second in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh, but it remains to be seen how much his new handler can improve him after leaving Kevin Ryan’s yard, and he’ll be encountering completely different ground than the last twice provided the Thursday forecast showers don’t arrive.
Tropical Storm is closely matched with The Striking Viking on a line through Arizona Blaze, as is Billboard Star on a line through Whistlejacket, but the trio are priced accordingly and there could be more to come from BLACK FORZA, who came on leaps and bounds from his debut at the Curragh over seven furlongs.
The imposing, American-bred son of Complexity was bought for $275,000 as a two year having initially cost $65,000 as a yearling in the States, and looked potentially something out of the ordinary when staying on strongly from midfield to lead cosily at Fairyhouse. While he’ll no doubt have to improve on that bare form, there might not be much to find at first glance as he pulled a length a quarter away from Rudi’s Apple there, who was not only an excellent four length sixth in the Windsor Castle, but bolted up by nearly four lengths in a nursery at the Curragh next time out off a mark of 90, with Snapdragon (3L behind Black Forza) in second. Rudi’s Apple is now rated 101 off the back of that effort, so there’s every chance that Black Forza could be rated 100+ himself, which suggests he wouldn’t have much to find with Billboard Star (104) and Tropical Storm (101).
Given the large majority of these were either prominent or made all last time out, the forecast pace should be strong and that will play into the strengths of Black Forza, who was comfortable sitting in midfield and coming home with a late run last time out.
3:35 Goodwood – Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Sparkling Plenty 13/2 2pt WIN
SPARKLING PLENTY was a huge eye-catcher in the French 1000 Guineas when given a sub-par ride, failing to find gaps and staying on strongly to be beaten just under two lengths. Under more experienced guise of Cristian Demuro and Tony Piccone, she was delivered with aplomb to first take the G2 Prix de Sandringham by three lengths, before taking the coveted G1 Prix de Diane when again coming from last to first.
By Kingman out of a Frankel mare from the family of 2010 Nassau second Stacelita, she’s bred to be a very smart mare and now that she’s learnt to settle in her races, that pedigree is unearthing itself onto the track. She possesses a very smart turn of foot which is crucial around Goodwood, and the Prix de Diane has often been a good pointer toward this contest with Fancy Blue completing the Diane/Nassau double in 2020, Joan Of Arc was only beaten two lengths a year later, Nashua was beaten a length in 2023 (albeit her Diane success was a year prior), and Blue Rose Cen was only beaten a length in that same contest having won the Diane.
Sparkling Plenty proved her stamina well for this trip, and the form of the Diane has worked out well with Survie (2nd) winning a G2 next time out, Tamfana (3rd) was only beaten 2L in the G1 Prix de Paris next time out, Dare To Dream (5th) wasn’t disgraced when 7th in the Irish Oaks, with others going on to fare well.
She’s bang there on ratings and is miraculously the only one coming into the race off the back of a win last time out. The ground holds no qualms and had she been trained by the likes of O’Brien or Gosden, I’ve no doubt she’d at least be vying for favouritism in this field.
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