The Group 1 Nassau Stakes is for fillies and mares only, bringing together all ages for a middle distance showdown. There promises to be a superb clash between experience and youth on Thursday as Joe Napier previews the runners in this year’s edition.
1. Running Lion
The oldest horse in the field being a mare aged five, Running Lion has not always been the most consistent for John & Thady Gosden. She has proven capable of top class performances such as when winning the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes in 2024 at Royal Ascot, but her off days have become more frequent this season. William Buick is a decent deputy for Oisin Murphy and the step back up to 1m2f may be a positive, but she looks up against it given the promise of those with younger legs here.
2. See The Fire
The runner-up in this last year, when being beaten by just a neck at 16/1, See The Fire will go off a fraction of the price this time around. The four-year-old secured a first Group race success immediately after her narrow defeat here, but has gone up another level this term, winning in extraordinary fashion in the Group 2 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes at York by 12 lengths. She was subsequently a gallant third in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes against the boys at Royal Ascot, which is serious form, and she may have finished closer but for being briefly trapped for racing room. She sets a very decent yardstick.
3. Bedtime Story
Bedtime Story was a sensational nine-length winner of the Chesham Stakes as a two-year-old, but it has been trickier for Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel filly since, despite two Group race wins at odds of 1/16. After some lowlier efforts, she bounced back to form last time when second in the Prix De Diane (French Oaks), suggesting she had been needing the step up in trip. That effort deserves a further upgrade given she came from well back in the field and she cannot be easily ruled out now that she is back in form, for all she is not the mount of Ryan Moore.
4. Cercene
Odds of 33/1 proved wayward as Cercene caused a massive upset in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last month She was a first top level winner for veteran trainer Joseph Murphy, but it was no fluke that she held off the near-unbeaten Zarigana over 1m that day ad the form has been readily franked by third-placed January. Cercene was slowly away, yet battled right the way through the line and being a daughter of Australia, this 1m2f trip should suit just as well. Though she does not represent the powerful connections her rivals do, she would be very foolish to write off.
5. Whirl
A testament to Aidan O’Brien’s patience, Whirl was not the finished article for some time, yet has blossomed into a very smart performer this season. Defeat on her yearly return was swiftly left behind when she won the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York by 5½ lengths before being beaten by just a neck in the Oaks when the second Ballydoyle string. Dropped back to 1m2f, she gamely rallied to win the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes in her first start against older fillies and Kalpana did that form the world of good in the King George on Saturday. She could well have even more to offer too.
Verdict
See The Fire sets a fairly formidable standard, but all three of three-year-olds have significant upside to supporting them. Whirl might not get things her own way in front with Running Lion in the race and this could set up well for BEDTIME STORY, who is gradually being brought back to form and may now deliver on the promise she showed when waltzing clear in the Chesham Stakes as a juvenile. Cercene is also a big danger though with the step up to 1m2f a plus on breeding and her Coronation Stakes form is not to be sniffed at.
- Bedtime Story
- See The Fire
- Whirl
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.