The group 1 Nassau Stakes is the feature race on day 3 of Glorious Goodwood and this drying ground will certainly suit last year’s winner the Japanese trained Deidre, but she has been below par of late and she is not guaranteed the fast pace she needs at this trip.
I thought Fancy Blue (3.15) ran an excellent race when runner up from a poor draw in the Irish 1000 Guineas and subsequently went one better when landing the French Oaks over today’s trip at Chantilly. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle this afternoon and, after just four career starts, Donnacha O’Brien’s daughter of Deep Impact is entitled to further improvement. The selection – 9/4 with William Hill – is likely to get at least another couple of furlongs in time, but she gets the vote in a race that the classic generation have dominated in recent years until Deidre’s success 12 months ago.
Yazaman was described as an out and out juvenile after he finished runner up in the July Stakes at Newmarket behind Her Majesty’s Tactical who is one of the best two-year-olds seen out so far this term. The selection has the beating of Qaader (2.15) on that run but preference is for the Mark Johnston trained two-year-old – 4/1 with Unibet – who looked all at sea on the rain softened ground and is taken to reverse the form on this better ground. He wouldn’t be the first Johnston trained runner to bounce back at Goodwood this week following a disappointing effort.
In the Gordon Stakes Subjectivist looks sure to make it a true gallop and I am sure Frankie Dettori will not give the leader the same rope he allowed Serpentine on English King (2.50) in the Derby at Epsom at the beginning of the month. The selection ducked left at the start from his poor draw in stall one on that occasion but finished the race, seemingly, with plenty in the tank having been given plenty to do. Dettori keeps the ride this afternoon and Ed Walker’s son of Camelot – a best priced 11/8 with Unibet from 7/4 – can reverse Epsom form with runner up Khalifa Sat.
In the finale Winter Power (4.55) is impossible to oppose having run away with a Redcar nursery in a fast time on Monday. If in the same mood she will be impossible to oppose under a 6lbs penalty given she was well touted prior to her Newcastle debut and looked a group horse at the Teesside track earlier in the week. The filly is 8/11 with Boylesports.
My two against the field in the Galway Hurdle are Aramax (6.45) and Wonder Laish with marginal preference for the former who did us a favour when winning the 4-year-old handicap hurdle – formerly Fred Winter – at the Cheltenham Festival back in March.
There has only been one four-year-old winner of this valuable and prestigious handicap hurdle since its inception in 1988 and that was 20 years ago, but this is one of the few big races that legendary trainer Gordon Elliot has failed to win, and it is possible that he will never carry just 10st 5lbs again. The each way selection is a best priced 12/1 (from 14s) with bet365. Note Elliot also saddles the likely market leader Felix Desjy who overcame a long absence to make all in a 2m Maiden on the level at Navan at the beginning of the month.
There was plenty of rain forecast for Galway on Wednesday and I am not convinced that will suit Wonder Laish who was tenderly handled when third to Aramon in the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary last month. Aramon reopposes on the same terms this evening but I thought Charles Byrnes’ eight-year-old would improve significantly for the run and he has been well supported into a best price of 15/2 although the forecast rain on Wednesday is a negative.
