Thursday 3rd August 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to my previews for this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival which is set to take place from Tuesday all the way through to Saturday. I’ll be giving my opinions throughout the full week, so as ever, if you are having a punt make sure to do it in a responsible manner.
1.50 Coral Kincsem Handicap: We kick things off with more competitive handicap action on Thursday at 1.50 with eighteen runners currently set to go to do battle in this over a mile and two furlongs. Perfuse sets the standard at the top of the betting, however, his odds are very skinny for a race of this nature and I’ve gone for Promoter at 12/1 for Ralph Beckett and Rob Hornby. He’s not been seen since June when he finished fifth behind the useful Torito at Epsom, that was a decent run on that occasion and he’ll contest this off the same mark. He also had some solid novice form last term, in particular when he beat Racingbreaks Ryder who has since progressed significantly. I think he could go well here at a nice price if getting some luck in the run. Promoter – 12/1 (Each-Way)
2.25 Richmond Stakes: The second race on the card is the Richmond Stakes, which is a Group 2 affair that is contested over a distance of six furlongs. I think that this can go to Jasour who now sits at the top of the betting for the team of Clive Cox and Jim Crowley. He comes into the race looking like another exciting sprinter for a yard that have excelled with these types over the years, on his most recent start he won the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket in impressive style by three lengths and if progressing from that run again it’s likely that he’ll be very tough to beat. Jasour – 3/1 (Win)
3.00: Gordon Stakes: It’s Group 3 action at 3:00 in the form of the Gordon Stakes which is ridden over a mile and four furlongs. Espionage currently heads the betting and looks like an exciting animal for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, however, I’m going to try and take him on with Chesspiece who represents James Doyle and the Crisford team. He’s a horse that I also think has considerable progression yet to come, and so do Godolphin as they purchased him following his victory at York’s Dante Meeting back in May. Following that York success he ran a cracker in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when finishing third behind and Gregory and has since won a listed contest at Hamilton last month. There should be a lot more yet to come and he’s got every chance in this. Chesspiece – 9/2 (Win)
3.35: Nassau Stakes: The feature race on Day Three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival is the Group 1 Nassau Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. I think this year’s renewal of the race is all about the French raider Blue Rose Cen who currently heads the betting at 11/10 for Christopher Head and Aurelien Lemaitre. This horse is a seriously exciting three-year-old filly, she comes into the contest having already won three Group 1s, with her most recent success coming at Chantilly in June when she bolted up in the Group 1 Prix De Diane by four lengths. She also gets a considerable amount of weight of her closest market rivals here, most notably eight pounds of last year’s winner Nashwa, which I think could be quite a big ask for the Gosden filly. This is a horse who could well become a superstar, she could well already be there. Blue Rose Cen – 11/10 (NAP)
