Thursday 31st July 2025
Glorious Goodwood Selections (Day 3)
1.20: Coral Kincsem Handicap
It’s competitive handicap that gets us underway once more on Thursday, and this is a Class 2 affair which is contested over a mile and two furlongs. I think that Parole d’Oro looks rock-solid here for Michael Bell, who has required the services of Ryan Moore. He was a novice winner who’s run well in defeat in both handicap starts to date, with both coming in competitive affairs, the first of which came at Royal Ascot when finishing eighth in the Britannia Stakes, before being narrowly denied by the well-handicapped Dutch Decoy at Newmarket last time out at the July Festival. He steps up to ten furlongs here, which looks the right move given how well he’s kept on over a mile, and I think he could go very close off just two pounds higher than his Newmarket run.
PAROLE D’ORO – 15/2 (Each-Way)
1.55: Markel Richmond Stakes
Next up, it’s Group 2 action in the form of the Richmond Stakes, which is ridden over six furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane here, who’s set to be ridden by Charlie Bishop. He has already shown a very solid level of form in his four starts to date. He was a winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start, before being very narrowly denied in the Super Sprint at Newbury last time out, finishing a shoulder second of nineteen. I think he’s another who looks like a rock-solid option back up in trip here, and at his current price of 9/2, he’s definitely worth taking a chance on, in what is a step up in grade for him.
HAVANA HURRICANE – 9/2 (Each-Way)
2.30: HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes
The third race of the afternoon is the 2.30 and this is the Group 3 Gordon Stakes, which is ridden over a distance of a mile and four furlongs. The William Haggas trained Merchant has been developing into a favourite of mine this season. He opened his account within handicap company at York on his penultimate start with a two-and-a-half-length success, then followed up with a victory in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, which was a Heritage Handicap. He looks to be firmly on the upgrade, and looks like a typical improver for this particular yard. He’s well worth a go within Group 3 company here, and he could even prove to be a cut above this level in the future.
MERCHANT – 11/8 (Win) (NB)
3.05: Qatar Nassau Stakes
The feature race of the day on Thursday is the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, which is contested over a mile and two furlongs. I find it hard to get away from the Aidan O’Brien trained Whirl here, who’s the mount of Ryan Moore. She was a neck second in the Epsom Oaks to her talented stablemate Minnie Hauk on her penultimate start, and followed up with success in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes next time out, getting the better of Kalpana, who ran a blinder in the King George on her next start, finishing second to Calandagan. That’s red-hot form, and she also gets nine pounds from her main market rival, See The Fire. Another bold showing is likely.
WHIRL – 5/4 (Win) (NAP)
3.45: Buccellati Handicap
Next up is the 3.45, and we’re back within handicap company here with a Class 3 event that’s ridden over five furlongs. I’ve tried my hand with two selections here, the first of which comes in the form of Getreadytorumble for Jack Channon and Tom Marquand. He’s a progressive-looking sort and won over course and distance on his penultimate outing, and followed up with another solid run when two lengths third at Sandown last time out. He remains on the same mark as that Sandown run, and it’s likely that he still has further progression ahead of him.
I’ve also taken a chance on one at a bigger price, and that’s Wheels Of Fire for Richard Hannon and Sam Hitchcott. He’s yet to win within handicap company, however, he’s been knocking on the door on his last two starts, including over course and distance on his penultimate outing where he finishing third of ten and just a length and three-quarters behind the winner. He was arguably unlucky at Catterick last time out, when he also finished third and when not getting a clear run. This is extremely competitive; however, he could outrun his odds off this mark.
GETREADYTORUMBLE – 7/1 (Each-Way)
WHEELS OF FIRE – 14/1 (Each-Way)
