11 minutes After a second successive profitable day, Stephen Welch returns with his tips for day three of Glorious Goodwood.
1:20 Goodwood
PAROLE D’ORO - 9/1
Parole d’Oro has shaped like a colt still ahead of his mark and looks ready to take a significant step forward now upped to 1m2f. He was a clear eyecatcher in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was repeatedly denied a run and followed that with a narrow defeat at Newmarket when just failing to reel in the winner despite covering more ground than ideal. That was another strongly run mile contest and his running style, staying on powerfully through the line, suggests this longer trip could unlock further improvement. A 2lbs rise is lenient and the booking of Ryan Moore signals intent from connections. He’s drawn low in stall 1, which should allow him to sit handy or slot in for cover before delivering a late challenge.
Best Secret has the strongest piece of form on paper courtesy of his Royal Ascot third and should go close if reproducing that effort. Marhaba Ghaiyyath is improving steadily and represents a yard in flying form, while Fort George is interesting up in trip after two strong mile runs here in the spring. Serenity Blue is unexposed and dangerous to dismiss on handicap debut.
Verdict: PAROLE D’ORO has been crying out for 1m2f and looks ready to cash in on a workable mark with conditions to suit. Best Secret and Serenity Blue are the main dangers, while Fort George is respected back at Goodwood.
1:55 Goodwood
Markel Richmond Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)
MAXIMIZED - 5/1
Maximized is taken to bounce back to form and land this Group 2 contest for Charlie Appleby, who has a good record at this meeting. A smart winner on debut at Haydock, he confirmed his promise with a gritty success in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, where he showed a willing attitude to fend off Havana Hurricane. That form has worked out well, with the runner-up going on to win the Windsor Castle and place in the Super Sprint. Although Maximized failed to fire in the July Stakes at Newmarket, he was uneasy in the betting that day and may not have been at his best. First-time cheekpieces now go on, Buick is booked again and he's drawn to get a handy pitch just off the pace. With a return to a sounder surface also likely to help, he’s worth chancing at fair odds.
Coppull has the standout piece of form thanks to his excellent Coventry third at Royal Ascot and is a major threat if reproducing that. Havana Hurricane is clearly talented but has had a busy campaign and may be vulnerable to fresher legs, while Azizam is open to improvement, stepping up to 6f after a strong Windsor Castle finish.
Verdict: MAXIMIZED can bounce back from a rare Appleby Royal Ascot blip and prove he's still a leading juvenile. Coppull is respected as the proven Group performer, while Azizam could improve again over this trip.
2:30 Goodwood
HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes (Group 3)
GALVESTON - 6/1
Galveston has shown improved form since the application of blinkers and is worth siding with in this open-looking renewal of the Gordon Stakes. He made all to score at Naas in May and then ran a bold race from the front when seventh in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten just over five lengths in a strong Group 2. That effort came over the same 1m4f trip and confirmed he belongs at this level. Retained headgear and the booking of Ryan Moore suggest connections expect a prominent showing and he’s drawn to go forward again from stall 3. With improvement still possible, he makes each-way appeal at current odds.
Merchant arrives as the clear form pick after winning his last two starts over this trip, including a strong Royal Ascot handicap where he beat the subsequent Irish Derby runner-up. Rahiebb finished close up in the Queen’s Vase last time and now reopposes Merchant on level terms after conceding 8lbs at York. Both have obvious claims. Sir Dinadan wasn’t beaten far in the Irish Derby, though that run may flatter him, while Windlord and Wimbledon Hawkeye also bring solid Group form to the table.
Verdict: GALVESTON can dictate from the front and may prove hard to peg back if allowed a soft lead. Merchant and Rahiebb set a strong standard on recent form, while Wimbledon Hawkeye cannot be ruled out.
3:05 Goodwood
Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)
WHIRL - 6/5
Whirl brings outstanding Group 1 form into the Nassau Stakes and looks the one to beat under Ryan Moore. A decisive winner of the Group 3 Musidora at York in May, she went down narrowly to stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Oaks, with a clear gap back to third. That form was franked when Minnie Hauk won the Irish Oaks and Whirl boosted her own credentials by landing the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last time. The runner-up Kalpana has since finished second in the King George, so the form is rock-solid. Back at her optimum trip of 1m2f and with a proven turn of foot on varying ground, she sets the standard in this fillies and mares’ Group 1.
See The Fire, second in this race last year, has returned in fine form. She was a dominant winner of the Middleton at York and held her own against the boys in the Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot. A big run is likely back against her own sex. Cercene landed the Coronation Stakes at 33/1 and shapes as though 1m2f could suit. She’s bred for the trip and shouldn’t be underestimated. Bedtime Story is a quality filly who ran well in the Prix de Diane, but Moore prefers Whirl.
Verdict: WHIRL brings the best recent form and looks the one they all have to beat. See The Fire and Cercene are the main dangers in a high-class renewal.
3:45 Goodwood
RUBY'S PROFIT - 13/2
Front runners were the talk of Goodwood on Wednesday, which makes Ruby’s Profit an attractive proposition in this competitive sprint handicap. She was an all-the-way winner over C&D earlier in the season and showed her speed again when third in a strong Epsom handicap before finding the stiff finish at Royal Ascot too much last time. Dropping back to this sharper 5f track plays to her strengths and she’s better drawn than most of her key rivals.
Getreadytorumble is on a sharp upward curve and holds solid claims following a couple of wins over this trip, including one here. He wasn’t disgraced at Sandown last time and looks set for another big run. Nad Alshiba Green continues to churn out consistent efforts and ties in closely with Getreadytorumble on that recent form. The Man, a lightly raced improver, impressed when winning a hot York handicap in May and commands respect. Naana’s Sparkle has been in good form lately and has C&D form that ties her in with Ruby’s Profit. Brosay also warrants attention on the back of a troubled run, while Fluorescence remains progressive and could sneak into the places.
Verdict: RUBY'S PROFIT is ideally suited by the quick 5f at Goodwood and has a good draw to attack from. She can bounce back returned to a speed-favouring track. Getreadytorumble and The Man head the dangers, while consistent filly Nad Alshiba Green is also respected.
4:20 Goodwood
VICTORIOUS ONE - 5/1
Ralph Beckett had a superb day at Goodwood on Wednesday, landing the Sussex Stakes with 150/1 outsider Qirat and training both horses involved in the Oak Tree Stakes dead-heat. He could be back in the winner’s enclosure here with Victorious One, a colt who has filled the runner-up spot on all three starts but continues to shape like a winner in waiting. He looked to have things under control for much of the race at Epsom last time before being picked off late by a smart rival. A strong pace here should suit and he’s drawn to get cover before being produced late. With the stable in flying form, he has leading claims.
Sir Albert is progressing steadily and impressed when running down Champion Island at Chester on nursery debut. He looks the main danger. Amazing Journey arrives on a hat-trick after wins at Windsor and York, the latter coming from well off the pace in a decent nursery. American Gulf didn’t fire in the Coventry but looked useful on debut and is worth another chance on handicap debut. Hey Tru Blue has a Gimcrack entry and made all comfortably at Doncaster after a slow start cost him in the Norfolk. Champion Island and Goldwork both have ability but may need to raise their game again to trouble the principals.
Verdict: VICTORIOUS ONE can make the breakthrough now stepping into a well-run nursery and looks well placed to deliver for a stable that’s going well. Sir Albert and Amazing Journey are the chief dangers, while American Gulf adds intrigue.
4:55 Goodwood
Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race)
PROPOSAL - 6/1
Debutant Proposal makes plenty of appeal on paper and could be another exciting prospect for Wathnan Racing and William Haggas. This Frankel filly is bred to be useful, her dam was a Group 3 winner at two and she holds a Lowther Stakes entry. With Haggas’s juveniles in good order and Tom Marquand booked, she could prove sharp enough to make a winning start.
Aylin sets the standard on form after going close on debut at York and she too holds Group race entries. Any improvement from that strong effort makes her a big danger. Quiescent finished second at Newmarket despite a slow start and marked drift in the straight; she’s open to more progress and represents the same ownership as Proposal. Brighlee showed a lot on debut at Kempton and can’t be dismissed if handling the switch to turf. Ice Sovereigns, Dictal and Uncertainty all showed glimpses on debut and are capable of stepping up, while Isle Of Fernandez is well drawn and showed good early speed last time.
Verdict: PROPOSAL is a well-bred Frankel filly with the right profile for this and could strike on debut. Aylin brings the best form and looks the main danger, while Quiescent and Brighlee add depth in a strong fillies’ maiden.
5:30 Goodwood
World Pool Bet With The Tote Handicap
ABUNDANCE - 22/1
Abundance is progressing well and could be underestimated now stepping back into a big-field handicap. He built on some promising efforts in novice company when getting off the mark at Lingfield and improved again to win a competitive handicap at Newbury last time. That effort marked him out as a colt going the right way and a 5lbs rise looks fair given how comfortably he travelled before asserting. The return to a sound surface and likely strong pace over this mile could suit ideally.
Sea Force was narrowly behind Knights Gold at Ascot and remains well treated. He’s consistent and with cheekpieces now added, another bold showing looks likely. Wicked is a lightly raced Gosden runner who made a promising start in handicaps at Sandown and is respected up in grade. Organ arrives chasing a four-timer and showed a good attitude when scoring over C&D, but this is much deeper. Kaleido was impressive at Yarmouth and is the most interesting of the handicap debutants, although this will demand a step forward. Antipodes has potential on his first handicap run, while Knights Gold, Transparent and Impartiality all bring solid recent form into the race.
Verdict: ABUNDANCE arrives on the up and looks set to run a big race with conditions in his favour. Sea Force and Wicked are strong threats, while Kaleido could make his presence felt if handling the rise in class.
