Not too bad from day 2! Onto day 3….
The feature race on Day 3 at Glorious Goodwood is the Nassau Stakes.
It’s a really small field this year and there’s not a huge amount to choose between them. It seems strange to me though that Urban Fox is favourite. Sure, she ran a belter in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. Also, apart from Forever Together she didn’t exactly beat superstars.
Rhododendron is far more of interest. She won the Lockinge and that form looks even stronger after Lightning Spear’s super run in the Sussex Stakes. She’s such a consistent filly and it’s probably worth forgiving that poor run at Ascot in the Queen Anne. She looks pretty overpriced and in my book should be favourite.
Veracious is a danger after a really eye-catching third in the Coronation Stakes. She’s only raced three times so she could be on the up. Wild Illusion isn’t over-raced either and she isn’t without ability placing in good races at Newmarket, Epsom and Ascot. She could be in the frame again.
Billesdon Brook was our 1,000 Guineas winner this season and it wouldn’t surprise me if you’d forgotten that. She’s low key and she ran ok behind the likes of Veracious at Ascot but hardly looked a Classic winner. There’s a niggling feeling she may dig out more at Goodwood? Yes, the question mark is deliberate. I’m just not sure about her. All in all, Rhododendron looks a really good bet.
The Richmond Stakes is a bit tricky with a variety of two-year-olds. Koncheck and Charming Kid are tied in closely on their July Course form and could go well, but the one that appeals most at an each-way price is Neverland Rock. The yard have a cracking strike rate in this and he should be respected.
Land Force is the one for me though. He should enjoy the trip, he was a good third at Ascot in the Norfolk Stakes, which looks even better after Rumble Inthejungle won the Molecomb here at Goodwood, and I think 4/1 looks a huge price.