We move into the third day of Glorious Goodwood on Thursday and another enthralling race card lies in store for racing fans.
Frankel’s devastating performance in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday had the pulses racing but at 1/25 the bookies weren’t taking any chances and Thursday’s feature, the Goodwood Cup, looks a more open betting heat.
We take a look at the day three’s Channel 4 races and try and find a few more winners.
14:15 Betfred The Bonus King Handicap (3yo, Class 2, 1m 1f 192y, 18 runners)
Thursday kicks off with an eighteen runner handicap and it looks another wide open race for punters to sink their teeth into.
Godolphin’s Asatir heads the market for the contest and Frankie Dettori’s mount will be looking to make it four wins from four races after he continue to improve at Windsor last time out.
He is respected, as is Sir Michael Stoute’s Opinion, but preference is for Sir Henry Cecil’s WROTHAM HEATH who will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance at Royal Ascot.
The son of Dansili has some really progressive form to his name and he was particularly impressive when beating Grandeur at Epsom on Derby weekend. He looked a group horse in the making after that and the way he travelled was incredibly impressive.
A disappointing performance in the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes at Ascot followed where he surprisingly went hard from the front, but he is afforded another chance to prove he is group class and he can punters off to a flyer on day three.
Nick Wilby’ selection – Wrotham Heath
14:45 Audi Richmond Stakes (Group 2) (2yo, Class 1, 6f, 8 runners)
Richard Hannon has won four of the last renewals of the Richmond Stakes and Master Of War (3/1, Paddy Power) represents the ultra-powerful yard in this year’s running.
He is certainly an improving juvenile, but he doesn’t look quite as good as the likes of Harbour Watch, Dick Turpin and Libranno (winners of the last three races). He is sure to be there or thereabouts, but it’s best to keep things simple here and side with David Barron’s classy AHERN.
The selection was an impressive winner on his debut at Ayr in June and has since run with great credit in the Norfolk Stakes and July Stakes last time out.
He looked to be the winner of the latter but failed to quite see it out, eventually finishing a neck back in third behind the classy Alhebayeb. An easier six furlongs at Goodwood will suit and he is certainly improving ahead of his latest task. He can take this before he steps up to Group One company for the remainder of the season.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Ahern
15:15 Artemis Goodwood Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 2) (3yo+, Class 1, 2m, 10 runners)
Ascot Gold Cup hero Colour Vision heads to Goodwood to put his staying crown on the line and the Godolphin inmate must contend with a penalty if he is to make it three wins on the bounce.
He was mightily impressive at the Royal meeting and if anything, the return to two miles on good ground should suit him well. He is sure to go well despite his penalty, but he might find life difficult against SADDLER’S ROCK and John Oxx’s four-year-old can get back to winning ways.
The Irish raider was a winner of the Doncaster Cup last season and after finishing second on his reappearance at Leopardstown, he went on to finish a close third to Colour Vision at Ascot. That performance came after he pulled hard and the race wasn’t run to suit on ground softer than ideal.
It was a very creditable defeat for the son of Saddler’s Wells and we can expect to see him improve for the better ground on Thursday. He receives weight from Colour Vision, though Willie Mullins’ dual-Royal Ascot winner Simenon could prove equally as dangerous for his in-form trainer.
Nick Wilby’ selection – Saddler’s Rock
15:45 iShares Fillies' Stakes (Registered As The Lillie Langtry Stakes) (Group 3) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 6f, 12 runners)
Estimate goes in search of more group race success in the Lillie Langtry Stakes and the Queen’s horse certainly looked like she was going places when she slammed her rivals in the Queen’s Vase at Ascot.
Sir Michael Stoute is sure to have her spot on for this and there is no doubt she is capable of adding more pattern race victories to her CV.
However, Sir Henry Cecil’s WILD COCO returns to the track and makes her seasonal reappearance after she was last seen fluffing her lines at the Ebor meeting in August.
The daughter of Shirocco has always been held in high regard by her legendary handler and she is the highest rated horse in this field by some way. If she can continue the improvement which saw her sent off favourite for this race twelve months ago, then the four-year-old could is more than capable of winning here and Cecil will surely have her fit and ready to run on Thursday.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Wild Coco