Day Three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival might not be quite so testing as everyone expected based on forecasts earlier in the week, as the current situation early on Wednesday morning at the time of writing is only for half the rainfall predicted. Let’s hope that is at least the case so that everyone can have a much better day at Goodwood. It will still mean for Thursday’s card that many runners will be experiencing soft ground possibly heavy ground for the first time.

In the Markel Richmond Stakes Group 2 my selection Vandeek has that soft ground experience and that could be a massive advantage here. The feature the Qatar Nassau Stakes Group 1 sees Nashwa and Blue Rose Cen at the head of the market, with the latter getting eight pounds for the three-year-old allowance. Blue Rose Cen certainly looked good when successful in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly, with Never Ending Story four lengths second, who was no match for Nashwa in the Falmouth at Newmarket when running disappointingly.

Nashwa looked so good in the Falmouth that she can hold off the three-year-old Blue Rose Cen by setting the fractions and win her second Qatar Nassau Stakes Group 1.

Enjoy whether at Goodwood or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Goodwood – Kincsem Handicap (1m 2f)

Coverdale (nap) is going for a five timer in 2023 on the back of four victories that have never seen him win more than by two lengths. Last time out at Ripon is a good example where he quickened late on to take the lead, winning cosily by half a length, with the handicapper raising him from a mark of 86 to 91. There is plenty of improvement to come and Coverdale is ground versatile too, which is a real advantage given the expected conditions at Goodwood.

Unibet are offering MONEY BACK AS CASH if 2nd or 3rd on this race (from 9:00am)

Have Secret bolted up at the end last season at Nottingham in the soft and this year he has finished fourth in two very competitive Class 2 handicaps, when firstly, looking like the winner briefly in a very tight finish in the London Cup at Newbury won by Bertinelli and secondly, in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot, when losing out to second late on behind winner Burdett Road (runs Gordon Stakes), with Bertinelli in third. Have Secret, who will handle any conditions, looks sure to be in the mix at minimum and this genuine type could have his first success of 2023.

2.25 Goodwood – Markel Richmond Stakes Group 2 (6f)

Vandeek on form has a lot to find but looked a proper racehorse in the paddock at Nottingham on debut and overcame both greenness and a very slow start to win by a cosy three quarters of a length coming out nicely on top at the finish. That victory came on soft ground so is one of only a handful in the field already proven on the ground and will surely improve a chunk for that experience.

Unibet are SUPERBOOSTING the price of EVERY RUNNER in this race!

3.00 Goodwood – John Pearce Racing Season Gordon Stakes Group 3 (1m 4f)

Espionage showed his best piece of form to date on heavy ground when just touched off by Proud And Royal in the Group 1 Grand Criterium at Saint-Cloud last seasom. He was a ready winner of a Listed race when upped to (just short of) this trip at Roscommon last time on his one appearance in 2023 so far. This Galileo colt has plenty more to come and will be very hard to beat.

Unibet are SUPERBOOSTING the price of EVERY RUNNER in this race!

3.35 Goodwood – Qatar Nassau Stakes Group 1 (1m 2f)

Nashwa looked just short of peak fitness at Newcastle when picked up by Al Husn (reopposes here) but made mincemeat of them in the Falmouth at the July Festival, looking right back to her best when always travelling smoothly and moving clear to win by a comfortable five lengths.  Nashwa handles a range of going including soft ground, as she showed when second at Longchamp in the Prix De l’Opera last season, so conditions are fine. The same point can be made in truth about Blue Rose Cen her main opponent on paper. There is no pace in the race and rather than have a muddling contest you can expect Hollie Doyle to wind this up from some way out with Nashwa, who will take her second Nassau Stakes.

Unibet are SUPERBOOSTING the price of EVERY RUNNER in this race!

4.45 Goodwood – Buccellati Handicap (1m)

Wildfell completed a four-timer in June at Doncaster a shade cosily after three all-weather successes.

He then ran against Nostrum in a Listed race at the July Festival finishing last of six at 80/1. Wildfell is certainly talented and whilst perhaps difficult to assess off the back on his last appearance he could gain a place here to reward each way players at a big price.

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