Katie Midwinter (01/08/23)
GOODWOOD
1:50pm – Class 2 Handicap
Finn’s Charm 50/1 (EW) – Charlie Johnston, Joe Fanning
An open field of eighteen runners head to post in this handicap contest. Whilst there’s a case to be made for plenty of the runners, an outsider to consider is Charlie Johnston’s Finn’s Charm. The yard targets this meeting each year and often enjoys success at the West Sussex track.
The three-year-old son of Kingman has a stiff enough mark of 100 but could improve for his below par performance at Royal Ascot, now on softer ground. In his previous run he finished second in the Group Two German 2000 Guineas, and is a huge price at 50/1, capable of outrunning his odds to finish among the places.
2:25pm – Richmond Stakes (Group 2)
Unquestionable 5/2 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
It’s difficult to see past Ballydoyle favourite Unquestionable, who undoubtedly brings the best form into this juvenile contest. Third on debut at the Curragh on soft ground, the Wootton Bassett colt was beaten only by stablemate His Majesty, whom he has since beaten, and surprise Norfolk Stakes winner Valiant Force.
Most recently seen narrowly beaten in a Group Two, Unquestionable beat subsequent winner Mythology by six-lengths and could land his first black-type success for a top yard.
3:00pm – Gordon Stakes (Group 3)
Espionage 15/8 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
Aidan O’Brien-trained Espionage sets the standard at the head of the market in this Group Three contest. His dam was a Group Two winner on soft ground, indicating that any forecast rain that does arrive should be of no concern to potential backers, and he has already performed well on ground described as both soft and heavy.
As a juvenile he won a sixteen runner maiden before finishing a close second to Proud And Regal in a Saint-Cloud Group One, finishing four-lengths ahead of subsequent Group Three winner and Group One-placed Breizh Sky.
The Galileo colt coped well with the step up in trip when last seen, landing his first black-type success in a Listed affair at Roscommon, and could land a first Group victory here, back up in class.
3:35pm – Nassau Stakes (Group 1)
Above The Curve 11/1 (EW) (9/2 w/o Blue Rose Cen) – Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Ryan Moore
A competitive field of six formidable fillies line up to contest this Group One prize. French-raider Blue Rose Cen is the one to beat, bidding for her sixth successive win. The daughter of Churchill is the first foal of dual Group/Grade Three winner Queen Blossom, and has already amassed over £1 million in prize money. She is a force to be reckoned with and is difficult to oppose on British debut.
Reigning champion Nashwa must give 8lbs to her younger rival, but shouldn’t be discounted as a high-quality filly and three-time Group One winner. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old returned to the winner’s enclosure at Newmarket when last seen, benefitting from the drop back to a mile.
Now back up in trip, she is a course-and-distance winner that will likely be in contention, but could be beaten by a special filly in the favourite.
Above The Curve must improve on her recent Curragh run, but did beat recent Prix Rothschild winner Mqse De Sevigne to land the Group Two Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud earlier on in the season, with Nashwa four-and-a-quarter-lengths behind in fourth.
At her best she is capable of threatening the favourite, but giving away the weight to a younger, improving, potential superstar could prove too tricky. At the current prices however, she appears to be the value bet in the field, available at double figure odds.
4:45pm – Class 3 Handicap
Glenfinnan 12/1 (EW) – Andrew Balding, Oisin Murphy
Andrew Balding-trained Glenfinnan caught the eye and entered the tracker when finishing second at York’s Ebor meeting last summer, beaten half-a-length by odds-on Godolphin favourite Desert Order when sent off at odds of 33/1, catching the eye in the paddock beforehand.
Desert Order went on to win his following race at Newmarket, beating a field that included subsequent Listed winner Mystic Pearl. A short-head behind Glenfinnan at York was 2000 Guineas runner-up Hi Royal, who also placed in the Irish Classic equivalent this term.
The son of Harry Angel went on to win his maiden in his final race a juvenile, before underperforming slightly on seasonal reappearance at Newmarket. It’s likely he’ll come on for the run, and if he is able to replicate his juvenile form and cope with softer conditions, he could be well treated off a mark of 90.
GALWAY
2:45pm – Novice Chase (Grade 3)
Ballyadam (EW) – Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore
Whilst Willie Mullins holds a strong hand in this novice chase, a horse capable of running into the places is Henry De Bromhead-trained Ballyadam. He landed his first success over fences when last seen at Wexford, returning to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since his victory in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in 2020. Suited by softer going, the eight-year-old is a likeable type that is improving with experience as a chaser and could put in a bold bid.
5:05pm – Galway Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)
Zarak The Brave 5/1 – W P Mullins, Paul Townend
It’s often unwise to bet against champion trainer Willie Mullins, currently recording a 47% strike rate and in his usual exceptional form, and it might be worth sticking with Galway Hurdle market leader Zarak The Brave, who is the mount of stable jockey Paul Townend.
The four-year-old has placed in two Grade One contests for the Closutton yard, finishing a-length-and-a-half behind formidable filly Lossiemouth at Punchestown, ahead of dual Grade One winner Gala Marceau and Grade Two winner Nusret.
The progressive gelding is the third highest-rated horse in the twenty runner field, and looks capable of showing further improvement on only his fifth start for his new yard.
Brazil could pose a threat sporting first-time cheekpieces in the colours of JP McManus for Padraig Roche. The five-year-old son of Galileo must return to the level he performed at to win last year’s Boodles Juvenile Handicap at Cheltenham, where he beat Gaelic Warrior by a short head.
Gaelic Warrior has won four races since, defeated only by stablemate Impaire Et Passe when contesting the Ballymore.
The addition of headgear could reignite the spark in the talented Brazil.
Hat-trick seeking Bialystok has good form to his name, including a Punchestown win over subsequent winners in stablemate Tax For Max and recent Grade Three victor Fils D’oudairies, who beat a quality field including Sharjah to land his first black-type success.
All runners/prices are correct at the time of publication.
Photo by Mike Kotsch on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 