"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2017 [TUES 1st AUG - SAT 5th AUG] -- DAY THREE

THURSDAY
Wednesday was another day of non runners due to the rain and some near misses with places in the feature events but well done to "Here Comes When" for a narrow win in the Sussex Stakes beating "Ribchester" by a neck and now we move forward to Ladies Day.

We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. The meeting runs to Saturday and we'll keep running totals of profit / loss throughout the week.

So lets look at Day Three which is of course Ladies Day where the feature race will be the Group 1 Nassau Stakes worth £600,000;

Going -- Good to soft.
Weather -- Generally sunny, bit breezy and high 19C

2:25 Markel Insurance Fillies' Stakes 1m 6f (Group 3).
A strong field of twelve runner for the first group race today and it's a staying event with the big stables, Godolphin and Qatar racing doubly represented. 

MELODIC MOTION [3rd 11/2] continues on the upgrade and while this is another step up the ladder in her current well-being cannot be discounted. Stable companion ALYSSA [Non Runner] is a proven stayer and at 12/1 represents good each way options.

Where did you get that hat ... 

3:00 Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2).

A good quality event here and would love to see a win for HEADWAY [6th 4/1] which is also the name of a Brain Charity I am involved with and certainly wouldn't be a big shock if this Coventry Stakes runner up took this. 

The likes of Cardsharp [3rd 2/1] and Barraquero [WON 4/1] are also of interest but I'll stick with the Willie Haggis trained runner.


3:35 1m 2f Nassau Stakes (Group 1).

Also labelled as the Fillies Group 1 today this has attracted 9 runners for ladies day and its NEZWAAH [Non Runner] who first takes our eye, with Andrea Atzani in good form too this daughter of Dubawi already has a Group one win in the bag this season with the capture of the Irish Pretty Polly stakes at the Curragh last month. 

But will any of these be able to cope with the multiple G1 winner WINTER [WON 10/11] a Dual Classic winner (English and Irish 1000 Guineas) and Royal Ascot winner (Coronation Stakes) this season 

That's all for Thursday, results will be updated during the afternoon, and we will soon have an update for Friday which will feature the £300,000 Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2).

Add in three further top quality races and Friday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival has to be one of the most enthralling day's racing in the entire calendar.