"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st AUG] -- DAY THREE

THURSDAY Day Three
Wednesday was another successful day for Jim Crowley who claimed the Sussex Stakes with MOHAATHER following his excellent exploits for the owner at Royal Ascot. Only found some places yesterday but have still enjoying all the racing here and at Galway.

We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. So lets look at Day Three which is of course Ladies Day where the feature race will be the Group 1 Nassau Stakes worth £300,000 this year, prize money having been reduced throughout the return to racing;

Going -- Good, Good to soft in places.
Weather -- Generally sunny, bit breezy and high 24C

2:15 6f Qatar Richmond Stakes (Group 2).
Just the seven runners for our first Group contest today, beginning with Admiral Nelson failed to spark in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot for Aiden O'Brien but runners from these connections shouldn't be ignored and this smaller field should make it easier. Gussy Mac comes here seeking a hat trick of wins but this is another big step up in class while support for QAADER (Mark Johnston) should be noted, was runner up in the same Coventry race that Admiral Nelson ran in and then went on to be 4th in the July Stakes at Newmarket (Group 2) so should not be too far away. YAZAMAN was runner up to the Queen's horse in that contest and it's those two I'll take against the field. 
Selections: QAADER  /  YAZAMAN.

No silly hats this year ... 

2:45 1m 3f 218y Qatar Gordon Stakes (Group 3).
A good quality event for the field of just six three year olds here, only £42k for the for the winner this year sadly, ENGLISH KING [Ed Walker] was close to favouritism for the Derby at Epsom but only managed to reach 5th there this is a marked stepped down in class and should be able to make his presence felt with Frankie Dettori on board once more. Mogul has not really fired as a 3yo for Aiden O'Brien and is passed over again in this small field instead we look at KHALIFA SAT who was a massive price runner up in the Epsom classic and we will see if he's able to confirm that form.
Selection: ENGLISH KING.

DEIRDRE WINNER OF LAST YEARS NASSAU FOR JAPAN

3:35 1m 2f Nassau Stakes (Group 1).
Also labelled as the Fillies Group 1 today this has attracted nine runners for ladies day and has a win pot of over £140k on offer. Last years winner DEIRDRE reappears to defend her crown and despite being beaten in the Eclipse it wouldn't be a big surprise if she was successful again as there's nothing in the field of the same class as Sandown winner Ghaiyyath or Enable here. NAZEEF is a filly on the up and continues to improve winning listed events, a Group 2 at Ascot and then a Group 1 (Falmouth Stakes) at Newmarket the 4yo ran on well to score there and won't mind the trip nor the uphill finish. As Jim Crowley is retained to ride for Nazeef we find Frankie Dettori on Aiden O'Brien's runner Magic Wand was runner up in the valuable Hong Kong Cup and also last years Irish Champion Stakes might have to play second again here but clearly a well travelled mare and will continue to earn big money.
Selections:  DEIDRE  /  NAZEEF. 

That's all for Thursday, results will be updated during the afternoon, and we had a very successful day today with two winners and profit on the day, and we will soon have an update for Friday which will feature the £300,000 Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2) where Battaash will be looking to win for the fourth time. 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.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2020 [JULY 27th -- AUG 2nd] -- DAY THREE WEDNESDAY

DAY THREE
The Galway festival is off with a bang, after the first couple of days results we are going steadily all things considered with Dermot Weld still ahead on +1pts after two days, and JP O'Brien back on -4.045pts for their selections and therefore we are -3.045pts points overall. The third day begins in the early evening again the opening fixtures will begin at 4:45pm with a 2m novice hurdle, but the feature race this afternoon is the Grade A Galway Plate over 2m 6f which will get underway at 7:20pm. 

Don't miss our Goodwood coverage too today click to view Wednesday

As mentioned on day one our recent years we have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. Also for this season we intend to follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going -- NH -- Good ; Flat -- Good to Yielding
Weather Forecast -- A high of 17C with a chance of a few showers later as it has been so far this week.

DAY THREE SELECTIONS;
Surprised by the lack of entries from our two nominated trainers for today, only two selections for JP O'Brien in the feature race today so we'll just cover that one on Wednesday and see what the rest of the week has in store. 

6:45 - thetote.com Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A)
2m 6f 111y  [22 Runners]
JP O'Brien has the only runners for us on Wednesday and all three of them run in the feature contest the Galway Plate. A race worth €120,000.00 to the winner so hopefully one of US AND THEM  /  MORTAL  /  EARLY DOORS [WON 7/1] can be successful for us this evening and keep the numbers ticking over. The big yards are multi represented too and Easy Game could be the best option from Willie Mullins, and Galvin likewise from Gordon Elliott. 


Day Three results;
Will be updated on Wednesday night.
D Weld Nil pts staked today     Returns today  0pts.
p/l for week    +1pt after Day #3
JP O'Brien 3pts staked today    Returns today +8pts.
p/l for week       +0.955pts after Day #3
Overall week p/l to date   +1.955pts after Day #3

Results to update later tonight, and Day Four should be ready by then, not forgetting our other updates this week from the 'Glorious' Goodwood meeting.

"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st AUG] -- DAY TWO

WEDNESDAY Day Two
Second day here in Sussex and very nice to have ourselves an early winner with Battleground getting our week off to a nice start in the vintage stakes. The Goodwood Cup was won by Stradivarius for a fourth time, getting out of the traffic and used his class well, by doing so he helped to land some nice multiple bets too.

It's a busy week of action here and we crack on with Wednesday where we have the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. No crowds of course, except on Saturday were I understand 5,000 spectators are expected to attend as one of a handful of test events which might help see a limited return to 'normal' racing. Attendance will initially be offered to Goodwood annual members and their guests.

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 updating throughout the week alongside the festival over at Galway.

The Qatar Sussex Stakes is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, still a Group One but with reduced prize money available this summer so we'll see if we still attract a high-class field from UK, Ireland and France. This mile-long Group 1 race has previously been won by the peerless Frankel, the French sensation Solow and in 2017, by the 20/1 shot Here Comes When. Last year we witnessed Too Darn Hot winning for trainer John Gosden. Racing will commence earlier than usual at 1.10pm with a fillies handicap and the last race will be concluded at 4.20pm with another 7f handicap. 

So lets look at day two we've got a pair of Group races today with the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes off at 2:45 supporting the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at 3:15.

Going -- Good, Good to soft in places.

Weather -- Generally a cloudy day expected, can get a bit breezy a 50/50 chance of some showers during the day, high 20C. Though as we not going it doesn't matter as long as there is not too much more rain to change the forecast going.

2:45 Molecomb Stakes 5f (Group 3)
Strong field of 10 line up for the 5f sprint that is the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes today. The 2yo's are headed by Army of India for Mark Johnston, has won a couple of small races either side of being well out the back in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and seems to have a lot to do in this company. Significantly has been runner up on all three of his starts to date, and while the latest run was a listed event at Sandown must be showing more speed at home to be lifted into Group company now, while support for Aiden O'Brien's runner CHIEF LITTLE HAWK should be noted given his strong owners wasn't disgraced in the Windsor Castle stakes at Ascot and one of the more likely winners here. Will pick that one together with SARDINIA SUNSET the filly gets a handy weight allowance and did win a listed event last time at York and very good fourth in the Queen Mary too. 
  
Selections - CHIEF LITTLE HAWK [4th 12/1] / SARDINIA SUNSET [6th 4/1].
 
3:35 Sussex Stakes 1m (Group 1)
A field of 7 declared for the feature race today, made difficult as Aiden has declared three CIRCUS MAXIMUS, looks the strongest as a multiple Group 1 winner (Queen Anne stakes this year) Vatican City (midfield in The Derby) and Wichita (runner up in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas) they are all well respected but would expect the experience of the 4yo to count in this field. Away from his trio we have the two winners of the Colt's classic Kameko and the unbeaten SISKIN. Not much between the pair but Siskin might have bit more speed though neither would want too much more rain. 
  
Selections - CIRCUS MAXIMUS [2nd 6/1] / SISKIN [3rd 9/4f].

Wednesday results to be updated later. Then we will prepare for Day Three which should be ready soon and we'll try and keep things going before the end of the meeting this Saturday. Thursday of course is Ladies Day usually would have been the most glamorous day of the meeting, sadly no one here till Saturday at the earliest. The prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes won last year by Deirdre is the highlight of the eight-race card and the raider from Japan looks set to return to defend her crown. Previous winners include Ouija Board, Midday and Minding. Expect fierce competition as the best of the best compete against the backdrop of the stunning Sussex Downs.