Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Goodwood (Day 3), Musselburgh, & Southwell.
GOODWOOD
Race 2: No1 – CELTIC ART
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert
CELTIC ART has to concede stacks of weight to some of his rivals but should not be underestimated on this seasonal return. An eleventh-hour withdrawal from the Group 1 French Derby, he’s always been well regarded at Whatcombe, and shows he acts on this undulating course when opening his account last September. He wasn’t disgraced in a Listed race at Deauville in the autumn and is going to enjoy this step up to a mile and a quarter from a good draw.
Race 4: John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (Group 3)
No3 – HIGHLAND CHIEF
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert
Cole sends his big guns to the ‘ Glorious’ Festival and HIGHLAND CHIEF can stake an early claim for the St Leger by taking out this recognised trial. To do that he needs to turn the tables on Investec Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat, fifth English King and sixth Mogul, but there are reasons to believe he can. The Derby was by anyone’s standards a puzzling affair in which the winner Serpentine cashed in on an uncontested lead by outstaying his foes. Highland Chief was ridden for stamina but lost sight of the impressive winner in the straight. It might, therefore, pay to put a line through his run and back him to upset the applecart.
Race 5: Qatar Nassau Stakes (Fillies’ Group 1)
No4 – NAZEEF
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Jim Crowley
The third-day highlight can see NAZEEF stretching her winning sequence to seven and making this a second Group 1 triumph following her gritty success in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket at the start of the month. The Invincible Spirit filly refused to be denied in that neck defeat of Billesdon Brook and showed with a third narrow success 8n as many starts this season that she’s a tough nut to crack in a battle. A battle seems on the cards again as she crosses swords with the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fancy Blue and global traveller Deirdre, who famously landed the spoils for Japan in this race 12 months ago. Deirdre was beaten an inch in a valuable race in Saudi Arabia at the end of February and stayed on towards the finish of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, eventually beaten five and a quarter lengths by Ghaiyyath. The six-year-old should not be underestimated and represents the main threat to Nazeef, while the fourth home that day Magic Wand is also respected.
Prediction
1st NAZEEF
2nd Deirdre
3rd Magic Wand
4th Fancy Blue
Race 6: No1 – WILLIAM BLIGH (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Harry Bentley
Top weight WILLIAM BLIGH runs off a mark of 87 in preference to a Listed race at Ascot and can endorse the promise of his wide margin Haydock success at the beginning of the month. The son of rookie sire Territories pulled three and a quarter lengths clear of Rival, having run the smart Master Of The Sea to threequarters of a length on his previous outing at Newmarket. Those efforts stamp him as an upwardly mobile juvenile who should be equally comfortable now going down the handicap route.
Race 8: No2 – WINTER POWER
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
WINTER POWER opened her account doing the proverbial handstands at Redcar earlier in the week, and following that five lengths triumph, there’s little wonder her connections want to strike while the iron’s hot. The Bungle Inthejungle filly is out again under a 6lb penalty but took so little out of herself that a follow-up is on the cards.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 2: No5 – BASHIBA
Trainer: Nigel Tinkler – Jockey: Roman Scott
BASINBA has gone off at big double figure prices on three of his four outings this season but after a better effort in first time, cheek pieces at Beverley is now in a good place to make a winning step forward at a track where he recorded his last triumph in September.
Race 5: No3 – NASTASE (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Kevin Stott
NASTASE, named after the Romanian tennis icon Ille Nastase, served up an encouraging first effort at Sandown when greenness possibly cost him the win. Nothing travelled better at the quarter pole but when striking the front the Sixties Icon colt didn’t know what to do and was beaten into third by Knight Salute. With the benefit of that run under his belt, he can make the long trip from West Berkshire worthwhile and open his account.
Race 6: No9 – RAINS OF CASTERMERE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Kevin Stott
RAINS OF CASTERMERE has twice been beaten when favourite since the end of lockdown but he can bounce back. The dual all-weather scorer last winter has benefitted from a break and looked in good order in his winding-up gallop for this.
SOUTHWELL
Race 3: No1 – SHOAL BAY
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
The blinkered SHOAL BAY made a pleasing start to the new season when convincingly scoring over this course and distance under O’Neill earlier in the month. He also converted at Worcester last August and is in the mood to strike again under a 7lb penalty.
Race 4: No1 – POGO I AM (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Sean Bowen
Fry’s horses weren’t right last season, but after moving yards, he’s made a bright start to the current campaign. One of his early successes came from POGO I AM who looked better the further he travelled when scoring at Stratford three weeks ago. With the promise of more to come, he can defy a penalty.
