Wild Illusion won the Nassau Stakes on day three of the Qatar Goodwood Festival - replay our blog.
Glorious Goodwood - Day three recap
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Key events
Pilaster edges home in Lillie Langtry
1620: Richard Fahey off the mark for the week courtesy of the unbeaten More Than This, who just keeps pouring it on under Paul Hanagan. He's followed home by 25/1 shot Indian Viceroy and Greenback Boogie at 10s. The Tricast pays just over £1,000.
1615: Roger Varian on Lillie Langtry winner Pilaster:
"Watching it live and watching again, I did not think Pilaster was loving the ground. I think she has overcome the ground. She is class and all guts - she got headed and came back to win on the line. She is a very classy filly. She was very good today. She showed a real toughness today as she was headed and came back.
"Hopefully, she comes out of this race well and then we would have to consider races like the QIPCO Fillies & Mares at Ascot on QIPCO Champion Stakes in October or the Park Hill at Doncaster before that. I think Pilaster will really come into her own when she is racing on slower ground. She has been doing her racing on the All-Weather so far this year and and I think there is more to come."
RESULT - Goodwood 2.25
1st More Than This (4/1 joint-favourite)
2nd Indian Viceroy (25/1)
3rd Greenback Boogie (10/1)
4th Hieronymus (12/1)
5th Will appear here...
1556: There's an enticing offer from Sky Bet in the nursery, with FIVE PLACES up for grabs.
My own nap of the day goes here and Forseti is available at 9/1 which is attracting enough given the each-way terms.
1552: Appleby admits the drying conditions were a slight concern but was pleased to see "there was still a little bit of moisture in the ground."
1545: Wild Illusion has been added to Sky Bet's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf market at 7/1, with the horse potentially being aimed towards the US where Charlie Appleby won last year with the now-retired Wuheida.
Early indications suggest her victory in the Nassau means there will be 25 winners of today's ITV7. Which would mean a cool £4k each - not a bad day's work.
Today's ITV7 winners:
Race 1 – 1.50 Goodwood COMMUNIQUE (7/2)
Race 2 – 2.10 Nottingham POETRY (2/1)
Race 3 – 2.25 Goodwood PILASTER (11/4)
Race 4 – 2.45 Nottingham JAMES STREET (7/4)
Race 5 – 3.00 Goodwood LAND FORCE (5/2)
Race 6 – 3.20 Nottingham URBAN ASPECT (8/11)
Race 7 – 3.35 Goodwood WILD ILLUSION (4/1)
1540: Lovely stuff from William Buick, who capitalises on a soft lead to make all on Godolphin's Wild Illusion. This is an improved effort from the Dubawi filly and the drop back to a mile and a quarter from a mile and a half proves to be inspired.
The general notion that the three-year-old colts aren't much cop compared to the three-year-old fillies this year has rung true for most of the week at Goodwood.
RESULT - Goodwood 2.25
1st WILD ILLUSION (4/1)
2nd Urban Fox (3/1)
1525: There is a guaranteed winner of the ITV7 this week, with all the horses covered in the final leg - the upcoming Nassau Stakes. If Wilamina wins, there will be a single winner but don't hold your breath if you're on Urban Fox or Rhododendron as, to put it politely, you are not alone.
1524: Always amused by some of the expressions on jockeys' faces during these parades.
1520: 1000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook is the final Value Bet selection of the day. He's had a couple of very near-misses this week with Suedois and now Maid Up, but the winners will arrive.
1516: Some reaction from Mark Johnston following Communique's win earlier on.
The trainer said: "People talk about keeping horses busy, but he hasn't had a gallop at home since before the season started, so he's not particularly busy and they all thrive on racing. He's rated 97 so the next step is either more valuable handicaps or to go up to Pattern company."
1514: With two races to go there are 1164 entrants still remaining in today's ITV7.
Click on the image below for the live leaderboard.
1510: Land Force grinds away to win the Richmond from the solid juvenile yardstick Marie's Diamond and if Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien needed a little perk ahead of Rhododendron's bid for Group One glory in the Nassau, this was it.
She is now looking all but certain to be sent off favourite which is hard to crab given his quality top-class form from this season and last.
The Lockinge heroine wasn't looking her best at Ascot prior to the Queen Anne, according to some of the best paddock judges, and she ran accordingly.
The market clearly expects her to get back on song here and Sky Bet have enhanced her current odds from 9/4 to 5/2.
RESULT - Goodwood 2.25
1st Land Force (5/2 favourite)
2nd Marie's Diamond (9/2)
3rd Shine So Bright (13/2)
1455: Land Force a bit of a gamble here in the Qatar Richmond Stakes. He was a close third behind American speedball Shang Shang Shang in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and has since won a Listed race at Tipperary in good style. I now prefer Neverland Rock at the prices but when the Ballydoyle money is down it's not easy to be over-confident elsewhere.
Sky Bet offer - either Land Force or Konchek to win - 13/8
1436: As for the winner, it's a massive moment for champion apprentice David Egan after just becoming a full-fledged professional jockey, and a big deal for Roger Varian too as he's not quite had the year some were expecting. This filly looks a very good stayer in the making.
Varian has confirmed the Filly & Mares' race at Ascot on Champions Day is a likely target for the three-year-old.
1434: Tremendous race and an extremely tight finish, with Pilaster just edging out outsider Maid Up by a short-head.
There is a Stewards' Enquiry after the front two came together on the run to the line.
It was a serious tussle in the final furlong but possibly not enough in it to make the Stewards' reverse the placings. Which won't be great news for Value Bet backers. The Balding filly has run a massive race, out-performing her official mark by a margin, but that's no consolation if you're on the nose.
RESULT - Goodwood 2.25
1st PILASTER (11/4)
2nd Maid Up (16/1)
3rd Star Rock (11/1)
4th God Given (5/2 favourite)
1416: Ben Linfoot was getting quite giddy over Maid Up when writing Value Bet yesterday so it's hard to put anyone off her at such a big price.
You can read his thoughts in detail by clicking on the link below.
For those interested in paddock observations, Precious Ramotswe looks to have got herself pretty warm in the build-up, while chief market rival Pilaster has taken the prelims relatively well.
1408: Here's an interesting horse at a massive price. Flattering was fifth (albeit only nine ran) in the Oaks and won a Cork Group Three subsequently and while blowing out at Haydock last month, she wouldn't be the surprise Aidan O'Brien runner to bounce straight back now presented with a more severe test of stamina.
But what about the cloud over the O'Brien team? The way they've punted Rhododendron in the Nassau suggests that could be a thing of the past by the end of the day.
1400: The Johnston handicap bandwagon is up and rolling this week and the only surprise is that it's taken until Thursday.
He's not represented in the Lillie Langtry which you'd think, being a mile and three quarters Group Two for fillies, would be right up his street but there's a good, deep field and if you're not a massive Pilaster fan then there's surely some value to be had.
The eye-catcher at double-figure prices is Maid To Remember for William Haggas and James Doyle.
She was quite promising first time out for Ralph Beckett and has been brought along quietly by Haggas but there was promise in her third to Smart Call at Newcastle last time and it's fascinating to see her raised in grade here.
There's also the small matter of Frankie Dettori returning from suspension on Precious Ramotswe for Johns Gosden.
Sky Bet are offering FOUR PLACES to those who may be looking beyond the progressive jolly.
1355: Fine effort from Oli Bell Yankee pick Global Giant who has just missed out on second in the dying strides at 25/1, but this Communique has won again and done so with something to spare.
Johnston handicappers can be hard to catch when they get on a roll and following valuable handicap wins at Haydock and Newmarket, he's defied the assessor again under De Sousa.
He made a deliberate move to the centre of the racecourse and has galloped all the way to the line to score by a length and a half.
RESULT - Goodwood 1.50
1st COMMUNIQUE (7/2 favourite)
2nd Zaman (12/1)
3rd Global Giant (25/1)
4th Rock Eagle
1345: The first has crept up on us and it seems every tipster under the sun fancies Bathsheba Bay.
Communique is extremely solid at the head of the market and from stall four you'd expect Silvestre De Sousa to pick up a lovely slot either on or just behind the pace.
Sky Bet's big offer is MONEY BACK as a free bet if your selection is second or third.
1340: Before flagging up some proper selections from the likes of Simon Holt, Oli Bell and Ben Linfoot, I'm compelled to suggest that Veracious is the best bet in the Nassau Stakes and that I'm keeping faith with Mark Johnston's two-year-olds in the fillies' maiden, having backed Accordance despite a couple of disappointments from his fancied juveniles already this week.
In fact, just Dark Vision his only winner at Goodwood this week which might be considered a disappointment given all of the runners in handicaps. Perhaps Communique can set that record straight in the first. He did win cosily despite a troubled run on the July Course at Newmarket last time.
1335: In the hope of getting something sparkly sent to my desk from Swarovski, I'm keen to let you all know that Harry Hurricane and Katie Forrest have just won the Magnolia Cup. Sponsored by Swarovski. That's Swarovski. Surely Longines were involved in some way too... never mind.
1330: Dettori may have to wait for the third race for a first winner as he gets the leg-up on Richard Hannon's Neverland Rock for the Phoenix Thoroughbred ownership.
Hannon has sent out a ton of juveniles as you'd expect this year but this looks among the best of his following a third to antepost 2000 Guineas favourite Quorto in the Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
I'm very much hoping the Superlative form gets a significant boost here today as the sixth home, Forseti, looks quite well treated as he switches to handicaps in the nursery.
1325: In the very same race, Frankie Dettori returns from his suspension on Precious Ramotswe and whatever your views on the unmistakable Italian, Glorious Goodwood is all the better for his presence.
1320: It's been a bit of a mixed week for me personally with one or two winners and each-way returns keeping me afloat but there's been a lot of 'getting it right' while also very much getting it wrong.
I can't have been alone to oppose the three-year-olds in the Sussex with the wrong older horse, while Gerald Mosse poked his not inconsiderable nose into my exacta business when Sir Dancealot swooped late to collar Suedois and Breton Rock - thanks Gezza.
I'm not cutting my stakes, or chasing my losses - so let's cut to the chase of finding a couple of strong fancies today.
Pilaster is a shortie but a rapid improver heading into the Lillie Langry and David Egan, who has just lost his claim, speaks very affectionately about the horse in the Racing Post this morning. He even goes into the detail of her wicked turn of foot and from reading it you get the distinct impression they'd all be bitterly disappointed if she didn't win.
1300: Hello all. I'm Matt Brocklebank and, fresh from recording the latest side-splitting Sporting Life Podcast (watch this space), I'm in position to guide you through the action from the Qatar Goodwood Festival this afternoon.
We have a lot to get through in a relatively short space of time before the opening 10-furlong handicap at 1.50 but hopefully the links above at the top of the article can assist with finding one or two winners, placing the bets and soaking up the races themselves.
Ben 'Value Bet' Linfoot has just cracked out a Curlywurly as he pores over the draw for Saturday's Stewards' Cup in the hope of a winning weekend selection. I honestly didn't think they existed anymore. Curlywurlys, not Saturday Value Bet winners.