Views from connections ahead of Goodwood day three and the Galway Hurdle

Qatar Nassau Stakes, 3.35 Goodwood

Dual Classic winner and Royal Ascot heroine Winter takes a step into the unknown in what looks an enthralling renewal of the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

The brilliant Minding provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with a third success in the 10-furlong showpiece 12 months ago and following her recent retirement due to injury, Winter has big boots to fill.

The three-year-old daughter of Galileo has emphatically proved herself the best of her generation over a mile by completing the English-Irish 1000 Guineas double, after which she landed the Coronation Stakes in June.

O'Brien is confident the step up to a mile and a quarter will not hinder his latest star filly, who is 7/4 favourite with Sky Bet for the Thursday feature.

"It's her first time over a mile and a quarter but she is in good form," said the Ballydoyle handler.

"We always thought she was a very high-class filly. From the first time she ran she has progressed with every run.

"We were delighted with all three of her Group One wins and have been impressed all three times.

"You can never be sure that she will get the mile and a quarter, but she is by Galileo, which is obviously a big help."

O'Brien also saddles Hydrangea, who beat Winter at Leopardstown in the spring but has proved no match for her esteemed stablemate on her last three starts.

John Gosden is another to fire a formidable twin assault as he bids to win the prize for a fifth time, although Shutter Speed will not run if there is significant rain.

Shutter Speed won her first three starts, including a victory over her dual Oaks-winning stable companion and last weekend's stunning King George winner Enable.

The daughter of Dansili was last seen finishing fourth in the French Oaks, but has been passed over by Frankie Dettori in favour of So Mi Dar, who has been out of action since last October, with Pat Smullen taking the mount on Shutter Speed.

Winter is just one of five Group One winners in the nine-strong field.

Sir Michael Stoute calls on Breeders' Cup heroine Queen's Trust, who was last seen finishing a close fourth in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Chris Richardson, racing manager to owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: "She was slowly away from the stalls at Ascot, which is one of her traits, and she did the same last year.

"She got hemmed in when she tried to get a run and was flying at the finish. We definitely felt she could have been a bit closer.

"She will go for the Nassau now. You can never take things for granted, but it is the right race for her and she ran well when she finished second in it last year."

Roger Varian is represented by recent Pretty Polly Stakes winner Nezwaah, while Charlie Appleby runs Sobetsu and Wuheida, both top-level scorers in France.

Nezwaah could not have been more impressive at the Curragh a month ago and Varian feels she merits her place in the line-up for the latest leg of the Qipco British Champions Series.

Varian said: "I've been very happy with her since she won in Ireland and she really looks terrific. She's in great form.

"She has to step up again in a very strong renewal, but that's as it should be in these championship races. With the exception of Minding, there are not many missing and it will be exciting to see how she fares.

"Winter has won two Classics and a Coronation Stakes, and she will be a hard nut to crack if she gets the extra two furlongs.

"There are some other very good fillies in there as well, but what we crave is to be involved in these races. It's nice to to take a good animal to a good race like this.

"She's not flashy in her work at home but good enough. She's professional and saves it for when she needs it."

Wuheida ran a fine race after a nine-month absence to fill the runner-up spot behind Roly Poly in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket three weeks ago.

"It went through our minds about sticking to a mile as William (Buick) thought she still had the pace for it, but she is a filly that we looked at all winter as a potential Oaks filly," said Appleby.

"I am looking forward to stepping her up to 10 furlongs now. I appreciate it is a good field, but she is not going to look out of place in the line-up."

It is a measure of the strength of the field that Andrew Balding's Blond Me, who won at Group Two level for the second time in the Middleton Stakes at York in May, is a 20-1 outsider. 

Qatar Richmond Stakes, 3.00 Goodwood

Connections of Cardsharp are optimistic he can defy a penalty in the Qatar Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.

Third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start, the son of Lonhro returned to winning ways in the July Stakes at Newmarket.

Despite having to give away 3lb to his rivals in the six-furlong Group Two, the Mark Johnston-trained two-year-old is reportedly thriving at home.

Charlie Johnston, the Middleham handler's son and assistant, said: "As we saw at Newmarket in the July Stakes with the Coventry winner (Rajasinghe), it is not easy to defy a penalty. 

"We did toy with the idea of going to the Phoenix next but this is a very valuable and prestigious Group Two.

"We thought we could come here en route to the Morny, or something like that.

"The deciding factor was how well he came out of Newmarket.

"He didn't lose any weight and was absolutely bouncing. Considering he behaved like a clown there he is in very good form with himself.

"He has won on slow ground when he won the Brian Yeardley at Beverley so when the rain comes he is likely to handle it."

Connections of the William Haggas-trained Headway, who finished runner-up in the Coventry Stakes, are hoping he can benefit from a short break.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners the Royal Ascot Racing Club, said: "He ran a terrific race at Ascot.

"William Haggas has given him plenty of time off after what was a hard race at Ascot.

"The big concern is the ground as I'm not sure he would want it very soft as he is a good-actioned horse.

"He should handle the track as he is a very fast and well-balanced horse although you can never tell until they run on it.

"It looks the right spot for him and the form of the Coventry has held up well.

"We are hoping he can run another big race for the Royal Ascot Racing Club."

Charlie Hills would not be concerned if the ground deteriorates when he saddles Superlative Stakes runner-up Nebo, who made a winning debut in soft conditions at Newbury in May.

Hills said: "If all the rain comes it would not be a much of a worry.

"We said we would bring him back to six (furlongs) if it was soft ground and keep him at seven if it was quick.

"He is a very tough, genuine two-year-old. I've been delighted with his work since Newmarket and I am looking forward to running him again.

"The draw in (stall) one should be fine."

While US Navy Flag is one of the more exposed runners in the field, trainer Aidan O'Brien believes he still has more to offer after taking his form to new heights when runner-up in the July Stakes.

O'Brien said: "He has progressed with every run and we were delighted with his run the last day at Newmarket. He won easy at the Curragh time before that.

"I'm not sure the weight pull will help him but he is in good form and he has progressed from every run."

Markel Insurance Fillies' Stakes (Lillie Langtry), 2.25 Goodwood

Wild Irish Rose will bid to complete a hat-trick of wins and break new ground for trainer Aidan O'Brien in the Markel Insurance Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.

The Group Three contest over a mile and three-quarters is better known as the Lillie Langtry, and is one of the few races of note the Ballydoyle trainer has yet to win.

Getting off the mark at the ninth attempt of asking in a Fairyhouse handicap, the daughter of Galileo has since followed that up with a Listed success at Leopardstown.

O'Brien said: "Wild Irish Rose won a Listed race last time and is a filly that is progressing. Obviously this is a step up in grade, but we are looking forward to seeing her run

"She won nicely the last day, even though she didn't win by very far. Ana (O'Brien) has ridden her in all her races and said to me the time before she won that she was a filly that didn't respond to the stick and that it would be better to ride her without using the stick.

"She then ran and won at Fairyhouse without using the stick, then she ran again and progressed again to win a Listed race. She tries very hard, but doesn't like getting hit with the stick. This was new territory last time, but we always thought she would stay this trip."

Connections of the Luca Cumani-trained Aljezeera believe they are on "fact-finding mission" with the twiceraced daughter of Frankel.

After making a winning debut at Doncaster in August, the three-year-old returned with a third in a Listed contest at Newbury in May.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners Al Shaqab Racing, said: "Aljezeera is an interesting filly. She ran well on Lockinge day on ground that didn't suit her at all.

"She looks like a filly that stays well, but Luca feels she is still yet to come to herself as sometimes her homework is not as good as he would like.

"We want to give her a go over this trip and Luca's are running well. The race is the right sort of race for her, but she just keeps giving different messages at home.

"She has does little wrong as a three-year-old. Hopefully she will run well, but we are on a bit of a fact finding mission."

Ralph Beckett, who won the race back in 2015 with subsequent St Leger winner Simple Verse, is responsible for Alyssa, Diamonds Pour Moi, Melodic Motion and Rich Legacy.

Completing the field is Dawn Horizons (William Haggas), Dubka (Sir Michael Stoute), Endless Time (Charlie Appleby), Harlequeen (Mick Channon), Lucy The Painter (Ed de Giles) and Natural Scenery (Saeed bin Suroor).

Appleby said of Endless Time, who was 10th in the Ascot Gold Cup last time out: "The more rain the better for her, as she loves it. She is a soft-ground specialist, to be fair. She brings a better level of form to the table in soft conditions.

"I don't think she saw the two-and-a-half out in the Gold Cup. Coming back in trip against her own sex on this ground, I think she will be a live player."

Guinness Galway Hurdle, 4.35 Galway

Gordon Elliott believes Timiyan, 9/1 third-favourite at Sky Bet, has the right profile to provide the trainer with an elusive first victory in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.

The Cullentra handler saddled three consecutive runners-up of the prestigious 300,000 euro contest, with Cause Of Causes, Flaxen Flare and Bayan all finding one too good between 2012 and 2014.

The Elliott-trained Dirar was also third in 2010 and 2011.

This year the County Meath handler has three contenders, with Timiyan appearing the stable's number one hope, having won each of his two starts since moving from Dermot Weld's stables.

"We've been second three times, so it would be nice to win it," said Elliott.

"He (Timiyan) does nothing fancy at home but does everything right on the track. I think he's in good form.

"He's got a lovely weight of 10st 4lb, so I'm looking forward to running him.

"That's the type of horse you want. We know he stays and with a bit of luck he'll run a big race."

Elliott also saddles Automated and The Game Changer.

Timiyan is one of seven runners for leading owner JP McManus along with Tony Martin's 2014 winner Thomas Edison, Joseph O'Brien's pair of Plinth and Tigris River, the Tom Mullins-trained Princely Conn, Western Boy from Pat Fahy's yard and John Quinn's British challenger Project Bluebook.

McManus also has the first reserve, All The Answers, another O'Brien inmate.

The owner's retained rider Barry Geraghty has sided with Tigris River, who is a course-and-distance winner, was fifth in last year's renewal and won comfortably at Bellewstown last month.

Geraghty said: "It obviously wasn't a straightforward choice, but he (Tigris River) won nicely the last day and ran a good race in this last year. He's a hopeful choice.

"Timiyan comes into the race in good form and Thomas Edison has won the race before and was going well when he fell at the last the following year, so he was in the melting pot, too."

Willie Mullins won the race for a second time with Clondaw Warrior 12 months ago and the admirable dual-purpose performer is back to defend his crown under top weight.

Mullins has four contenders, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh siding with Max Dynamite over Clondaw Warrior (Katie Walsh), Ivan Grozny (Danny Mullins) and the mare Airlie Beach (Paul Townend).

Max Dynamite has his first run over jumps since filling the runner-up spot behind Quick Jack two years ago, since which he has won a Lonsdale Cup and finished a close second in a Melbourne Cup.

The seven-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since finishing down the field in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last summer.

"It was fantastic to win this prize last year aboard Clondaw Warrior, but he's plenty of weight this time, as does Ivan Grozny," Walsh told his Paddy Power blog.

"Max Dynamite has already finished second to Quick Jack here in 2015 – and went on to finish runner-up in the Melbourne Cup also.

"It was a close call between him and Airlie Beach, who won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last season, is a course winner and will carry the same weight as Max Dynamite."

Airlie Beach has won seven of her 11 starts for the Supreme Horse Racing Club and was a close third on her return from a break and Flat debut at Killarney a fortnight ago.

Steve Massey, racing manager for the owners, said: "She ran a cracker to chase home Apple's Jade at Punchestown and hopefully she's come on for her comeback run on the Flat at Killarney a couple of weeks ago.

"She's in foal to Mount Nelson, so we don't have that long left to enjoy her and we're just hoping for another good run and that she comes back safe and sound.

"She's won at Galway before, so we know she likes the course and Paul (Townend) has won on her three times.

"For what she cost us it's been a dream come true for everyone involved."

Other contenders in a 20-strong field include Joe Murphy's Swamp Fox, who finished runner-up in the Connacht Hotel Handicap on Monday evening, and Henry de Bromhead's hat-trick-seeker Ornua.

Along with All The Answers, the two other reserves are Morga and St Stephens Green.