Graham Cunningham puts forward his suggested World Pool plays for the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Heist on the Downs as Field goes fallow
Where do you start with that exasperating Sussex Stakes?
Field Of Gold clearly wasn’t himself even allowing for the muddling tactical setup, and Ryan was niggling away at Henri much earlier than expected.
Hats off to Beckett, Kingscote and QIRAT for pulling off one of the great G1 heists of recent years but ROSALLION’s connections will reflect that this really was the big one that got away.
Sean Levey fronted up admirably on RTV and ITV so let’s see what happens next.
To miss out once in a tactical major is unfortunate, but to lose two in six weeks looks a little careless. And the Sheikh who must be Obaid is a military man, don’t you know.
Fire to set the Nassau alight
Just when you think Aidan might be running out of superlatives for his stars, he comes up with another crackerjack.
The maestro hailed WHIRL as “the ultimate racing machine” after she turned Kalpana away in the Pretty Polly Stakes last month and the runner-up polished the form with an excellent King George second on Saturday.
Where’s the catch, then?
Maybe there isn’t one, as Whirl is thriving on racing and digs very deep when things get tough. But she might have to in Thursday’s Nassau Stakes (3.05) as Kalpana’s stablemate SEE THE FIRE looks a very serious rival indeed.
Andrew Balding’s filly has the Nassau in her blood – her dam Arabian Queen finished third in 2015 – and she returns to Goodwood twelve months on from running Aidan’s Opera Singer to a neck in this.
And See The Fire is a better filly now than she was then based on her runaway G2 success at York and a solid third, with no excuses, behind the high-class Ombudsman and Anmaat in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
In short, I think there’s very little between the big two here, therefore 2-1 or bigger for See The Fire looks a fair enough win play.
Suits you, Sir
It’s hard to think of a G3 with a richer heritage than the Gordon Stakes – think Highland Reel, Ulysses, Crystal Ocean, Cross Counter and Jan Brueghel – and the market suggests MERCHANT will be adding his name to the roll of honour at 2.30.
This Haggas colt has powered his way through handicaps - bolting up in a strong affair at York from a mark of 82 before winning the King George V Handicap off 90 – and the Royal Ascot form was given a swift boost when runner-up Serious Contender finished second in the Irish Derby.
But that Curragh classic also produced a notable effort from SIR DINADAN, who traded punishing blows with Lambourn for a long way only to fade into fifth as the duel with the Epsom hero took its toll close home.
Hand on heart, I suspect Merchant is progressing fast enough to justify short odds. But Sir Dinadan holds clear Quinella potential. And if he’s ridden with more restraint this time, he might just give the hot favourite a shake for win purposes, too.
Let’s Getreadytorumble
There’s plenty of interest on the day three supporting card, with Coventry third Coppull holding solid claims in the Richmond at 1.55 and Marhaba Ghaiyyath set to go well in the opener at 1.20.
But the sprint handicap at 3.45 and the nursery at 4.20 offer a handful of horses who have plenty to recommend them.
Overnight prices in Britain make the Buccellati Handicap a 7-1 the field job but GETREADYTORUMBLE and NADALSHIBA GREEN appeal as a pair to keep firmly onside under Tom Marquand and Rossa Ryan respectively.
This pair looked firmly on the up before they crossed swords in a Sandown handicap won by the useful Kassaya four weeks ago and nothing they did in filling the placings there detracted from the view that they are in prime form.
Nadashiba Green travelled sweetly under restraint and stayed on strongly for second, while Getreadytorumble recorded a career best in third despite losing momentum by jumping a path just inside the final furlong.
I’m happy to side with both in the win market and it would be rude not to add a small Quinella... just in case.
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