It’s Ladies' Day in the stands on Thursday afternoon at Goodwood, and, fittingly, the fillies and mares grab the limelight on the track as an excellent field assembles for the latest edition of the Group 1 Nassau Stakes.
With eight races to choose from, there are no shortage of punting opportunities, and here, we pick out our four best bets ahead of what promises to be another sizzling day of action in the Sussex sun.
2:25 Markel Richmond Stakes, 6f, Group 2
Our first bet comes in this sprint affair for the juveniles, which tends to fall to a pretty smart performer – Vandeek and Royal Scotsman successful in the past two editions.
The Hamad Al Jamani-trained The Strikin Viking (named in honour of a certain Man City forward) heads the betting this year. His second-place finish in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at The Curragh last time out is solid form, but a general price of 11/8 looks a little skinny in a field crammed with potential improvers.
Norfolk Stakes runner-up Tropical Storm and July Stakes second are other contenders, but at a double-figure price, we like the Hugo Palmer-trained The Waco Kid.
In need of the experience when fourth on debut, he promptly stepped on that to bag a novice event at Newbury in some style. Taking the lead at the 1f poll, he looked threatened when the pack converged, only to find another gear to quicken away. With Ryan Moore in the saddle, he can follow in the hoofprints of his sire, Mehmas, who landed the 2016 edition of this.
Recommended Bet: The Waco Kid each way at 9/1 with BetVictor
3:00 Qatar Nassau Stakes, 1m2f, Group 1
Invariably among the classiest 1m2f fillies events of the season, the 2024 edition of the Nassau Stakes is well up to scratch.
With four previous wins, Aidan O’Brien knows what it takes to prevail in this event and has a strong chance of adding to his tally with the current market leader, Opera Singer. A brilliant win in the 2023 Prix Marcel Boussac suggested this daughter of Justify could be the next big thing in the fillies middle distance division, but hasn’t lived up to that billing in two outings this season. That said, she was in need of the run when third in the Irish 1000 Guineas and ran well when second in the Coronation Stakes.
Available at much bigger prices earlier in the week, Sparkling Plenty appeared an excellent each-way option following her win in the Prix de Diane. Should she drift back out to around the 10/1 mark, we wouldn’t put anyone off, but we prefer another for win purposes.
We fancy the one to beat here is the late supplementary entry Emily Upjohn, who steps in to replace Inspiral for the John & Thady Gosden operation. A dual winner at the highest level, her two Group 1 runs over this trip have yielded second-place finishes to King George runner-up Bluestocking in the Pretty Polly Stakes, and a ½l defeat when attempting to concede 7lbs to four-time Group 1 winner Paddington in the 2023 Coral Eclipse. Paddington had a rating of 123 that day, whilst Opera Singer is only rated 115 here, suggesting her 8lb weight allowance may not be enough to hold off this tough and talented daughter of Sea The Stars.
Recommended Bet: Emily Upjohn to win at 2/1 with bet365
4:10 Jaeger-Lecoultre Nursery Handicap, 7f, Class 2
Plenty of these youngsters have shown promise in their previous outings this season, including Brighton Boy, who won well at Chester last time; Fearless Freddy, who improved for the step up to this trip when landing a Leicester Maiden, and Ralph Beckett’s Original Outlaw, who has progressed with each of his three starts and goes in the first time blinkers.
Topping the weights and the betting, it is tempting to simply side with George Boughey’s El Burhan. An impressive 6½l winner at Beverley last time, he arrives seeking a hat trick and looks destined to ply his trade at a higher level. However, 17 runners around the Goodwood bend is a recipe for trouble, which is enough to put us off backing anything at a relatively short price.
An each-way punt leaves more room for manoeuvre. The one to catch our eye is fellow debutante Fred On Fire, from the yard of Andrew Balding. Having scored on debut at Newcastle, he blew his chance by running green last time out at Ayr. Those efforts came over 6f, but he has plenty of stamina on the dam side, suggesting this step up in trip may spark improvement. Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle is a significant positive. Moore has ridden 14 two-year-olds for Palmer, with 12 of those runners finishing in the first four. At a double-figure price, he will do for us here.
Recommended Bet: Fred On Fire each way at 12/1 with bet365
5:20 Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, 7f, Class 2
Aidan O’Brien’s Dreamy is proving all the rage in the betting market as she makes her debut in this maiden affair. By US Triple Crown hero American Pharoah and out of the Group 1 winner Tapestry, she is as regally-bred as you would expect of one from this yard. If she is all she is cracked up to be, she probably wins, but taking 13/8 about a debutante isn’t really for us, particularly as her sire has yet to really hit the heights on the shores.
The presence of Dreamy lends a nice each-way shape to this race, and the one we like to hit the frame is Sofia The First from the Andrew Balding operation. Sending out the first and fourth in this event in 2021 and the runner-up in 2018, Balding regularly sends a promising sort here, and this 32,000 Guineas yearling looks a good fit on pedigree - being by New Bay and out of a dam by superstar miler Kingman.
Recommended Bet: Sofia The First each way at 25/1 with QuinnBet
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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