Day three of Glorious Goodwood features the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes as its centrepiece, and our top tipster Newsboy has examined every race in depth. Here are his best bets for Thursday.
1.50 Coral Kincsem Heritage Handicap: Ciarrai Abu
Ciarrai Abu arrives with a progressive profile and local knowledge. After a debut sixth at the Curragh last August, the gelded son of Study Of Man moved to Harry Eustace, ran second in a Brighton maiden in October, then returned to land a maiden over course and distance in early May. Eustace wanted to give him further match practice around the South Downs, and Ciarrai Abu started life in handicaps over Goodwood's mile on his next outing.
Sent off the 5-2 favourite for a 10-runner three-year-old event, he was momentarily tightened for room at the furlong pole before running on strongly to take fourth, beaten a nose, half a length and a neck behind Annastarzy. Ciarrai Abu (Irish Gaelic for 'Up Kerry') returned to winning form 20 days ago when nailing Crest Of Fire on the line under Kaiya Fraser, who makes way for George Wood today. His finishing efforts over a mile suggest improvement over the additional two furlongs, and a 6lb rise looks within range for a three-year-old with significant upside. Savvy Disko is on a hat-trick and commands respect, along with Decade Of Time and Birgham Dub.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 Ciarrai Abu, 2 Savvy Disko, 3 Birgham Dub
2.25 Markel Richmond Stakes: Flann Sunna
Flann Sunna has won both his starts with ease and is ready for the step up to Group 2 company for the stable that captured this race with Vandeek three years ago. The son of Blue Point (dam Lady Princess was a dual winner in Ireland as a two-year-old, including at Listed level) was bought for 200,000 guineas as a yearling last October and put into training with Simon and Ed Crisford.
Sent off at 7-2 in a field of 13 on his racecourse debut at Windsor last month, Flann Sunna got off to a perfect start, sprinting clear to beat next-time-out scorer Perfect Nation by three and a half lengths. He went to Ascot 18 days later for a seven-runner conditions event over six furlongs and put up an impressive performance under Jack Mitchell (William Buick takes over today), tanking into the lead at the two-furlong pole and careering away to beat Mysterious Times by four and three-quarter lengths. The evidence of his first two races suggests Flann Sunna hasn't scratched beneath the surface and, with untapped potential, he is expected to remain unbeaten. Cut A Dash and Night In Vegas, close-up fourth and fifth in Royal Ascot's Coventry Stakes, hold obvious podium claims, while Big Cigar is another to consider.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 Flann Sunna, 2 Cut A Dash, 3 Big Cigar
3.00 Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes: Enceladus
Enceladus needs to improve to make the transition from handicap to Group 3 level, but he is taken to do exactly that. With an official rating of 99, the Joseph O'Brien-trained son of Sea The Stars is a few pounds shy of rivals Venetian Lace (110), Bay Of Brilliance and Geryon (both 107). However, his two starts this term show he is on an upward curve and ready to produce another personal best.
Third in maidens at the Curragh and Naas as a two-year-old last autumn, Enceladus returned from 195 days off to win a similar event at Cork in April by a head from Almazann. O'Brien gave him his handicap debut in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he went off at 7-1 in a field of 19. He progressed past his opening mark of 89, running to a half-length margin from Al Azd, who polished the form with a runaway success at the same course last Friday. It would be a shock if Enceladus doesn't have plenty more to give on the fifth start of his life, and the hat-trick is on the cards. Bay Of Brilliance, Shaihaan and Venetian Lace are taken to fight for minor medals.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 Enceladus, 2 Bay Of Brilliance, 3 Shaihaan
3.35 Qatar Nassau Stakes: Diamond Necklace
Diamond Necklace is impossible to get away from as she bids for a sixth win from as many starts, and a fourth consecutive Group 1 triumph. Aidan O'Brien's 2025 two-year-old crop was exceptional, with Precise, True Love and Diamond Necklace all scoring at the highest level. Diamond Necklace won the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October by one length, following wins at the Curragh and Leopardstown.
The daughter of St Mark's Basilica returned to Paris for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May and justified favouritism in style, bursting clear inside the final furlong to beat The Last Dance by three lengths. She had to work harder in the Prix de Diane over an extended mile and a quarter at Chantilly last time but extended her winning run to five with a short-neck margin from Pink Panthera. That success proved Ryan Moore's mount can handle both this trip and fast ground, and it would be a shock if her colours are lowered. See The Fire, twice placed in this race, is the choice to chase her home, ahead of Bogotaz and Friendly Soul.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 Diamond Necklace, 2 See The Fire, 3 Bogotaz
4.10 Buccellati Handicap: Naana's Shadow
Naana's Shadow, beaten when upped to Listed level at York last time, still has more to offer on her return to the handicap scene. The daughter of Havana Grey, a one-time winner for Alice Haynes as a juvenile last year, joined Katie Scott during the winter and has gone from strength to strength in the Galashiels-based trainer's care. She needed her first run for nearly six months at Southwell in April, then scored at Catterick Bridge next time before a close third at York's May fixture.
She was back in business in the 3YO 'Dash' Handicap on the Oaks undercard and made it three wins from her last four attempts when beating Shrodinger's Cat by a short head at the end of last month. A 16-1 shot for York's Listed City Walls Stakes 19 days ago, she finished ninth of 13, just over three lengths behind winner Redorange. The handicapper raised her 3lb to a new rating of 94, but Naana's Shadow is far from done and Goodwood promises to suit. In an open contest for three-year-olds, Shrodinger's Cat, Shes Got A Brother, Noble View and One And Gone all have roles to play.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 Naana's Shadow, 2 Noble View, 3 One And Gone
4.45 Whispering Angel Nursery Handicap: The Bookkeeper
The Bookkeeper returns to seven furlongs on his nursery debut and is the selection to look after the bottom line. Plenty went wrong when Richard Hughes gave the Sioux Nation-sired youngster his racecourse bow over five furlongs at Salisbury in mid-May, but he still showed promise with a running-on fifth behind subsequent Norfolk Stakes hero Orthodox.
An additional quarter mile triggered a step forward when he took on three rivals for a novice stakes at Haydock Park eight days later and beat Pat's Cash by three-quarters of a length. Splitting the difference at six furlongs for the Woodcote Conditions Stakes on Epsom's Oaks undercard, The Bookkeeper ran to a similar level, coming home with purpose to take fourth behind Hickory Lad. That race has worked out well, with third Rlasthope and sixth Ardad Steve winning next time. The Bookkeeper will be well served by the return to a longer trip. Hughes's eyes lit up when he learned of a kind draw in stall two and the securing of Ryan Moore for the ride. Dangers lurk everywhere, with Everatease, The Ginger Kid and Caeruleus at the top of a long shortlist.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 The Bookkeeper, 2 Everatease, 3 The Ginger Kid
5.20 Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes: So Lovely
So Lovely rates a worthy favourite to get off the mark at the second time of asking. Few horses at this meeting boast a more illustrious pedigree: she is a daughter of Coolmore's late Wootton Bassett and Love, whose five Group 1 successes included the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks six years ago. So Lovely's career began at Leopardstown two weeks ago, when she faced five opponents over a mile.
Bellesque, representing Joseph O'Brien, went off the even-money favourite and duly justified that position. But there was much to like about So Lovely's introduction. Racing at the back under Wayne Lordan (Ryan Moore takes over today), she made ground towards the principals once in line for home and ran on under a hand ride to finish within three parts of a length of the winner. The step back to seven furlongs should not be an issue, and So Lovely should deliver on that debut promise. York runner-up Elevating and debutantes Beguiled and La Torre are also appealing.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 So Lovely, 2 Elevating, 3 La Torre
5.55 HKJC World Pool Handicap: Get Outta Here
Get Outta Here should not be dismissed after claiming gold, silver and bronze on his first three starts in handicaps. Having qualified for a BHA mark of 70, the son of Zelzal and Jamie Spencer beat five rivals at Lingfield Park at the end of May. He came within a nose of the follow-up over course and distance 20 days later, galloping on strongly after being made to wait for a gap but just losing a photo-finish with Annastarzy.
Sent off the 13-8 favourite to gain compensation at York last time, the David Menuisier trainee came home third behind Illy's Roo. That result does not tell the whole story, as Get Outta Here attempted to make inroads on the leaders just as the race heated up, before that effort took its toll close home. From an unchanged rating of 79, and with hold-up king Spencer back on board, Get Outta Here is taken to go well once more. Exclusive Code is feared most, ahead of Euston Hall and Wild Thoughts.
Newsboy's 1-2-3: 1 Get Outta Here, 2 Exclusive Code, 3 Euston Hall
