Graham Cunningham puts forward his suggested World Pool plays for the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
Emily to edge it as Shoemark bids to shine again
Eight races, slick summer ground, a little respite from the intense heat and a compelling clash between generations in the Nassau Stakes. That’s the short summary of the day three menu at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and World Pool punters have abundant options to choose from.
The opener at 1.50 is tough but a true pace looks on the cards and PALACE GREEN, MIDNIGHT GUN, ARAGON CASTLE and APPROVAL form a short list with some Quinella potential.
Aragon Castle has solid Goodwood form and beat older handicappers tidily at Hamilton. Midnight Gun has been thriving at a mile and promises to progress again at this longer trip after changing yards, while Palace Green endured a torrid trip at Royal Ascot and Approval is much better than he showed when going off harder than ideal in the same Golden Gates Handicap.
Kevin Ryan’s loss is Hamad El Jahani’s gain as THE STRIKIN VIKING heads the market for the Richmond (2.25) and the promising Qatari handler has inherited a horse who has made a very bright start.
His position as clear favourite is well deserved after a fine second in G2 company at the Curragh but BILLBOARD STAR has also made a good impression, following an impressive HQ win with a July Stakes second that was polished by Aomori City on Tuesday, and this strong traveller should be well suited by the unusual demands of Goodwood.
Five runners for the Gordon Stakes limits WP punting appeal but the Nassau (3.35) has held up well, with two at the head of the market and one at double figures forming the Quinella list.
EMILY UPJOHN has lost five on the spin since her Coronation Cup win last summer but she got back on track when pipped by King George runner-up Bluestocking in G1 company at the Curragh.
The Gosden filly gets a narrow vote to put Kieran Shoemark back in the G1 headlines ahead of OPERA SINGER but STAY WELL can look very good when she has genuinely fast ground and her impressive Dahlia win at Newmarket makes her a live longshot here.
The second half of Thursday’s card is tough, with the sprint handicap at 4.45 looking almost impossible to crack and the valuable maiden at 5.20 filled with too many unknown quantities for comfort.
But the nursery and the mile handicap that close the card offer a couple of interesting horses from the same yard.
William Muir & Chris Grassick wouldn’t be household names for most WP players but they’ve saddled 20 winners at a healthy 15 per cent strike rate this year and decisive Leicester winner FEARLESS FREDDY makes more appeal than most in the 4.10.
Emphatic Chester winner BRIGHTON BOY is another to have on your side in the same race despite his potentially awkward high draw, while the upwardly mobile EBT’S GUARD looks one of the best value handicap bets of the day in the finale.
This lad faces a clutch of dangerous rivals – headed by Treasure Time and Qirat – but he caught the eye again when looking unlucky in a decent race at Ascot and a patient ride from a handy low draw could help him come calling as a danger to all when things get serious.
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