Neil Morrice best bets and tips – QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL BEST BETS DAY 3 THURSDAY

QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL BEST BETS DAY 3 THURSDAY

Race 1 Coral Kincsem Handicap

No1 BEST SECRET (Nap)
Trainer: Stephane Wattel – Jockey: James Doyle

Wattel’s first runner at Goodwood, BEST SECRET looks like heading the market for the Thursday opener following his luckless venture to Royal Ascot in which he ran into all sorts of trouble in the straight. The Persian King colt, purchased by Wathnan Racing after impressively landing a handicap at Longchamp, has been raised 5lb for his efforts. He’s well drawn close to the rail, but just needs to show that he can be effective on an undulating track. DAIQUIRI BAY didn’t appear to benefit from stepping up to a mile and a half at Ascot but remains of interest at his price of around 25-1. FORT GEORGE is another that looks over priced and can get into the argument, along with MARHABA GHAIYYATH.

Prediction: 1st BEST SECRET, 2nd Daiquiri Bay, 3rd Fort George, 4th Marhaba Ghaiyyath

Race 2 MARKEL RICHMOND STAKES (Group 2)

No3 COPPULL
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: David Probert

COPPULL surrendered his unbeaten record at Royal Ascot, but any colt that can run third in the Coventry has to come away with credit, and this son of Bated Breath has plenty going for him. His trainer has won this race twice in recent years, while on only a third career start he will surely progress. HAVANA HURRICANE needed a few more yards in the Newbury Super Sprint in which he was denied in a head bob. His trainer took out the Vintage Stakes here on Tuesday, while a previous Listed race success gives him every chance. This pair could provide the exacta.

Race 3 HKJC WORLD POOL GORDON STAKES (Group 3)

No2 MERCHANT
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand

The St Leger market might be in for a shake-up should MERCHANT continue his upwardly mobile progression and complete a hat-trick in this recognised trial for the final Classic. The son of Teofilo wasn’t stopping at the end of the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot and is more than ready for a step up the class ladder for a yard that won this race in 2023. Aidan O’Brien’s horses dominate the Leger market and GALVESTON could give Coolmore another string to its bow if successful today. He paid the price for going off quickly in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot in which he did well to hang on to third, with WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE one place back. He cost 2,000,000 guineas as a yearling and is preferred to stablemate SIR DINADAN, while RAHIEBB could also trouble the judge on the strength of his third in the Queen’s Vase.

Race 4 QATAR NASSAU STAKES (Group 1)

No2 SEE THE FIRE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

In quantity this is a disappointing turn out for the Ladies’ Day feature, but with RUNNING LION likely to set a decent gallop a good finish is in store in which SEE THE FIRE can outpoint WHIRL. Oaks runner-up Whirl went one better in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh where the return to a mile and a quarter played to her strengths. The form was then boosted when runner-up Kalpana finished second to Calandagan in Saturday’s King George. SEE THE FIRE took out a Listed race at York by a record margin before succumbing to males Ombudsman and Anmaat in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. The respective formlines combine to suggest it will be a close run thing between the two. BEDTIME STORY was perhaps given too much to do when second in the French Oaks and this daughter of Frankel poses the greatest danger to the ‘big two’.

Race 5 Buccellati Handicap

No4 GETREADYTORUMBLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand

GETREADYTORUMBLE was a convincing winner of a Class4 over course and distance last month, and went on to be foiled in his hat-trick bid when jumping a path a furlong out in a Class2 at Sandown. The grey had just forged his way to the front, and would probably have prevailed without the hiccup. As it was, the incident threw him off his stride and into the hands of defeat from victory. He now has a good chance of turning the tables with runner-up NAD ALSHIBA GREEN. Middleham raider FLUORESCENCE needs to improve on what she’s done so far but could do that on just a fifth career start. Of the roughies DAN TUCKER is worth a second look, and can earn.

Prediction: 1st GETREADYTORUMBLE, 2nd Nad Alsheba Green, 3rd Fluorescence, 4th Dan Tucker

Race 6 Phase Eight Nursery

No5 SIR ALBERT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

There was a very professional aspect to SIR ALBERT when he made it two wins from his last two starts at Chester. From coming under a ride two furlongs out he found extra for pressure to be well on top at the finish. This is a totally different track, but he has the bit between his teeth and gets the vote to parry the challenges of CHAMPION ISLAND and AMAZING JOURNEY. Champion Island has it to do against the selection, who beat him easily on the Roodee, while Amazing Journey brings York form to the table, and that has a habit of holding up.

Race 7 Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes

No3 BRIGHLEE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

BRIGHLEE gave a good account when chasing home odds-on Miss Honey on her Kempton introduction, and has been handed a good draw in this race around a right-handed bend. Easy to back on that occasion, the Persian King filly is going to be more streetwise, and can provide her local stable with a timely boost. It is likely that AYLIN will head the market on the basis of her pleasing second on debut at York in a race that has worked out. UNCERTAINTY was also second on her first run at Newbury and needs considering.

Race 8 World Pool Bet With The Tote Handicap

No5 POINT OF CONTACT (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald

Having excelled with the horses of owner Saeed Suhail, Balding might provide the answer to the nightcap in POINT OF CONTACT. The Blue Point colt hasn’t done much wrong in three outings this year, and was involved in a tight finish when a gamble on him at Haydock went astray. From a good spot in the gate he’s more than capable of bouncing back, with the equally well berthed ANTIPODES and multiple scorer ORGAN the ones to add into all exacta, trifecta and quartet combinations.

Race 5 GUINNESS GALWAY HANDICAP HURDLE (Grade 3)

No7 MR PERCY
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: JJ Slevin

MR PERCY brings very strong novice hurdle form to the table on a switch back to jumping and should make a bold bid to provide his trainer with a second triumph in this race in as many years. His success in a trial for the Ebor at the Curragh last time stamps him as in the kind of form required to make his mark in this good betting heat. It’s on the cards that Gordon Elliott will have a say, and from his four contenders NDAAWI and BOWENSONFIRE look the pick. Ndaawi goes best when fresh off a break and he’s enjoyed a time out since his excellent near miss in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March. Bowensonfire enjoys the better ground he will race on today and looked very impressive when scoring by a wide margin at Bellewstown last month. PUTURHANDSTOGETHER enters calculations and would have finished closer but for a final flight error on his Tipperary return. He landed some big bets in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and is a rock solid second string to Joseph O’Brien’s bow.

Prediction: 1st MR PERCY, 2nd Puturhandstogether, 3rd Ndaawi, 4th Bowensonfire