Grab all of our tips and picks for the third day of the Goodwood Festival on Thursday 3 August 2023.
Goodwood Festival Tips, Day 3
Race 1 – PERFUSE 5/2
Although PERFUSE was a beaten favourite at Royal Ascot meeting, there was merit in his run and it would not be a surprise at all should he go a few places better in the Coral Kincsem Handicap.
Not least as coming back in trip a bit is a positive and he is proven on soft ground.
The unexposed pair GARDEN ROUTE and ALASKIB come into this with similar profiles having won novice events on their latest starts. Both are now having their first taste in handicap company, so they warrant serious consideration.
Race 2 – SKETCH 28/10
SKETCH can take the Markel Richmond Stakes for the father-and-son team of Martyn and Freddie Meade.
The Showcasing youngster cost 100,000 guineas as a yearling and Meade senior said following his Newbury debut win he had been giving off all the right signals at home.
He absolutely bolted up really, making all and stretching clear a furlong out to come right away from his field.
This is a marked step up in class, but likely favourite Jasour (NOW SCRATCHED) has a penalty to carry and the Meades know the time of day when they think they have a good one.
Race 3 – ESPIONAGE 15/10
ESPIONAGE is the pick in the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes.
An Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Galileo, he went very close to picking up a Group One on his final start at two, being beaten a head by solid yardstick Proud And Regal in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
He was not seen again until a low-key return at Roscommon last month, where he did what was expected of him.
With his French effort being on heavy ground, there will be no issue with underfoot conditions however they turn out and he could end up as the Ballydoyle number one for the St Leger – for which he is already single figures.
RAce 4 – BLUE ROSE CEN 83/100
BLUE ROSE CEN is backed to come out on top in what looks a crackerjack renewal of the Qatar Nassau Stakes.
This filly has been little short of a revelation for Christopher Head, who is quickly proving himself the latest jewel in an esteemed French racing dynasty.
She shot to prominence last year in the Prix Marcel Boussac – and anyone present at ParisLongchamp on that memorable afternoon will attest to it not being a day for the faint-hearted, ground wise.
Head’s charge ploughed through the mud to triumph in style, and she has taken her career to even greater heights this season in landing the French 1000 Guineas and Oaks.
Her last start was the furthest she had travelled in terms of distance and was as impressive as anything she has done so far, so that was another box ticked on a road that could lead to the Arc.
Hopefully for the race’s sake, it will not be a mudbath, but significant cut in the ground is guaranteed as a minimum and while NASHWA and the improving AL HUSN are obvious dangers, the Gallic raider is something special.
