2023 Glorious Goodwood Thursday Tips – DS
2023 Glorious Goodwood Thursday Preview
I feared Wednesday would be tough going and so it proved. It is annoying that there was two big priced winners and we didn’t find either of them. We went 0/3 with each tip progressively running worse. At least we know for sure it’ll be a bog at Goodwood on Day 3, hopefully that makes things a bit easier. Check out Dave Stevos’ 2023 Glorious Goodwood Thursday tips below.
1.50 – Coral Kincsem Handicap (Class 2)
Goldsborough is a former course winner on heavy and he could be worth a little e/w punt at 33/1. Trained by Andrew Balding, already off the mark with a winner at big odds this week, Hayley Turner will ride. She has her sights set on riding 1000 winners and when Balding books her, he usually puts her on horses with a chance.
Turner has had just 16 rides for the yard this year, winning on three of them and finishing top 4 in six of them. The fact she is on a horse that has proven heavy ground form is a big plus, as is the fact it is Goodwood form. Was it the strongest race ever, no, but the third has won since and the second and fourth are solid, consistent horses.
Many of these horses have yet to encounter soft ground, let alone heavy. That is why it is often a bit of a guessing game in these 3yo handicaps but at least we know Goldsborough will handle the underhoof conditions. The son of soft ground lover Pearl Secret ran better than the bare result last time and back on bottomless ground, he is worth giving another chance to. At 33/1, Goldsborough is the e/w pick.
2023 Glorious Goodwood Thursday Tip: Goldsborough e/w @ 33/1 (6 places) NAP
2.25 – Markel Richmond Stakes (Group 2)
Four horses have already been taken out of this G2 on account of the ground. Eight remain, hopefully there will be no more withdrawals. None of these have ever run on ground this testing. Hala Emaraaty won on soft on his debut at Ripon but his best form has come on faster ground. He’s been very well backed though and the e/w value is gone from his price.
The booking of Frankie for Nazalan catches the eye. Shaun Woods has his horses in great form, sending out two winners and a runner up from his last five runners. This horse is by Starspangledbanner, a sire capable of producing horses that handle testing ground.
Nazalan has yet to race on softer than good, his best runs coming on good to firm. His win came in a Sandown Novice (5f gd/fm) and he then nicked some black type in a Listed contest behind Kylian at the same track on good. Looking at his action, there is a chance he might go on this ground and at 28/1, it is worth chancing for small stakes that he does.
2023 Glorious Goodwood Thursday Tip: Nazalan e/w @ 28/1
3.00 – Gordon Stakes (Group 3)
Just six run and five of them are chalked up at 15/2 or shorter. The fav Espionage has form on heavy ground and he looks the one to beat. Artistic Star has won on soft and he could prove to be the biggest threat. This is an easy race to swerve, no bet.
2023 Glorious Goodwood Thursday Tip: No bet
3.35 – Nassau Stakes (Group 1)
Another disappointing turnout with just six runners. French superstar Blue Rose Cen is even money to gain her sixth win in a row. She has landed a G3 (hvy), a G1 at Longchamp (v sft) and then last time out she scored in the Prix De Diane on good to soft.
Never Ending Story finished 4L behind her at Chantilly and she re-opposes today. She will enjoy the testing ground at Goodwood and I’d expect her to run better than she has done on faster ground the last twice. However, Ryan Moore prefers the chances of Above The Curve for Joseph so that looks to be the main Coolmore hope.
Nashwa returned to form with a vengeance at Newmarket last time. It was a welcome return to form for the daughter of Frankel after two disappointing runs to start her season. She handles soft ground but does she want it bottomless? I’m not too sure.
At A Price
At a price, Caernarfon could go well for Jack Channon and Conor Beasley. By Cityscape, this filly has run twice on soft ground. She won a Listed heat at Newmarket last October and she then ran a cracker in the 1000 Guineas back in May. Her peak effort came when second in the Epsom Oaks on faster ground in June but this will be her first chance at 10f on testing ground.
She was doing her best work at the finish in the Guineas and on that evidence, 10f on soft could really suit her. Last time out at Ascot she tried the trip for the first time but the ground was good to firm and she maybe just lacked the pace to get involved. This heavy ground will slow her rivals down and if one of the top two doesn’t produce their best, Caernarfon could stay on late for second at odds of 22/1.
