Crucial Insights

Hi all,

As we enter the final month of the summer, the Qatar Goodwood Festival is in full swing.

With no Rosallion and Charyn in the line-up, it turned out to be a weaker renewal of the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes. Nevertheless, we did get a high-class winner in Notable Speech.

As expected, Henry Longfellow was sent to the front; however, outsider Sonny Liston ensured he didn’t have things his own way. 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech, who was so disappointing at Royal Ascot, produced the turn of foot seen at Newmarket to win in impressive style. Initially, I couldn’t have had him at the 7/4 odds he was in the morning. However, he was weak in the pre-race betting, and at 3/1, he became a value bet if you were on. Hopefully, we get a chance to see him race against Rosallion before the season is out.

Maljoom couldn’t match the pace of the winner in the final two furlongs but managed to stay on to take second. He looks worth a try over 1m 2f. Meanwhile, Henry Longfellow faded into fourth. He seems a bit slow and, thus, might also need a step up in distance.

Crucial Insights

Looking ahead, the big questions for punters on Thursday are: Will the thunderstorms arrive or not, and how much rain will hit the track? According to the weather app I consult, the racecourse is set to receive 4mm of rain. Of course, given that we are looking at showers, it could receive nothing or more than 10mm.

Consequently, I have already sent out my preview to Victor Value subscribers, but I’m holding off on my final selections until I have a better handle on the weather. I have one that I like who needs ease in the ground, while the others prefer quicker. In my preview, I've shared crucial insights into seven of the eight Goodwood races.

The Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes (3:35) is the feature race on Thursday. Coronation Stakes runner-up Opera Singer takes on Emily Upjohn and French Oaks heroine Sparkling Plenty. Additionally, the Goodwood undercard features the Group 2 Richmond Stakes (2:25) and the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (3:00). Once again, ITV Racing are covering the first four races from Goodwood.

Meanwhile, it’s also Day 4 of the Galway Festival, where the highlight is the Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap (5:05), offering €159,300 to the winner. Nicky Henderson brings over the well-fancied Under Control for the race. The mare faces 19 rivals, including impressive Punchestown Festival winner Daddy Long Legs, trained by Willie Mullins, and last year’s runner-up Jesse Evans. Here, too, I've provided Victor Valu subscribers with crucial insights into the leading contenders and their chances.

On a related note, Notable Speech was a winner for the Charlie Appleby angle that I mentioned in Tuesday’s column. Furthermore, there are a couple of qualifiers from the John & Thady Gosden angle running on Thursday.

In conclusion, good luck with your Thursday bets.

John