We move into the fifth and final day of Glorious Goodwood 2012 and racing fans have an ultra-competitive race card to sink their teeth into on Saturday.
The Nassau Stakes takes centre stage on the seven race card and it looks an enthralling renewal of the Group One contest. We’ve teamed up with
Ladbrokes to offer our readers an exclusive 9/2 enhanced price on Nahrain winning the feature and her backers will no doubt be making the most of the exclusive offer.
Meanwhile, the Stewards’ Cup looks a typically wide open betting heat and
Blue Square will double your winnings on the race if your horse wins by more than a length.
It has been a very kind meeting to followers of Bettingpro.com and we’ll be looking to unearth a few more winners at the end of a very busy week.
14:05 Get Your Bet On At bluesq.com Stewards' Sprint Handicap (3yo+, Class 2, 6f, 28 runners)
Saturday’s opener looks one of the most competitive races of the whole week and finding the winner represents a seriously daunting task.
Milton Bradley’s Nasri heads the betting (11/1,
Blue Square) along with the formerly classy Tax Free (11/1,
BetVictor), while Richard Hannon’s Poole Harbour (14/1,
Paddy Power) is likely to be popular under the hands of Richard Hughes.
However, a tentative each-way chance is taken on
KLYNCH (40/1,
Stan James) who might be worth keeping the faith with after his winning sequence came to an end two runs ago.
The six-year-old was clearly in great form when he picked up a hat-trick this summer and if it wasn’t for a poor run at York last time out, he’d be a lot shorter price for this. Amy Ryan takes the ride and he’ll be looking to build on his showing in this race last year.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Klynch (40/1,
Stan James)
14:40 Toyo Tires Performance Handicap (3yo+, Class 2, 1m 6f, 14 runners)
Fourteen line up for another open handicap on Saturday and Sir Mark Prescott’s Motivado (11/2,
Blue Square) will be fancied to run a huge race for his shrewd trainer.
It’s not surprising to see he has been so well supported in the betting along with Amanda Perrett’s Roxy Flyer (8/1,
William Hill), but a chance is taken on Luca Cumani
FRANCISCAN (8/1,
Ladbrokes) bouncing back to form under the hands of Kieran Fallon.
The selection looked to be a handicapper going places earlier in the season and the Ebor looked a very realistic target for the four-year-old. Last time he was sent off at 4/1 for the Old Newton Cup at Haydock and failed to give his running on ground softer than ideal, but that run should be forgiven and he is likely to be seen in a much better light on Saturday.
He looks a typical Cumani improver and he can get back to winning ways on decent ground.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Franciscan (8/1,
Ladbrokes)
15:15 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes (British Champions Series) (Fillies' Group 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 1f 192y, 8 runners)
Glorious Goodwood’s second Group One of the week arrives in the shape of the Nassau Stakes and Izzi Top (7/4,
Sportingbet) goes in search of her fourth consecutive victory of the season.
John Gosden’s 2011 Epsom Oaks third hasn’t looked back since and her latest victory in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland was particularly taking. She is likely to put up a very bold bid, along with stablemate The Fugue (9/2,
bet365) who looked very unlucky in this year’s Epsom Classic.
They will both be tough to beat for their in-form trainer and Roger Varian’s Nahrain (9/2,
Ladbrokes) would be the one to beat if she returned to her best, however,
WAS (7/1,
Ladbrokes) looks to be significantly underrated in the betting and she is definitely the value call in the contest.
It is rare that you get an Aidan O’Brien-trained Epsom Oaks winner trading at 7/1 on just her fifth start and it’s quite simply too good a price to turn down.
The selection benefitted from being close to the pace at Epsom, but she still had to go on and win the race and she is an impeccably well-bred individual. The heavy ground looked to be against her in the Irish Oaks last time out and a return to a better surface and 1m2f here will be right up her street.
On just her fifth start for her legendary handler, she is sure to improve and she is capable of adding a second Group One to her CV.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Was (7/1,
Ladbrokes)
15:55 Blue Square Bet Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap) (3yo+, Class 2, 6f, 27 runners)
27 runners line up for a fiercely competitive renewal of the world famous Stewards’ Cup and the action is sure to be fast and furious.
David Marnane’s Jamesie (10/1,
bet365) heads the market for the cavalry charge, but the likes of Victorie De Lyphar (12/1,
Ladbrokes), Mac’s Power (12/1,
Betfred) and Dungannon (12/1,
Ladbrokes) are all at the forefront of the betting as well.
As is
HAWKEYETHENOO (12/1,
Paddy Power) who arrives at Goodwood in top form and he could be the one to be with in the six furlong dash.
The six-year-old has always been a force in major sprinting handicaps over the last few years and the 2011 Victoria Cup hero has shown he is still at the top of his game this season, including when finishing third in the Wokingham in June.
The selection looked to be mightily unlucky in the International Stakes at Ascot last time out when he was tanking behind a wall of horses before finishing seventh and with more luck in running this time, he is more than capable of landing another prize of this stature.
Nick Wilby’s selection – Hawkeyethenoo (12/1,
Paddy Power)
