THE stakes have already been high for Joan of Arc – but now it’s time for her to burn up Goodwood.
Aidan O’Brien’s Classic heroine is out once again in the feature Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes over nearly a mile and a quarter.O’Brien is yet to strike at Glorious Goodwood
Just six runners are set to go to post, and pace will be key. Or at least lack of it.
After all, high class Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya and Emma Banks’s fabulous Lady Bowthorpe both want a fast pace to thrust at. They are very unlikely to get that.
That’s why I think JOAN OF ARC will be very hard to beat.
Not only is my hope a three-year-old getting weight, but she can race close to the pace and has proven class, staying on well to land the French Oaks at Chantilly last time.
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Added to that, Joan of Arc can go with cut in the ground. She can put the flames out of her rivals.
Goodwood Thursday on ITV begins with a handicap over 1m2f. Ground conditions will be key and the one who loves juice is PATIENT DREAM for Ralph Beckett and Ray Dawson.
The gelding has less than 8st on his back including the rider’s claim and as an in form runner who stays strong he should have eachway claims at the very least.
Next is the Group 2 Richmond Stakes for youngsters over 6f. Not many of these have tired soft ground.
EBRO RIVER is exposed and was beaten into fourth at Newmarket last time in the July Stakes behind Lusail.
That said, he brings a decent level of form and has performed with aplomb when there has been juice in the going. Should run well for James Doyle.
Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Different types then go in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes for 3yo over 1m4f.
THIRD REALM was a fair fifth in the Derby behind Adayar and may be capable of better than that. The Roger Varian runner had beaten Adayar on soft in the Lingfield Derby Trial so the ground should be no issue.
Andrea Atzeni takes the ride and expects him to take some beating. Wordsworth will also go well as a strong stayer.
The last race on ITV is a nursery handicap over 7f. ALDBOURNE might just be a very well handicapped horse after three runs and into a handicap.
Trained by Andrew Balding, my hope has shown some form at Salisbury and Epsom with give in the ground and I think he will appreciate this test off a low weight under Hollie Doyle.
The penultimate is a maiden fillies’ stakes over 7f. TYPEWRITER looked sure to improve after a debut at Windsor where she ran on strongly from off the pace doing her best work at the finish.
Andrew Balding trains the Gleneagles offspring and if she handles the going she should go well for David Probert.
Finally a handicap over 5f. Very hard event to sort out. ISLE OF LISMORE should give Oisin Murphy a decent spin for Robert Cowell. He has form on heavy.
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Good luck!
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