13:50, Sky Bet Handicap
Naqeeb 13/2, 1pt each-way (4 places with William Hill)
An interesting 11 runner handicap to start the card. Mount Atlas finally got off the mark for the season at Ascot last time out and is respected in his bid for another victory for all that the burden of 10 stone is worrying. Thissongisforyou is Emmett Mullins' only runner of the week and must be of interest but the worry is that the combination of trip and ground wont see him to best effect. Slight preference is for Julie Camacho's 5 year old gelding, Naqeeb. Twice a winner for William Haggas in 2023, he moved to the new yard after a frustrating 2024 campaign. The son of Nathaniel hasn't managed to get his head in front since but he shaped well when 8th over this course in the John Smiths Cup and bettered that form to finish 2nd at Glorious Goodwood last time out. Both those runs were over 10 furlongs but he's back up in trip to the distance he finished 3rd over at Royal Ascot (Mount Athos in behind that day). I'm sure connections will have him primed for a big run today and conditions look to be in his favour.
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14:25, Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes
No Bet
John Gosden sent out Stradivarius to win this 3 times and he fields another Gold Cup winner here in the shape of Trawlerman. Also an Ebor winner over this course back in 2022, he looks to be the leading stayer at the moment and should prove hard to beat. Sweet William will, I'm sure, give it another go and will run his race for all he will likely come up short again. Al Qareem is interesting given he is in form and goes very well at the track. He'll struggle to get things his own way in front I'd imagine and his stamina will be fully tested here. Shackleton is an interesting runner for Aidan O'Brien but needs to progress from what he's shown so far this season over this new trip.
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15:00, Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes
Do Or Do Not 7/4, 2pts won
This does not look like the strongest Gimcrack ever run, with plenty having questions to answer. Reciprocated looked good when winning his first 2 starts before finishing last at Ascot. That was over 7 furlongs and this drop back in trip looks like a good move. Egoli is another who managed to string 2 victories together before coming unstuck in the Richmond at Glorious Goodwood. That race didn't go to plan however, and he's more likely to run to form here. Both however, may have it to do if they are going to outbattle Ed Walker's likeable Space Blues colt, Do Or Do Not. Still a maiden after 5 starts he's not your typical favourite for a Group 2 but he undoubtedly brings the best form to the race. He belied odds to finish 2nd in the Coventry at Royal Ascot before proving that was no fluke by filling the same position in the July Stakes a month later. He ran with credit to finish 3rd in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time out over 7 furlongs and now drops back in trip. He's got cheekpieces on first time to help sharpen him up a bit but the suspicion is a repeat of his July Stakes run should be good enough to take this.
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15:35, Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes
Lady Imam 11/2, 1pt win
Probably the most wide open Nuthorpe I can remember. Arizona Blaze probably should go off favourite after a classy win at Group 2 level last time out in Ireland. That looked good form and he's sure to go well but the main worry is that he likes to get on with it and there will be so many other runners here who will want to be on the front end. I could see Mgheera getting closer than last time out as this race promises to suit better but she needs to keep progressing. Asfoora too will enjoy this race more than last time out at Goodwood as the ground went against her. The worry is if she's as good as last year which is in doubt now. Sayidah Dariyan is of strong interest after winning at the track last time out. This race will set up nicely for her and she doesn't have much to find on form. The bigger worry is this drop in trip, she's looked at home over 6 recently. Perhaps it is worth taking a chance that this race could be won by a 2 year old for the first time since Kingsgate Native back in 2007. Lady Imam must have a big chance here. She's carrying just 8 stone 2 pounds and is seemingly drawn on the right side of the course in stall 4. The daughter of Starman's only defeat came at the hands of a useful one over 6 furlongs but she has since put that right when bolting up over this trip at Glorious Goodwood. She has looked like a pure speedball so far in her short career and the way she runs suggests she could come late through horses off the fast pace. It isn't easy winning a Nunthorpe as a 2 year old but she's a backable price.
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16:10, Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies' Handicap
Akecheta 7/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
A fair renewal of this fillies' handicap but we've seen stronger. Wonder Star will have her backers following a big effort to finish 2nd at Glorious Goodwood last time out in a race she perhaps should have won. She's progressing along nicely now and still looks well weighted. Andrew Balding's Zgharta too looks well weighted after catching the eye at Goodwood as well and now goes back up in trip. But at the prices, slight preference is for top weight Akecheta. Kevin Coleman's filly was unlucky not to finish much closer at Goodwood last time out and this track will suit her much better. She's been 2nd and 4th on her 2 starts in the UK and still looks to be progressing at the age of 5.
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16:45, British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
Inishbeg 13/2, 1pt win
The Convivial Maiden is not the easiest race to get too involved in. The last 7 winners have all had at least 1 run but it may be time to buck that trend. Kevin Ryan loves a winner on the Knavesmire and he sends his half a million guineas colt, Inishbeg here. The expensive son of Ghaiyyath looks promising on paper and this isn't the strongest renewal of this maiden ever run.
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17:20, Sky Bet Mile Handicap
Montpellier 9/2, 2pts win
A very hard race to end the day but I thought John Ferguson's Montpellier was one of the eye catchers of Glorious Goodwood. This good moving son of Wootton Bassett looked like a good prospect when winning his first 2 starts over 7 furlongs before coming unstuck at Salisbury on handicap debut. He finished 2nd that day but it was over 6 furlongs and the winner was in form. Stepped back up in trip, he ran well to finish 4th at Goodwood in a race where he had nowhere to go for most of the home straight and probably should have won. He's drawn well in stall 9, has Ryan Moore aboard and should go very close to making amends here.
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