Goodwood Preview Day Three

The first race of the day on the third day of Glorious Goodwood is the Class 2 Unibet Handicap and we have gone for the Sir Michael Stoute trained Almania.

This three year old will have to reverse some form but looks to be a very progressive colt now stepping down to 1 mile 2f after running to a good standard over further but not staying the trip.

The rain will be a huge factor for this horse who performs better on good to soft ground and his fifth in the King George V Stakes handicap looks good if he can get back to that level.

The first big event of the day is the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and with it being such a competitive affair we have two selections.

Our first pick is the favourite Threat for Richard Hannon and this juvenile from his two races looks a really smart horse. He got off the mark on his debut in a Class 3 at Newmarket and then finished an ever so close second in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes when losing in a photo finish.

He has the strongest form in the race and is rightfully the one to beat in the market.

The second selection at a bigger price and looked at from an each way angle is Andrew Balding's Symbolize who won nicely on debut at Salisbury and when stepped up in class at Royal Ascot finished a solid fourth from a rough draw in the 21 runner Windsor Castle Stakes and off the back of that is a player in this one.

The Group 3 Gordon Stakes is a very tough race to call this year with many talented horses at different levels but we have sided with the Godolphin owned Jalmoud.

This three year old has been a mixed bag at times this season but seems to be bouncing back to form which makes him attractive in this contest.

He started the season off with two good wins at Newmarket and a Listed race at Longchamp and headed to Royal Ascot in strong form.

However, he finished last of 13 runners when completely not running his race in the Group 2 Queen's Vase but since then has finished second in a Group 2 at Saint Cloud and a solid third behind Japan in the Group 1 Grand De Paris.

He is worth taking a chance on.

The feature of day three at Goodwood is the Group 1 Nassau Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs which will be a welcome trip for Maqsad for trainer William Haggas.

Although there may be better rated horses in the race this contest looks perfect for her after impressively landing the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last time she ran over this distance.

Her last run was disappointing in the Epsom Oaks when finishing midfield but ultimately never staying the 1 mile 4f distance and with conditions back in the fillies favour she could have a big say.

The Telegraph Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs looks a hot contest full of mixed sex juveniles and the Andrew Balding trained When Comes Here.

This colt is a half brother to Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner at Goodwood Here Comes When and not being unleashed on ground with soft in it could be interesting if the rain comes down.

This youngster has raced three times so far all on good to firm ground finishing second twice and a good fourth in a Class 2 event at York, which looks good form heading into this.

The penultimate race of the day is the Maiden Fillies Stakes over seven furlongs and the one to beat in our eyes is the Michael Bell trained Craylands.

This juvenile has a lot of things going for her on Thursday as she is the form chance of the race after a superb second on debut at Newmarket only just being beaten by a good Godolphin exploit.

Frankie Dettori takes up the ride which is also a positive and this filly is one of the first out of the superstar Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn.

The final selections of the day come in the Tatler Handicap over a sharp five furlongs and with such a big field we have two decent odds selections.

The first is the Andrew Balding trained Pass The Gin who scored really nicely last time out and although winning last time out looks to still be on a nice mark to go well again.

The second pick goes for Tom Clover and Celsius and this three year old has landed three of his last four handicap races, finishing second in the other and off the back of that is a leading form contender.