Horse racing betting: Thikriyaat can boost his QEII credentials with Celebration win
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has won the Goodwood Celebration Mile (4.30pm) a record eight times – and he’ll be confident of adding to his collection once again on Saturday.
Despite his overall success in the race, Newmarket-based Stoute has not won the contest since Zacinto surged to glory in 2009, but the wait for another victory can end with THIKRIYAAT.
Owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum supplemented the highly progressive gelding to the Group Two field at a cost of £10,000 following his victory in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes over course and distance last month.
He secured a half-length victory over stablemate Forge on the Downs that day and the suspicion is there’s still a lot more to come from this son of Azamour.
Stoute’s entry has only lost once in his career, that coming in the Group Three Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was beaten by Richard Fahey’s Ribchester.
That form has received a major boost with Ribchester winning again, this time over in France in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois under the ride of William Buick.
Over the last eight years this race has been won by three-year-olds on six occasions which, along with his course form, bodes well.
I think he’ll win this race before tackling the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot, so take the 15/8 currently on offer with Betway.
Fellow three-year-old Zonderland is expected to give him the most to do after winning the Group Three Sovereign Stakes at Sailsbury earlier this month.
That was his second victory of the season, having also claimed the Listed Heron Stakes in May, but I’m not convinced about the form of that Salisbury run with favourite Massaat disappointing.
Jockey Adam McNamara earned the biggest win of his career last Saturday when riding Heartbreak City to a four length-victory in the Ebor Heritage Handicap at York.
McNamara led an apprentice 1-2-3 in the feature and can go close despite a poor draw on NUNO TRISTAN in the seven-furlong Goodwood Revival Stakes (3.20pm).
Being drawn in 15 is not ideal, but Richard Fahey’s charge can still go close having finished third here in the Stewards’ Sprint Stakes in July.
He was beaten less than a length by Hoof It and Related that day and his proven ability at the course could prove vital.
I wouldn’t read too much into his performance at Ripon in the Great St Wilfrid last time. He simply didn’t seem to handle that unique track.
Newmarket
Newmarket also hosts some top racing on Saturday, with EASTERN IMPACT the one I’m most keen on backing in the Listed Stakes (4.10pm), over six furlongs.
He’s placed in five of his seven appearances at the Suffolk track, including in last year’s July Cup, and hinted at a return to form last time out at the Curragh when finishing second.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Baccarat could prove to be the best of the rest having put in an impressive display at Ripon last time out.
Ridden by Kevin Stott, the son of Dutch Art finished a neck and a head back in third at a whopping 20/1 in the Great St Wilfrid.
He can go well, but Eastern Impact’s form at HQ sways the argument.
Saturday Pointers
Nuno Tristan e/w, 3.20pm Goodwood
Eastern Impact, 4.10pm Newmarket
Thikriyaat, 4.30pm Goodwood