Interesting Horses to Look After Glorious Goodwood

Asfoora

Although Big Evs captivated audiences with a stunning victory in the King George Qatar Stakes, Asfoora is the pick to outperform in the upcoming Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Trained by Henry Dwyer, this Australian talent didn't fare well on Goodwood’s undulating track and was hindered by two bumps a furlong out. The flat terrain at Knavesmire should better suit her capabilities, especially considering Big Evs' lacklustre performance there last year. Additionally, Asfoora will have a 6lb advantage.  

Rohaan

12th, Coral Stewards' Cup

Rohaan's performance in the Stewards' Cup was the most impressive I witnessed all week. He is a must-bet in his next 6f handicap at Ascot. Goodwood's track isn't ideal for this five-time Ascot winner, yet he managed a remarkable run from last place over a furlong out, finishing just four and three-quarter lengths behind the winner. He was 6lb over on Saturday and is expected to drop another 2lb, putting him 8lb lower than his last win. His 6f Ascot form outside Group 1 company is impeccable with a record of 11111.  

Knightswood

3rd, Coral Summer Handicap

Joe Fanning's front-running brilliance on Align The Stars secured the Summer Handicap, narrowly defeating Fairbanks and Oisin Murphy. However, the true standout was the winner’s stablemate, Knightswood. He travelled smoothly but faced traffic in the straight. Jason Hart navigated him into contention, only to be obstructed by the front-runners, causing him to miss out. Knightswood has faced similar misfortune this season but remains on a favourable mark and is poised to win a significant prize soon.  

Sparkling Plenty

3rd, Qatar Nassau Stakes 

Sparkling Plenty made an impressive comeback from the rear to finish third in the Nassau Stakes. It is expected that she will outperform Opera Singer and See The Fire on slower ground. All three are entered in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp in October, where Sparkling Plenty is expected to excel in more testing conditions. Goodwood's fast ground was the quickest she had ever encountered, and Cristian Demuro was only on his second ride at the track. Having won a Chantilly Group 2 on heavy ground before her Prix de Diane victory, her form is solidified by the runner-up, Survie, winning a Longchamp Group 2 since then.  

Bopedro

5th, Coral Golden Mile

Bopedro has a significant handicap win in him this season, and he caught the eye in the Coral Golden Mile. Trained by David O'Meara and owned by Leeds playmaker Georginio Rutter, the eight-year-old was last with two furlongs to go but surged forward to finish a strong fifth. His best performance this year was a third in the Hambleton, a form that has been repeatedly validated. He looks a promising contender at 33-1 for the Clipper Handicap at York on August 22.  

River Of Stars

3rd, Lillie Langtry Stakes 

Henry de Bromhead's inaugural Glorious Goodwood entry, Term Of Endearment, performed admirably, but River Of Stars showed significant promise in the Lillie Langtry. She stayed strong, overcoming traffic to finish well under Rossa Ryan. Although she finished behind the same two rivals as at York earlier in the season, she closed the gap, indicating improvement and a preference for staying races. A further step up in distance could be beneficial, with the Lonsdale Cup at York later this month being a potential target.