Horse Racing Tips: Paddy Power’s epic Thursday Cheat Sheet for Goodwood & Galway

Alsakib won at Chester and Windsor this summer and he’s clearly got a fair level of ability. The plan will always have been to keep him until Goodwood. 

PERFUSE  didn’t quite get home at Ascot over 1m 4f  but did well considering he was always in touch with a strong gallop. He has a good draw in stall seven and this 1m 2f trip  should be ideal now.

Sir Michael Stoute’s improving PERFUSE is hard to side against after his eye-catching fifth in Royal Ascot’s King George V Handicap and has winning form in the mud too. William Haggas’ handicap-debutant Garden Route appeals greatly as an improver and heads the list of dangers, although Crack Shot is weighted to have a big say too. Coverdale and Killybegs Warrior complete the short-list.

Surprisingly, Perfuse stays on the same mark of 94 after his Royal Ascot run. He looks nowhere near his ceiling rating at the moment and was a wide-margin, winner on heavy ground at Nottingham.

Vandeek won at debut at  Nottingham last month despite blowing the start. I’m expecting plenty of improvement now. 

VANDEEK was slowly away on debut and ducked left at the start so with a normal start there should be much more to come. A strong pace to aim at will help.

JASOUR has a 3 lb penalty for his July Stakes win but he still looks a leading player for a stable seeking a third win in this since 2019. 

Jasour took a massive step up to win at the July Festival and being by Havana Grey his pedigree indicates he should be fully effective on the softer conditions.

I don’t really want to take Espionage on. He comes here on the back of his win at Roscommon in July, as well as an impressive second-place finish in France last year. I just favour Espionage over Artistic Star.

ESPIONAGE looks a very strong stayer and should take all the beating for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Should improve a bundle for his return run at Roscommon.

Deep ground won’t be an issue for ESPIONAGE after going close in a French Group 1 in the mud on his final 2-y-o start. He showed he’s trained on with a Listed success on his Roscommon reappearance and can provide Aidan O’Brien with a third win in this since 2015. Chesspiece, Desert Hero and Canberra Legend can give the selection most to do in that order.

ESPIONAGE made a winning return 30 days ago and is well clear on ratings. Technically, he can underperform and still get the job done.

I’m a big fan of Blue Rose Cen and she looks the real deal. She might have a little to find on the figures compared to Nashwa but I can’t go against her.

One of the races of the week and I’m all over NASHWA for Hollie Doyle and John & Thady Gosden. The former French Oaks heroine was right back to her best at Newmarket last time when landing the Falmouth Stakes and she can pick up the exciting French raider Blue Rose Cen in the closing stages.

A much-anticipated clash between the last two French Oaks winners BLUE ROSE CEN and Nashwa. The former was having her first attempt at 1¼m when bolting up at Chantilly in June and can emulate Nashwa who followed up in this race last year. Nashwa looked better than ever when easily winning the Falmouth at Newmarket last month and is clear second pick ahead of Above The Curve.

Nashwa goes for back-to-back successes in this Group 1 contest after a career-best last time at HQ. Does give weight-for-age away to a dual Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen, but should be up to it.

Encanto Bruno’s only defeat in four bumpers came when mid-div behind A Dream To Share at the Cheltenham Festival. He won a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown very nicely over 2m 1f and can claim this 2m 4f novice hurdle.

I’m a big fan of Encanto Bruno and won’t be looking any further than him to add to his maiden hurdle win last time.

John McConnell’s ENCANTO BRUNO created a highly favourable impression on his hurdling debut at Bellewstown. He can fend off the Willie Mullins-trained duo What Path and Horantzau d’Airy who both bring better form to the table. Henry de Bromhead’s The Short Go completes the short-list in a fascinating contest.

Horantzau D’airy and Ochocinco are closely matched on ratings with the former running off 130. Therefore you need something that can run to or better than that and with a little bit of math Encanto Bruno looks the one given his demolition of the 115-rated Dutch Schultz in a maiden hurdle last time.

Tudor City (each-way) is already a two-time winner of the Galway Hurdle and gets to race off the same mark as last year’s victory under the same 5lb claimer Liam McKenna. Has to have a big chance again of hitting the frame at least.

The better the ground the better the chance My Mate Mozzie (each-way) has of winning. If the rain arrives again and it goes soft I’d be swayed towards Lucky Max (each-way) at a price.

ZARAK THE BRAVE has had no exposure to a  big-field handicap but he finished runner-up in Grade 1 juvenile company in the spring. Brazil and Filey Bay are other to take seriously. 

Icare Allen at a nice price each-way is my pick.  He was a fair horse on his day but has disappointed this season. His last run at Tipperary was better than the bare form indicates and with so many having a chance, his price appeals to me. I’m worried that a four-year-old hasn’t won this contest since 2000 and that puts me off Zarak the Brave at the top of the market.