Thursday Racing Tips: Chesspiece to make move in Gordon Stakes

More action from Glorious Goodwood and the Galway Races tops the bill on Thursday’s six-meeting offering across the UK and Ireland.

Joining Goodwood and Galway are Flat cards from Nottingham, Epsom and Newcastle (AW) ,as well as the jumps meeting at Stratford.

Amongst our fancies today is a Simon & Ed Crisford-trained runner looking to spring a minor surprise at Glorious Goodwood.

Chesspiece – Goodwood 3.00

Espionage is the market leader in the Gordon Stakes for Aidan O’Brien after he won a Listed race at Roscommon on his seasonal bow last month. The Galileo colt had to battle there but Ryan Moore – on his first ever visit to that venue – was confident and they prevailed.

They are big players once more, but CHESSPIECE (7/2) can be a major danger to them for Simon & Ed Crisford.

The Nathaniel colt won a York handicap off a mark of 96 in May and, on his most recent start, won the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton over this sort of trip. In between times, he wilted only very late in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot over 1m6f when third behind Gregory.

He drops back in trip now and should have more to offer at this distance, while the fact he excelled at Hamilton bodes well for his ability to handle the ups and downs of Goodwood.

Ornellaia – Goodwood 5.20

Later at Goodwood, look out for ORNELLAIA (11/4) in the Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes as she looks to break her duck for trainer Dominic Ffrench-Davis and Amo Racing.

She cost 260,000gns as a yearling and finished a promising third in fillies’ maiden at the Newmarket July festival on her debut. That form was boosted nicely when the winner followed up at Group 3 level last weekend.

The Night Of Thunder filly is bred to be suited by this step up in trip and, with normal first-to-second run improvement, should prove a tough nut to crack in the hands of Kevin Stott now.

They are on the Most Napped list via the Betfred Betfinder for Thursday’s racing action and can justify that slot.

Party Central – Galway 5.05

Zarak The Brave is a massive player as part of a strong Willie Mullins representation in his bid to win this race for the fifth time in eight years.

However, at the prices, perhaps PARTY CENTRAL (14/1) is a better choice for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy in this Betfred Extra Place Race (five places).

The Yeats mare has some smart form in her back catalogue and, while she wasn’t at her best at Killarney in May, she arrives here after a confidence-boosting win on the Flat at Bellewstown last month.

A mark of 142 certainly gives her the chance to shine now.