Magic Wand on Fancy Blue's heels for Nassau favouritism as Goodwood ground dries

Magic Wand is now the clear second favourite for the feature Qatar Nassau Stakes (3.15) and has Fancy Blue in her sights as the ground continues to dry up at Goodwood.

The going has this morning been updated to good, good to firm in places (from good) following some dry days on the South Downs, and the five-year-old is one runner who could benefit from the conditions.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained five-year-old has been backed into 3-1 (from 9-2) for the day's Group 1, and notably won the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh on ground described as good to firm last month.

That was the same day as current favourite Fancy Blue's only career defeat, when beaten in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and is also the only time she has raced when good to firm was in the description.

She has drifted out to as big as 11-4 (from 9-4) and could soon be sharing favouritism with Magic Wand.

Goodwood day three card

Another warm day is forecast for Thursday with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching 23C, and clerk of the course Ed Arkell has mentioned the possibility of watering should the current weather continue.

Speaking at 8am, Arkell said: "We've changed to good, good to firm in places this morning after a dry, warm day yesterday. There's a decent dew on the grass at the moment and we're forecast a similar day today.

"The ground has been quickening nice and steadily at half a description a day, so it's not going to be getting any easier with this forecast.

"We'll have to see what we do with any watering, and will probably make a decision after racing today as to whether we do anything and what we do if we do decide to do something."

Deirdre landed the Nassau Stakes on good ground last year and has proven herself on a quick surface, having twice won at Group level in Japan on firm ground. She remains an 11-2 chance, while Nazeef has drifted out to 3-1 (from 5-2) as she bids for a magnificent seventh consecutive win for John Gosden.

The John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (2.45) takes place immediately before and English King remains the firm favourite at a general 5-4.

Ed Walker's three-year-old finished fifth in the Derby at the start of the month and bids to make amends here with Frankie Dettori back in the saddle.

Al Aasy has received some support and is now the clear 4-1 second favourite (from 5) ahead of Mogul, who was sixth in the Derby and three-quarters of a length behind English King.

Non-runner

1.10 The First King
4.55 Lothian

Read our Glorious Goodwood day three previews:

3.15 Goodwood: O'Brien v Gosden again – but now it's Donnacha as Fancy Blue bids for Nassau

2.45 Goodwood: Keith Melrose assesses the first big test of the Derby form in the Gordon Stakes

2.15 Goodwood: Does Clive Cox have the Richmond answer again? Find out what Graeme Rodway thinks

3.45 Goodwood: Graeme Rodway assesses a fascinating nursery from a handicapping perspective

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