Goodwood ground changed to heavy after 25mm of rain falls in extraordinary downpour

There was a delay to the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood due to a threat of lightning and the going has officially been changed to heavy amid torrential rainfall at the Sussex track.

The runners in the Nassau Stakes did return to the parade ring during the delay before going back to the start. Officials had been attempting to start the race from the stalls before eventually resorting to a flag start.

In the end, the ground made little difference to star filly Whirl who dominated the Group 1 contest and won easily from Cercene.

Winning rider Ryan Moore sought to alleviate concerns over the rest of Thursday's card after the race when he said: "I think if a horse isn't used to those conditions they will struggle, but it felt very safe ground and I didn't have any issues with that."

• Whirl makes light work of gruelling conditions in Nassau after torrential rain forces delay and an unusual start 

A downpour arrived shortly before 2pm on Thursday which caused the Group 3 Gordon Stakes to begin under a flag start rather than from the stalls due to safety concerns.

Speaking to ITV Racing, clerk of the course Ed Arkell said: "We'll make a ground change and I should think it'll be heavy. There is more rain about, but we weren't forecast this amount so I'm not sure the forecast is reliable at the moment."

Thundery showers arrived in the final stages of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and they have barely eased off since with the Gordon subject to a slight delay during the heaviest of the rain. 

The ground had been good, good to firm in places for the first two races on the card but ITV Racing reported that 25mm had fallen in a 20-minute spell causing the significant going change.

Merchant won the Gordon for William Haggas and Tom Marquand and the winning rider said: "It's so wet and you just can't get any traction on it because it's so loose. It's annoying for Goodwood.

"Merchant hated every minute of that and has done really well to win. He's the horse we hoped he was after Ascot but it was a battle for him. He's shown that he's got the mind."

• Heavy-ground horses: who will appreciate the testing conditions in the remaining races on day three of Glorious Goodwood? 

Non-runners due to going

3.45: Fluorescence, Kinetic Force, The Man
4.55: Barefoot Beach, Eleanor Shelby, Lyrics of Life
5.30: Abundance, Antipodes, Winston's Warrior

Elmonjed (blue): heads a full field in the Stewards' Cup on SaturdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Elmonjed heads maximum field for £250,000 Stewards' Cup

The £250,000 Stewards' Cup (3.05), one of the standout handicaps of the season, has attracted a full field of 28 on the final day of Glorious Goodwood on Saturday.

Last weekend's Dash Handicap hero Elmonjed is 6-1 favourite with race sponsors Coral as he bids to record back-to-back big-race Saturday victories for William Haggas and Jim Crowley. 

The ultra-consistent Hammer The Hammer has also been declared for Kevin Ryan and is also prominent in the market. The three-year-old has won three of his five starts this season and came to within a length of Adrestia when second in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. 

In the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes (2.30), a field of nine will head to post.

The £300,000 contest features the Joseph O'Brien-trained Goodie Two Shoes, who bids to complete a four-timer after bringing up the hat-trick in the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse this month.

The field also includes Term Of Endearment, Danielle and Serenity Prayer.

A field of seven will take their chance in the Group 3 Coral Glorious Stakes (1.20), the contest which kicks off the action on the final day of the meeting. They include the well-fancied Haggas pairing of Al Aasy and Candleford.

Confirmed runners and riders for the Stewards' Cup

Apollo One Alice Bond (7lb claimer)
Annaf Daniel Muscutt
Get It Pat Cosgrave
Jordan Electrics Paul Mulrennan
Elmonjed Jim Crowley
Korker Jack Nicholls (7lb claimer)
Purosangue William Buick
Alzahir Hector Crouch
Commanche Falls Connor Beasley
Seven Questions David Probert
Hammer The Hammer Tom Eaves
Completely Random Trevor Whelan
Desert Cop Charlie Bishop
Orazio Rossa Ryan
Twilight Calls Saffie Osborne
Circe Ryan Moore
Twilight Jet Tom Queally
Toca Madera Colin Keane
Vadream Kieran Shoemark
Germanic Ryan Sexton
Jakajaro Jamie Spencer
Run Boy Run George Wood
Saint Lawrence Hollie Doyle
Two Tribes David Egan
Strike Red Billy Garritty
Jungle Drums William Carver
Drama Tom Marquand
The X O Robert Havlin

Confirmed runners and riders for the Lillie Langtry Stakes

Allonsy Rossa Ryan
Danielle Oisin Murphy
Goodie Two Shoes William Buick
Oxford Comma Hector Crouch
Royal Entry Colin Keane
Sueno Robert Havlin
Term Of Endearment Tom Marquand
Serenity Prayer Ryan Moore
Waardah Callum Rodriguez

Thursday's Raceday Intel:

1.55 Goodwood: Can the Eve Johnson Houghton juvenile bandwagon roll on with the speedy Havana Hurricane? 

3.05 Goodwood: 'Hopefully the best is to come' - can Andrew Balding and See The Fire hold off the Ballydoyle charge in Nassau Stakes? 

The first two Group 1 favourites have been beaten at Glorious Goodwood - can Whirl change the narrative? 

Cheat sheet: rain could impact day three going - plus all the key quotes, tips and analysis you need for Thursday at Glorious Goodwood 

4.30 Galway: Explosive Cheltenham winner Puturhandstogether out to boost an emerging Galway Hurdle trend - but is this British raider a danger? 

'Ndaawi is our number one' - is 2025 the year when Gordon Elliott finally wins the Galway Hurdle? 

2.10 Galway: 'Classy' Pied Piper out to extend his unbeaten record over fences in Grade 3 novice chase 

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