Glorious Goodwood day three tips with 1-2-3 for £600k Nassau Stakes decided

Success can be sweet for connections of WHIRL (3.05) in the £600,000 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. Opera Singer benefited from a pitch-perfect ride from Ryan Moore when she made all of the running to fend off See The Fire in last year's edition. The Andrew Balding-saddled runner-up returns for another go but a repeat result looks on the cards with the prize expected to go back to Ballydoyle.

Aidan O'Brien sent Whirl to the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June, where she pushed the team's number one hope Minnie Hauk all the way. Back on home terrain last month, my selection went right at it from the start and kept going with gusto to hold subsequent King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes second Kalpana by a length-and-a-quarter.

Whirl jinked slightly at a photographer in the closing stages which suggests she had not reached the bottom of the barrel and Moore's mount should be hard to beat receiving 9lb from her market rival. A distance of 1m 2f looks as far as Prix de Diane runner-up Bedtime Story wants to travel but she can keep on well enough for third in first-time headgear.

THE SCOUT'S NASSAU STAKES TOP THREE

1 Whirl 2 See The Fire 3 Bedtime Story

NASSAU STAKES FIELD

1 Running Lion

Made most to add Group Two Royal Ascot honours to her record in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, but she is yet to return to the winners' enclosure. Found nothing when headed in the Falmouth Stakes and even if returning to her very best, has work to do to match her key opponents.

2 See The Fire

Done very little wrong in 13 career appearances for Andrew Balding's stable, lifting the Group Three Strensall Stakes of 2024 and the Middleton against her own sex in May of this year. Both contests were at York where she is at home on the fair track. Finished a gallant second to Opera Singer in this 12 months ago and came with her usual late burst for third in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the royal meeting. Rated 2lb higher than Whirl, she has to concede 9lb which might make all the difference.

3 Bedtime Story

Accelerated away by an impressive nine-and-a-half lengths in the Chesham Stakes as a two-year-old, a campaign which rather petered out with a fifth in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Paris Longchamp. Seemingly a little down the pecking order at Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien sent the daughter of Frankel back to France where she has taken time to find her stride in the French 1,000 Guineas and Prix De Diane. Wears a hood and the most likeliest candidate for third.

4 Cercene

A bargain buy at £50,000, the Australia filly took her career earnings to more than £450,000 when becoming the longest price winner of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Exhibited a greater will to win than quirky French-trained ace Zarigana, backing up several solid efforts for handler Joe Murphy to prevail by half-a-length. Said to be a doubt for this race if there is any give in the ground so it all depends on how much of an impact the forecast thunderstorms have.

5 Whirl

Made steady progress as a juvenile, battling to a narrow victory in the Group Three Staffordstown Stud Stakes over a mile at the Curragh. But has lifted her form to a new level in her three-year-old campaign, routing the Musidora Stakes field by five-and-a-half lengths before going close in the Oaks. Responded generously under pressure when Kalpana gave her lumps of weight in the Pretty Polly Stakes and this uncomplicated thoroughbred is a worthy favourite.

REST OF TODAY'S GOODWOOD CARD

Exciting young stayer and HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes favourite MERCHANT (2.30) can star on the day three undercard. William Haggas toyed with the idea of running the progressive handicapper in Ascot's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

But with Calandagan, Rebel's Romance and Jan Brueghel at least 120-rated horses, the trainer plumped for today's third tier contest. After taking the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in style, my pick has all the attributes to edge his stable's strike rate towards 30 per cent for July.

Up 21lb since the start of the season, the stamina-laden colt had his form advertised by Serious Contender in the Irish Derby, so Merchant's mark should only keep going in one direction. AZIZAM (1.55, treble) is fancied to be a hit in the Group Two Markel Richmond Stakes for astute handler of juveniles Karl Burke.

The Havana Grey offspring of the same colour made his debut at Hamilton over five furlongs, hinting six would be in range. A late run for third in the Windsor Castle Stakes - where he passed the post just two lengths off Havana Hurricane - confirmed that first impression.

Given a break of 43 days, Azizam might be an even stronger horse now and he has his chance in an open event for the grade. Highly-tried three-year-old NEBRAS (1.20) is downgraded for the Coral Kincsem Handicap which opens the eight-race programme.

The chestnut colt went straight into the notebook when he made up plenty of ground to score on his Newmarket debut in October 2024. A half-brother to owner Imad Alsagar's Group One heroine Nashwa, Nebras has the pedigree to be better than the handicapper's assessment of 97.

Runners of a similar ability have traditionally done well in this 1m 2f contest and Hollie Doyle's hold-up performer is the type to gain confidence if he starts passing horses in a bigger field. GETREADYTORUMBLE (3.45) disadvantaged himself by jumping the path at Sandown, having earlier scored tidily over the Buccellati Handicap course and distance.

Tom Marquand's ride has quickly made up into a useful sprinter and he has Ruby's Profit to lead him into this from stall 11, with several other pacey types in the higher numbers. Back on easier going, GOLDWORK (4.20) has an each-way chance in the Phase Eight Nursery, while Mishriff's brother KALEIDO (5.30) demands respect in the World Pool Bet With The Tote Handicap.

THE SCOUT'S GOODWOOD TIPS

1.20 Nebras

1.55 Azizam (trb)

2.30 Merchant

3.05 Whirl (nb)

3.45 Getreadytorumble

4.20 Goldwork

4.55 Kilkenny Warrior

5.30 Kaleido