Lady to put Jarvis back in the limelight
Lady Bowthorpe can provide William Jarvis with a first Group One triumph in almost 30 years in the Qatar Nassau Stakes tomorrow.
Not since Grand Lodge won the 1994 running of the St James’s Palace Stakes has the Newmarket handler tasted Group One glory, but that could all change in the feature event on day three at Glorious Goodwood.
Having progressed from handicap company to Pattern class last season, Lady Bow thorpe has taken her game to another level in 2021, with a come back victory in the Group Two Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs followed by three excellent efforts over a mile.
The daughter of Nathaniel found only proven top notcher Palace Pier too strong in the Lockinge at Newbury in May, since when she has finished second in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and fourth in the Falmouth at Newmarket.
Lady Bowthorpe was flying home when beaten only a length on the July Course three weeks ago, having endured a troubled passage, suggesting not only that she would have come out on top in another few strides but also that she is crying out for a step up in trip.
The five-year-old gets the opportunity to test the water over a mile and a quarter for the first time on the Sussex Downs, and has already proved herself versatile when it comes to underfoot conditions.
Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya and French Oaks winner Joan Of Arc represent stiff competition, but Lady Bowthorpe gets the vote.
The Hannon team has an excellent record in the Unibet Richmond Stakes, and can add to the tally with Gubbass. Between them Richard Hannon senior and junior have saddled seven previous winners of the six-furlong Group Two, with Mehmas – the sire of Gubbass –the most recent five years ago.
Gubb ass made a smart start to his career when justifying favouritism at Leicester in the spring, marking him down as a potential Royal Ascot candidate. He ultimately missed out on an appearance at the summer showpiece meeting, but gained ample compensation by providing the H ann ons with an 11th success in the lucrative Weatherbys Super Sprint at New bury a couple of weeks ago. That has already been boosted by the third home Delmona, who was beaten onlynarrowly in a Group Three at Ascot last week.
Gubbass is open to further improvement, and the prospect of stepping up from five to six furlongs should not hold any fears.
Third Realm has obvious claims in the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes. Roger Varian’s charge beat subsequent Derby and King George hero Adayar on soft ground at Lingfield in May – but the tables were turned comprehensively at Epsom, with Third Realm finishing an honourable fifth.