Nick Luck’s Blog: Artistic could be a Star on soft

Thursday, Goodwood

PERFUSE looks a very solid favourite in the Goodwood opener on Thursday (1.50pm) at 5/2. Sent off favourite for the red-hot King George V at Ascot, he did very well considering how closely he attended the pace. With form on heavy ground, and Ryan Moore in the saddle, his case is compelling.

VANDEEK looks a colt of some promise and can build on his striking debut to win the Richmond Stakes (2.25pm) at 4/1. Green early, he powered home that day, defeating one horse with a smart reputation and another who came out and franked the form here earlier in the week. Clearly there’s an element of guesswork with regards to the ground, but it is at least encouraging that there was cut.

ARTISTIC STAR might be the answer to the Gordon Stakes (3.00pm) at 9/2. Very strong and straightforward on softish ground on both his initial starts, he found it all a bit much in the Derby, but still ran quite creditably all things considered. The surface was too lively in a falsely run race at Ascot, and this likely truer test will surely be more suitable for a stable that remains in good form.

NASHWA is taken to repeat last year’s success in the Nassau (3.35pm) at 15/8. Although much was made of the drop to a mile last time, there’s every chance she has just needed racing to get her to concert pitch this year. With Above the Curve and Blue Rose Cen likely to trade blows up front, there must be a strong chance that Nashwa gets another perfect trip.