Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday including 33/1 Goodwood Festival fancy

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Goodwood, 13:50 - Back Dark Whisper E/W @ 8/19.00

Handicap debutant Dark Whisper could be well treated from an opening mark of 87 as he steps up to a mile-and-a-quarter in this new challenge. He has caught the eye in maidens so far this year, getting off the mark at Ffos Las when last seen, and put in a noteworthy effort on Newmarket debut when second to Portcullis at odds of 33/134.00 in April.

The step up in trip could suit the locally trained David Menuisier representative, who is out of a mile-and-a-half Listed-winning mare in Birch Grove, a daughter of Galileo.

There's plenty of black-type in his pedigree and, making only his fourth career start, there's scope for further improvement as he gains experience and matures. He has shown promise to date and could be able to put in a bold bid in Thursday's opening contest.

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Richmond Stakes, Goodwood, 14:25 - Back Where Love Lives E/W @ 33/134.00

At a huge price, Where Love Lives is an interesting contender on stable debut for Donnacha O'Brien having recently switched trainers from the Kevin Ryan operation.

He won both of his first two starts for his former trainer before being beaten eight-lengths in the Norfolk Stakes by Orthodox, but that run may be worth forgiving and he could bounce back in a different assignment here.

On debut at Thirsk, the Cotai Glory colt justified 6/42.50 favouritism to beat three subsequent winners including runner-up Hickory Lad, now rated 100 following two noteworthy successes plus a recent respectable effort at Group Two level.

The juvenile then landed Listed honours at Sandown, impressing to beat Adaay Of Scarlett, who has since achieved a rating of 105 having been only narrowly denied by Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes and chased home Inner City Blues at the July Festival.

His form is solid bar a disappointing Royal Ascot effort, and it may be worth keeping the faith in the youngster at a value price. Whilst he could improve for his yard debut, he has shown enough ability to suggest he could go close in a race of this nature, with the form of his wins already significantly franked.

In the hands of Billy Loughnane, who partnered July Cup winner Comanche Brave to Group One glory for the trainer earlier this month, Where Love Lives warrants each-way consideration and could outrun his odds.

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Galway, 14:45 - Back Greydreambeliever E/W @ 12/113.00

Joseph O'Brien-trained filly Greydreambeliever must step up on her previous runs in Stakes company, but could be capable of outrunning her odds having run well on a few occasions in handicap company so far this season.

Previously trained by Karl Burke, the daughter of Dark Angel beat Stormy Impact to make a successful start on debut at York during her juvenile campaign, before finishing fifth to Tabiti in a Salisbury Group Three. She put in a few creditable efforts in her subsequent season, and has shown promise this term, but there could still be more to come from her and she's still relatively unexposed at this level.

Representing an in-form yard, Greydreambeliever is one to note each-way under Declan McDonogh and could make the frame.

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Gordon Stakes, Goodwood, 15:00 - Back Sahara King E/W @ 13/27.50

The Group Three Gordon Stakes is a tricky race to predict with plenty of different angles to consider, but Sahara King is completely unexposed in Stakes company and is a fascinating contender emerging from handicaps.

He was recently gelded following a disappointing effort in the Golden Gates Stakes at Royal Ascot, when he was unable to get involved in the competitive 16-runner handicap won by Lost Boys, a rival who he has only been narrowly beaten by in the London Gold Cup previously.

On debut in a Wolverhampton novice event last autumn, the son of Too Darn Hot beat six subsequent winners including Ranga Tang, who placed behind Limestone in the Queen's Vase last month as well as Heyzoom, who was fourth to Enceladus in the King George V Stakes.

The Richard Hannon-trained contender then caught the eye at Newbury, finishing strongly to be beaten only a length in tight finish to a novice race won by future Group One winner and Derby runner-up Maltese Cross, who beat Bay Of Brilliance in the Derby Trial at Lingfield.

Stepping up to a mile-and-a-half here, there could be more improvement to come from Sahara King. He's from the family of Eljazzi, dam of Massarra, who produced Gustav Klimt, and the dam of Group One middle-distance performer Rafha, a winner of the French Oaks who produced seven black-type achievers including Invincible Spirit and Acts Of Grace, grand-dam of Mishriff,

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Galway, 15:55 - Back Rosie's Wings E/W @ 14/115.00

Six-year-old gelding Rosie's Wings has been in good form this year for Ross O'Sullivan, following three starts for former trainer Lorna Fowler for whom he featured in a Ballinrobe bumper won by Doctor Steinberg.

On stable debut, the son of Wings Of Eagles finished a length third to Figero at Kilbeggan before shedding his maiden tag by five-and-a-half-lengths at Punchestown. He needs to show further improvement but he's unexposed and on an upward trajectory in only his fourth start over obstacles.

Rosie's Wings has already shaped with promise and could outrun his odds under Danny Gilligan.

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Goodwood, 16:10 - Back River Spey E/W @ 20/121.00

From a mark of 86 in this 5f handicap, River Spey is one to note for Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark. He drops in distance to the minimum trip for the first time having been plying his trade over 6f during his career to date, and has shown enough speed to suggest he can be competitive over this distance. His latest run at Newmarket is worth forgiving following a slow start, and he had won at Windsor previously from only a 3lb lower rating.

Last year, the son of Sergei Prokofiev finished third at odds of 66/167.00 in a valuable maiden won by Stellar Sunrise, now rated 100, at this meeting, before being narrowly denied in a 19-runner handicap at the Ebor Festival won by Ruby's Angel.

A two-time winner, there's substance to his form and his current mark is workable based on his latest win. He could represent value at big odds and it would be no surprise to see him fare better than his market price suggests.

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Goodwood, 16:45 - Back Cilician E/W @ 9/110.00

In first-time cheekpieces on handicap debut, Brian Meehan-trained Cilician could find more luck having finished second in three novice events to date.

He wasn't able to feature but was far from disgraced when beaten five-lengths by Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes, but had previously been narrowly denied at odds of 25/126.00 by The Ginger Kid at Nottingham, and was just touched off at Newbury when last seen.

The addition of headgear could allow him to see out his races better and he may be worth keeping the faith in under Tom Marquand, having already gained some valuable experience.

A £90,000 purchase as a yearling, the gelded son of Blackbeard has been running generally consistently well this year and is entitled to keep on improving.

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Epsom, 17:30 - Back Qitaal @ [SP]

Dropping in class, top weight Qitaal should be able to make his presence felt in this field for Charlie Johnston under Jack Nicholls.

He's currently 4lb below his last winning mark and, although he's been winless since September 2024, he has been able to put in a number of competitive efforts since including when rated 6lb higher.

From a workable mark at this level, the seven-year-old gelding holds solid claims and makes the most appeal as he bids for a fourth career win in his 40th outing.

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Goodwood, 17:55 - Back Exclusive Code E/W @ 6/17.00

Three-year-old gelding Exclusive Code gave a good account of himself on the far-side of the track at Royal Ascot in the Britannia Stakes last month, finishing third of his group but six-lengths behind winner Moonfall. It was an eye-catching run at odds of 33/134.00 and he still remains completely unexposed from an unchanged mark of 90 in only his second handicap appearance.

Previously, the son of Blue Point had won a 25-runner maiden at Newbury, previously won by a number of familiar names, most notably Economics in recent renewals. He beat seven subsequent winners that day, having previously featured in novice and maiden events won by Gewan and Isaac Newton, respectively. 

With an intriguing profile, substance to his form, and the scope for any amount of improvement, the Archie Watson-trained contender is of huge interest and could put in a threatening performance in the hands of James Doyle.

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