Hollie Doyle: Night Raider has the speed for King George test | Racing News

Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador Hollie Doyle previews the best of the action on Day Four of the Goodwood Festival with the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes headlining the action.

Fast five the key to King George favourite

Five furlongs down the hill is tailor-made for Karl Burke’s lightning-fast Night Raider who can bounce back from his defeat at Royal Ascot in Friday’s feature at The Goodwood Festival, the King George Qatar Stakes (3.35).

Ascot was just too stiff a test for him, but the Temple Stakes winner can show his class from a decent attacking draw in stall 13, despite having to concede a three-pound penalty for that Group Two blitz at Haydock.

Aspect Island, who was a close second in Listed company at York recently, looks a Group race winner in the making and can give another good account of himself for James Owen and Billy Loughnane. Third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last autumn, he is another who should enjoy this pure speed test.

New York can become a headline act

Talk Of New York can produce a headline performance for William Buick in the Group Three HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes (2.25) on Friday.

Godolphin’s son of Wootton Bassett caught my eye in the Heron Stakes at Sandown before running a big figure in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Meeting, despite refusing to settle. Indeed, he was less than two lengths behind Wednesday’s brilliant Sussex Stakes winner Bow Echo.

Saber Strike has 9lbs to find with Charlie Appleby’s colt on these terms but has always been well-regarded by William Haggas and the team. His third in the Group Three Criterion at York reads well and the combination of first-time blinkers and this idiosyncratic track should keep him interested.

Golden chance for Spencer in feature Handicap

The Coral Golden Mile (3.00) on Friday promises to be quite a spectacle with 20 runners thundering down the hill, including David Menuisier’s Tribal Chief.

Everything points to a big run from the five-year-old with Jamie Spencer doing the steering. Jamie is a master on hold-up horses like him. He caught my eye in defeat in big handicaps at Ascot and Sandown and looks ready to enjoy his day in the sun at a track at which he has already won.

I am also hoping my husband Tom (Marquand’s) mount Scoville can build on an encouraging run in the Royal Hunt Cup – his first following a wind operation. He was up there to be shot at at Ascot but may have to be ridden differently from his wide draw this time.

Believe in King stayer in Friday marathon

I am a big fan of Alan King’s stayer Believitanducan who can extend his winning sequence to four this year in the marathon Coral Goodwood Handicap (1.50) on Friday.

The improving five-year-old can make light work of a five-pound rise for his win in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle last month. He stays all day so won’t mind the extra half mile and is another plum ride for William Buick.

Valiancy blotted his copybook in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot behind Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay but looked hugely progressive before that and shouldn’t be written off too soon. He is a worthy favourite but must give Believitanducan all of 10lbs.

At a bigger price, keep an eye on Irish raider Alphonse Le Grande who wasn’t far behind my selection at Gosforth Park and races off the same mark he won off in that controversial Cesarewitch two years ago. I won the Vase on him at Newcastle in 2024 and know what a tough, thorough stayer he is on his day.

Step up in trip ideal for Hannon sprinter

Jaijai looks well drawn and well weighted in the six-furlong Hawes and Curtis Nursery Handicap (4.45) on Friday. Richard Hannon’s course winner probably found five-furlongs at Windsor too easy a test last time but can prove a tougher proposition back up in trip.

Innichen is a typically tough Jack Channon handicapper who is another to keep an eye on. He is up eight-pounds in a hotter race than the one he won at Nottingham, but Tom (Marquand) knows him well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him continue that upward curve despite a questionable draw.

I’ll be back on Saturday with my thoughts on the final day of a memorable Qatar Goodwood Festival, including the Stewards’ Cup.