Nahrain set to bounce back in Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood

The four-year-old progressed into a top-class filly last season, winning the Group One Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp in October, before finishing a close second in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in November.

Trainer Roger Varian is hoping she can bounce back to her best after a disappointing seasonal reappearance in the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20, when she finished ninth.

Varian, based at Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket, said: “Nahrain is a likely runner in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes. She is in great form at home - I am very pleased with her - and we are looking forward to running at Goodwood.

“We were disappointed with her at Royal Ascot, but ultimately it was her first run for a long time. We got no cover and she just ran a little bit fresh and that told in the last furlong.

“We were disappointed with the run at the time, but we are seeing all the right signs at home now and hopefully she can go and put in a better performance at Goodwood.

“I think the step back up in trip at Goodwood will be in her favour. It’s the trip she won over in France and has achieved her highest level of form, so it should suit her.

“She is quite versatile in regards to ground as she has won on good to soft and good to firm. Ideally, we wouldn’t want too firm but I don’t think it will be.

“We hope she can progress into an even better filly this year. It would be nice to think we could have a programme consisting of the Prix de l’Opera and the Breeders’ Cup again, but she will have to run better than she did at Ascot.”

The Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes regularly attracts a top-quality field and the 24 entries for this year’s race include five-time Group One scorer Snow Fairy, recent Group One Pretty Polly Stakes winner Izzi Top and Investec Oaks heroine Was.