HERE we go!
Five days of Glorious Goodwood kicks off today on ITV and it looks likely to be an awesome week with the prospect of a fabulous Sussex Stakes taking centre stage as 2000 Guineas hero Kameko goes head to head with Siskin, Mohaather and Circus Maximus.
Tuesday is all about stamina, with the Gold Cup hero Stradivarius going head to head with Santiago, the Queen’s Vase and Irish Derby victor.
They do battle in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, which holds Group 1 status and is run over two miles.
Quite simply, I expect Stradivarius to beat his younger rival, even though Santiago will get over a stone in weight from the four-time Royal Ascot victor.
Stradivarius is a unique stayer in that he has speed to burn off a gallop, and he should get a pace to run at here under Frankie Dettori for John Gosden.
There are five races televised on ITV, so let’s have a quick look at the others. The coverage starts at 1.45pm with a handicap over 1m2f. A wide open and competitive heat.
FIFTH POSITION has quite a weight to carry off a mark of 104 but he ran well at York last time with that rating and from stall 10 has a decent enough draw to work from. He should at the very least give us a good run for our money for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni.
Next we are in Group 2 company with the Vintage Stakes over 7f. There’s no doubt BATTLEGROUND looked a monster at Royal Ascot.
He’s a big War Front colt and stayed well to land the Chesham Stakes by nearly three lengths.
With normal improvement he should take some stopping for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Group 2 class again after the juveniles, but for older horses with the Lennox Stakes over 7f. This is quite tricky.
SIR DANCEALOT has not done much the last twice, but he is the defending champion and absolutely loves this course and distance.
Stall 3 is a good one to attack from and with Gerald Mosse riding there is every chance the David Elsworth-trained gelding can run well. Have a few quid on each-way.
And finally on ITV at Goodwood a handicap over 5f. Good luck here!
RECON MISSION is the winner of a big handicap at York off his mark here of 97 and ran well with that rating last time.
Everything is set for another big effort for Tony Carroll and Tom Marquand. I just wish the horse had run at Goodwood before.
