Five-days of top class racing from Goodwood begins with an ultra -competitive 18-runner handicap over 10 furlongs. Mark Johnston has saddled the winner twice in the last three years but I am hopeful of a big run from Jeremy Noseda's Yeager (2.00) who finished runner up to Firefighting in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar last time.
The selection has been off the track for two months and is 9lbs better off with facile winner Firefighting who continues to run well but has a wide draw to overcome. Johnston saddles three and stable jockey Joe Fanning rides Zand who makes his British debut and is a fascinating contender.
In the Vintage Stakes Air Vice Marshal (2.35) is 3lbs better off with Birchwood on Newmarket running earlier in the month and that might be enough to reverse the form. The selection travelled well but failed to pick up on the July course and I expect him to be at home around the Sussex Downs.
There is a cracking renewal of the Lennox Stakes and the classic generation have won five of the last eight renewals and I think Dutch Connection (3.10) runner up in the Prix Jean Prat last time, can maintain their excellent recent record in the race.
The colt broke his maiden over C&D so the track holds no terrors for the Charlie Hills trained colt who landed the Jersey Stakes over today's 7f trip on his penultimate start. Fellow 3-year-old Limato, stepping up to 7f for the first time, and the older Toormore, dropping back from a mile, are big dangers in a vintage renewal but Dutch Connection gets the vote in a cracking renewal.
In the stayers' handicap Battersea (3.40) may have found the combination of ground (too soft) and trip (too short) at Haydock on his belated reappearance but that will have blown the cobwebs away and he hinted last year that he could make up into a more than useful performer this term.
Perfect Muse (4.20) bolted before the start and, in the circumstances, ran a cracker at Ascot last time and she might be slipping down to a decent mark. She is only 3lbs better off with top-weight Double Up, taking jockey's allowances into consideration, but Paul Hanagan takes over from a claimer this afternoon and he is likely to be a big price.
Double Up has won three of his last four and connections believe they have a Group horse on their hands, but the handicapper has had his say and it will take another career best from this progressive 4-y-old if he defies 9st 7lbs.
In the finale Strong Steps (5.30) ran a terrific race from a poor draw at Kempton last time and, although 6lbs higher, is open to considerable improvement and has a cracking draw in stall six. Trainer Hugo Palmer has saddled the winner of this event for the last couple of years and looks to have laid out his charge for the hat-trick.
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