Glorious Goodwood Preview

Few meetings in the calendar bring a smile to the face as much as the five days of outstanding racing that take place every year at the end of July on the Sussex Downs. Goodwood is indeed glorious for those few days and with Panama hat on head and a glass of champagne in hand all that we need to make the picnic taste that much better is a few winners.

The feature of the week is the Group 1 Sussex Stakes which takes place on Wednesday over a mile. Last season’s winner Rip Van Winkle and this season’s best 3yo miler Canford Cliffs look set to fight this one out and although the O’Brien star looked awesome in beating Paco Boy twelve months ago he may find Hannon’s colt just too good.

Aidan O'Brien's 4yo relished Goodwood’s undulations and produced possibly a career best in landing the prize but needs to overcome a very moderate effort in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne to post a repeat. It would thought be dangerous to underestimate O'Brien and he will almost certainly have his stable star back to his best, or very near, come the day.

And be at his best is what he will need to be to beat Canford Cliffs who has already won the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting. Richard Hughes who has excelled on the Hannon trained 3yo, told everyone last year following the colt’s facile success in the Coventry Stakes, that he was a machine and possibly the best he had ridden.

Whilst the form book may indicate that Canford Cliffs has a little to find with the Irish raider both the track and the ground will suit the younger colt and even though he looks sure to go to post a warm order it could be folly to oppose him on his first run against the older generation.

Hannon is expected to provide a bumper book of rides for Hughes during the meeting and he could have a couple of winners on the board by the Sussex Stakes. On the opening day Zebedee should be hard to beat in the Molecomb Stakes, a race they won last season with Monsieur Chevalier, and if he can reverse Norfolk Stakes form with John Best’s Stone Of Folca, who finished a place in front of the colt in fourth, they can take the prize again.

Tuesday's card also features the Gordon Stakes, a traditional St Leger trial and won last year by King George hero Harbinger. This year's contest may not result in such a prolific winner but Jeremy Noseda’s Rebel Soldier catches the eye. The step up in trip to 10f worked at York last time out and he should relish another two furlongs here.