Stodge

Before we talk matters York, a final look back at last weekend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NITlazX16wI The Marois was run on heavy ground at Deauville but it was a huge win for the 3-y-o with PALACE PIER coming home three quarters of a length in front of my old friend ALPINE STAR thus saving my each way croissant at 6/1. He was always travelling well but she wasn't being the first off the bridle but the two cleared away from some smart performers and I'd rate both very highly. PALACE PIER is certainly the best 3-y-o colt miler but ALPINE STAR has the small issue of LOVE in her generation. The Marois also suggests there's very little between the 3-y-o colts and fillies at this trip though I'd put LOVE well in front of the colts at this time. The older horses were put firmly in their place though CIRCUS MAXIMUS ran his usual genuine race in third in front of the disappointing PERSIAN KING and ROMANISED. I presume next stop for the winner will be the Moulin while the filly could go for the Matron at The Curragh.

MOGUL now 2s or 9/4 with many books over here. JUAN ELCANO has drifted from 12s to 20s but he and PYLEDRIVER are rated at 110 above MOGUL on 109. I fancy PYLEDRIVER but I can see why you like JUAN ELCANO - fifth in the Guineas, third in the Dante and crying out for 2400m on breeding. As long as it's the "dead eight" as we call it over here, 20s or bigger looks a bet to nothing. I think the Juddmonte is a race to enjoy - GHAIYYATH is 11/8 favourite, LORD NORTH and MAGICAL at 7/2 and KAMEKO at 5s. On the numbers that's pretty fair - I fancy MAGICAL but you've got four proven Group 1 performers lining up so it's a quality renewal.

York stages the final day of the Ebor meeting on Saturday and the feature Group 2 is the City of York Stakes over 1400m and someone will have to explain to me why two Group 2 1400m races are being run on consecutive weekends - it's a disappointing bit of scheduling as far as I can see. A number of those who ran in the Hungerford have been entered but ONE MASTER was never considered for Newbury and she stands out on Foret form. The Ebor is down to a £140k first prize but 43 have been entered. Unfortunately, FOX VARDY is number 41 so needs 19 to come out to get a run but if you miss the cut you'll get your stake back. FUJAIRA PRINCE won the Copper House Handicap at Ascot convincingly and among those in his week that day was SHAILENE but I thought the latter ran a blinder at Goodwood three weeks ago and looks worth a look at 16s especially with a bookie paying down to five or six places. In Ireland on Saturday, there are two Group 2 races at The Curragh as the build up starts towards Irish Champions Weekend in three and a half weeks. The Debutante and the Galileo are trials for the Moyglare and the National respectively. The ground at The Curragh is currently Yielding and 15 juvenile fillies have been entered for the Debutante including MOTHER EARTH (see previous). The Galileo has 18 entries with seven from Aidan O'Brien so we'll leave those until Thursday. Deauville continues over the weekend with the Nonette for the staying fillies on Saturday and a stellar card on Sunday featuring two Group 1 races and two Group 2 events. The Group 1 races are the Morny for the juveniles over 1200m - 18 have been entered, 11 colts and 7 fillies and it looks a strong race at this stage featuring the Queen Mary winner CAMPANELLE and the very food colts SUPREMACY and TACTICAL. There's also the Romanet for the fillies over 2000m - 23 have been entered and I'll look more closely at these races later in the week.

York starts tomorrow with the ground Good, Good to Soft in places and more rain forecast. I've already chewed over tomorrow's big races - the final declarations are through for Thursday. Six stand in the Yorkshire Oaks over 2400m and LOVE is 2/5 favourite to follow up her Guineas and Oaks success and it looks a brave move to oppose her. ONE VOICE was a good second to FANCY BLUE in the Nassau and for me has much better form than FRANCONIA from the Gosden yard - indeed, 9/1 for ONE VOICE might be a decent bet were it not for the numbers. FRANKLY DARLING won the Ribblesdale but was no match for LOVE at Epsom while MANUELA DE VEGA is in great form and won the Lancashire Oaks last time, she'll need a lot more rain to have a chance against LOVE. 14 go in the Group 2 Lowther over 1200m for the juvenile fillies and it's fair to say the hierarchy in that division is a long way from revolution. Ante post favourite is Queen Mary runner up SACRED who had looked good on debut but this is an extra 200m. SANTOSHA won the Princess Margaret at Ascot after running a close third in the Duchess of Cambridge. SUSSEX GARDEN represents Jessica Harrington but she was well held at Naas last time behind MOTHER EARTH who was herself behind ALOHA STAR at The Curragh last weekend so that ties through to the best of the Irish juvenile form. UMM KULTHUM and NOORBAN are 1-1 but they won small northern maidens on debut and most years you wouldn't think that anywhere good enough.

Starting the weekend look-back with Saturday's action. At Deauville, the ground was Heavy after a deluge of rain but that didn't stop MISHRIFF following up his Jockey Club success with an even more emphatic win in the Guillaume D'Ornano slamming THE SUMMIT by four and a half lengths with VICTOR LUDORUM, who again looked a non-stayer over 2000m, back in third. MISHRIFF has proved himself very good at the trip and it'll be interesting to see where connections go next - the Irish Champion perhaps although they might be tempted to try 2400m though I'd be doubtful on breeding. On the same card, the 2019 Jockey Club winner SOTTSASS came up a neck short to SKALLETI in the Gontaut Biron and I'm just doubtful if he's quite as good as he was. SKALLETI is a solid Group 2 performer but has never run in a Group 1. At Newbury, the ground had also been softened by rain and DREAM OF DREAMS absolutely hosed up in the Hungerford winning by seven lengths. This was a very impressive performance from a horse who has twice finished second in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot and was second in this back in 2018. He's been a bit inconsistent on occasions but if they've found the secret with him he could be a real threat to SPACE BLUES over 1400m and there's no reason why he couldn't get the 1600m on breeding. At Saratoga, SWISS SKYDIVER booked a Kentucky Oaks match up with GAMINE with a smooth win in the Alabama - connections had thought of taking on the colts in the Derby but TIZ THE LAW's hugely impressive win in the Travers has convinced them to stay with her own gender.

For me, it's the race of the season so far.

Final declarations are through for Day One of the York Ebor Festival. After heavy weekend rain, the ground has eased to Good and with an unsettled forecast through the week could ease further. The Juddmonte International over 2000m is Wednesday's feature but just five go to post with the withdrawal of ASPETAR this afternoon. Two 3-y-o take on three older horses. Starting with the youngsters and while the filly ROSE OF KILDARE won the Musidora, she's well behind these on official figures. KAMEKO has been a frustrating type - he won the Guineas at Newmarket, was fourth in the Derby and an arguably unlucky fourth in the Sussex at Goodwood. With PALACE PIER now looking the top colt miler after yesterday's win at Deauville, KAMEKO has it to prove over 2000m but it's probably his trip. Tactically, Oisin Murphy will have to be a shade more astute than he was at Goodwood. The three older horses are all in the 120s and are all quality - MAGICAL needs no introduction from me and won the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. She's mixed it with ENABLE so taking on the boys shouldn't be a problem. She only gets 3 lbs from the colts so has it to do but she is top class and will go close. LORD NORTH came from the Brigadier Gerard to win the Prince of Wales at Ascot and that was a huge step forward putting him right in this. Finally, we have Coronation Cup and Eclipse winner GHAIYYATH. There was no denying he was superior to ENABLE at Sandown but, as the song goes, that was then and this is now. We know he loves to set the pace and we know he bounces off quick ground. York isn't a bad track for a front runner but these won't give him any rope and I just wonder if any softening of the ground will go against him. It's a race to savour - no question. Put $10 in my hand and I'd be on MAGICAL at 9/2 simply because you know she will run to the line. IF LORD NORTH goes on again from Ascot he will be very hard to beat while I think both GHAIYYATH and KAMEKO are opposable. Eight go in the main supporting race - the Voltigeur - over 2400m for the 3-y-o. It's often a Leger trial and of course CROSS COUNTER was placed in it before going onto Flemington. MOGUL won the Gordon Stakes, the equivalent of this race at Goodwood, beating HIGHLAND CHIEF and SUBJECTIVIST and is now perhaps beginning to fulfil some of the lofty ambitions held for him at Coolmore. He's entitled to be favourite but there are plenty of options - BERKSHIRE ROCCO was second to ENGLISH KING at Lingfield and then second to subsequent Irish Derby winner SANTIAGO at Ascot. We know he goes on slow ground and stays every inch of 2400m. PYLEDRIVER won the King Edward VII at Ascot and was fancied for the Derby but got lost in the confusion that day and ended up eleventh. I suspect he hated the contours of the Downs and the flat Knavesmire will suit so much better. Finally, we have the unbeaten and unexposed DARAIN who has a lot to find on the numbers but who is on the upgrade. I'm hoping for some rain and if it comes I'll back PYLEDRIVER each way at 12s as I think he's the forgotten horse of the race.

The weekend beckons up here and elsewhere but it's not the busiest. Tomorrow, the feature UK race is the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury over 1400m. 10 go to post and with SPACE BLUES the top dog at this distance after his wins in the Lennox and the Maurice de Gheest, this looks a slightly below-par renewal. DREAM OF DREAMS has finished second in the Diamond Jubilee in the past two seasons but last year he never followed up that run and I'm sceptical over the extra 200m. I think he's an Ascot specialist and I'd want to be against him. Both GLORIOUS JOURNEY and THREAT ran down the field in the Lennox but GLORIOUS JOURNEY won this race last year and that's a big plus in my book. The 3-y-o PIERRE LAPIN has flopped on his two runs this year. One of interest is the German raider NAMOS who was eighth in the July Cup but this is more reasonable and he's a tempting e/w bet at 10s but I'm sticking with GLORIOUS JOURNEY. The Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne sees BARNEY ROY take on DAME MAILLOT. as well as the third and fourth in this year's German Derby. The problem is BARNEY ROY has never run 2400m and they didn't think he stayed it as a 3-y-o whereas DAME MAILLOT looked good at Newmarket last month and is readily preferred. At Deauville, the Group 2 Gontaut Biron over 2000m is a re-run of the Jockey Club from last month. Convincing winner MISHRIFF faces THE SUMMIT and Poulains winner VICTOR LUDORUM who filled the places. It's hard to see why the result should be difficult but it's a small field and could be tactical which would suit the speed of VICTOR LUDORUM. On to Sunday and seven go in the Jacques Le Marois, which, like many French Group 1 races, is open to colts and fillies but not geldings. It's a quality renewal and a real clash of the generations. Representing the 3-y-o we have the winners of the championship races at the Royal Ascot meeting - PALACE PIER won the St James's Palace with a convincing performance but ALPINE STAR did me a nice favour in the Coronation Stakes. After that, she was touched off by subsequent Nassau winner FANCY BLUE in the Diane. Over this straight 1600m, I think I prefer the filly who we know gets the thick end of 2000m while I just wonder if the way the race was won suited PALACE PIER at Ascot. They are very strong contenders but we have some top older horses in opposition. CIRCUS MAXIMUS won the Queen Anne over the straight 1600m at Ascot and he ran a blinder in defeat to MOHAATHER in the Sussex. We know he lacks for nothing in courage and a straight 1600m plays to his strengths. ROMANISED won this last year before going under by a nose to CIRCUS MAXIMUS in the Moulin. He was impressive on his return albeit in lesser company over 1400m at The Curragh and he's no outsider in this class. Last but by no mean least, we have PERSIAN KING who won the Poulains and was second in the Jockey Club as a 3-y-o and returned to Group 1 winning form last time when winning the Ispahan though that possibly wasn't the strongest renewal. This is another really good race for the division and the equivalent of the Sussex though the Goodwood and Deauville tracks are very different. With only seven runners, the punting angle isn't easy - I like ALPINE STAR but she is up against the boys and that will be tough. I keep coming back to my old mate CIRCUS MAXIMUS who is proven on a straight 1600m and will outbattle any of these if it comes down to a duel in the final 200m. It's a race to which I am really looking forward. Looking ahead to Thursdsy, eight fillies have been entered for the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks over 2400m. Aidan O'Brien has entered both LOVE and MAGICAL and while I'd love to see him lock horns I don't think it will happen with MAGICAL going for the Juddmonte the previous day. To be honest, LOVE looks a class above these and they are no mugs in opposition.

Connections have appealed the demotion so we'll see. There's a big debate going on about the interference rules up here and whether stewards are being too strict on jockeys. Seamie Heffernan got four days at Gowran Park yesterday and went on Racing TV to complain about the ban saying it was harsh. The Interference "Rules" up here aren't the same as in other racing jurisdictions. Basically there are three questions: 1) Did Interference take place? 2) Did it affect the result? 3) Could the rider have done anything to prevent the interference? Chris Hayes failed on both 2) and 3) - 2) because he only beat THE LIR JET a short head and 3) because even though ALOHA STAR was leaning into THE LIR JET, Hayes made no effort to correct it by putting his whip down or pulling it through. Compare with Ryan Moore on TILSIT at Goodwood. There was undeniable interference but Moore was able to convince the stewards he'd have won anyway and he also persuaded them he could not have foreseen TILSIT swerving so sharply right and while he tried to correct it once it happened he was unable to prevent it happening. He kept the race.

Next Wednesday sees the start of the four-day York August Festival which is for many the end of summer and the first sign of autumn. It's a cracking meeting - not quite the strength in depth of Royal Ascot but for me it's the second best meeting of the year. The first day sees the Juddmonte International over 2000m. 14 have been entered, six from Aidan O'Brien and three from John Gosden whose dual Arc winner ENABLE will miss a clash with LOVE in the Yorkshire Oaks for the September Stakes at Kempton as her prep race for Paris. I'll leave a full preview until next Monday when we have the final runners but it looks a very hot race. The Group 2 Voltigeur over 2400m is traditionally a Leger Trial though CROSS COUNTER ran in it before his exploits at Flemington. Again, 14 entries and again 6 from Ballydoyle. The ground on the Knavesmire is currently Good to Firm but after a hot spell much cooler and more unsettled conditions are taking over.

On then to last Sunday and first stop a sun-drenched Deauville for the Maurice de Gheest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtDDQw9Tc84 SPACE BLUES was given an excellent ride by William Buick in my view. 1300m is a strange trip and while you'd think it would suit the 1200m horses, on a straight track I would want to be on the proven 1400m performer every time. The ground was officially Good but they returned a decent time and of course what happened was the 1200m specialists like GOLDEN HORDE and EARTHLIGHT went hard up front and had no answer to the 1400m specialist SPACE BLUES in the final 50m. It was a real bunch for the minors with second to fifth split by half a length. HELLO YOUMZAIN and GOLDEN HORDE will presumably re-match with July Cup winner OXTED at Haydock early next month and that already looks a race to savour. LOPE Y FERNANDEZ ran another good race in defeat and comes out with a lot of credit. EARTHLIGHT just didn't get home and I'm not sure where the next step is for last year's top juvenile. For SPACE BLUES, I imagine the Foret will be the main target though I'd love him to have a tilt at the Breeders Cup Mile for which I think he would be well suited. Meanwhile at The Curragh, the first Irish Group 1 for the juveniles took place. The Phoenix Stakes used to be run at the old Phoenix Park racecourse on the outskirts of Dublin before the course was lost to housing. This year's renewal looked well up to standard and while there had been plenty of earlier juvenile form advertised, this saw a new star emerge in the form of LUCKY VEGA who erased the memory of his narrow defeat in the Railway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNs2kACHJIE LUCKY VEGA was always going well and quickened nicely to win this by over three lengths. A bit of argy-bargy between ALOHA STAR and THE LIR JET resulted in the places being reversed in the stewards' room. The problem was ALOHA STAR's jockey, Chris Hayes, had his whip in the incorrect hand so was deemed not to have done enough to prevent interference. Make of that what you will. I thought LAWS OF INDICES , who had sprung a huge shock when beating LUCKY VEGA in the Railway, ran an eye-catching fourth and is crying out for an extra 200m. ST MARK'S BASILICA was well held in fifth but I wouldn't write him off yet but VENTURA TORMENTA was very disappointing and came home last. Looking ahead to the coming weekend, again, not much happening in the UK with a Group 2 the feature at Newbury on Saturday. At Deauville, it's another busy weekend with the Group 2 Guillaume D'Ornano on Saturday and the Group 1 Jacques le Marois over 1600m on Sunday. We'll get some idea of the field for the Marois as the week goes on but St James's palace winner PALACE PIER is due to run as is ROMANISED.

First part of the weekend review covers the Saturday action. At Deauville, the local PORT GUILLAUME was a convincing winner of the Hocquart and looks a key player for the Grand Prix de Paris. He was fifth in the Jockey Club and the step up in trip was just what he wanted. The British raider VOLKAN STAR was disappointing. We may be still trying to establish the pecking order among the 3-y-o in Europe but in North America, there are no such problems. TIS THE LAW was a majestic winner of the Travers and you'll go a long way to see an easier winner of a top event. He won by five and a half lengths on the bridle and I can't see one to stop him in the rescheduled Preakness or Kentucky Derby and perhaps from there to the Breeders Cup Classic before the big winter prizes in the Middle East. As for the fillies, there's a new superstar in the shape of GAMINE who obliterated the field in the Test winning by seven lengths in a jaw-dropping 1:20.84 for the 1400m. She won the Acorn by 19 lengths on her previous outing so she is a real machine and I hope we'll see plenty of her in the autumn.

Final fields are through for Sunday's big races in Ireland and France. 10 go for the Phoenix Stakes over 1200m at The Curragh. STEEL BULL won the Molecomb at Goodwood over 1000m while VENTURA TORMENTA and THE LIR JET were first and second in the Papin over 1200m and that form looks more solid. ST MARK'S BASILICA is by Siyouni out of a Galileo mare and was sent off 6/4 favourite on debut but finished second over this course and distance nearly a fortnight ago. I think VENTURA TORMENTA is the one to follow up the Papin success. No changes for the Maurice de Gheest after today's final forfeit.

With the proposed crowd "trial" aborted at the last moment, it was a subdued afternoon for the final day of the Goodwood meeting. The ground remained Good to Firm and the weather remained fantastic. On quite a low-key final day (in terms of quality), the Group 2 Lillie Langtry was a disappointing affair with just three fillies going to post for the 2800m race. ENBIHAAR was expected to win and she did so without too much fuss. The seasonal debut on unsuitably slow ground at Newmarket had clearly blown away the cobwebs and she did this very nicely. Future plans seem to vary between the Park Hill at Doncaster and a possible tilt at the Irish Leger. At Deauville on Saturday, the top horse in my note book, ARRIVISTE, was pitched into a Group 3 from a Class 4 handicap and not surprisingly found it a bit much. She finished fourth, five lengths behind RAABIHAH who had herself finished a close fourth, beaten less than a length, in the Diane behind Nassau winner FANCY BLUE, Coronation winner ALPINE STAR and Irish 1000 Guineas winner PEACEFUL so that looks solid. Off to Saratoga and MIDNIGHT BISOU was unexpectedly turned over in the Personal Ensign. She raced a little lazily and never looked like getting past VERACIOUS who battled gamely. In the Whitney, favourite TOM'S D'ETAT completely blew the start which is so important in the American races. He did well to finish third but this handed the race to IMPROBABLE who came home without too much problem. It will be interesting to see if there is a rematch in the Breeders Cup Classic. Sunday at Deauville saw the Group 1 Rothschild and while WATCH ME won it, she made heavy weather of it. Both the placed horses, HALF LIGHT and in particular the Irish 3-y-o filly KNOW IT ALL, ran above their previous efforts and I just have the sense this wasn't a strong renewal.

Just a few bits and pieces from up here this evening where it is again going to be very hot in the south but poor Hamilton in Scotland have lost tomorrow's meeting due to heavy rain. As I've said, not much happening in the UK this weekend but busier elsewhere. Just six go in Saturday's Hocquart at Deauville - over 2500m, it's usually run much earlier in the season at Longchamp but now it looks like a trial for the Grand Prix de Paris in September. Raiders from Italy and England take on the locals. TUSCAN GAZE won the Italian Derby while Charlie Appleby brings over VOLKAN STAR, a horse I like a lot. He was well beaten by future French Derby winner MISHRIFF on seasonal debut but then beat subsequent Dante winner THUNDEROUS at Newmarket before coming to Longchamp and winning a Group 3 beating KETIL who re-opposes. PAO ALTO was sixth in the Jockey Club and I don't quite see why he should be closer on this occasion. Eight run in the Travers at Saratoga on Saturday evening (UK). The Travers is normally the midsummer championship race run after the Triple Crown and often puts those who won or ran well in the three Triple Crown races against the later-developing but fast improving types. This year, of course, we've only had one leg of the Triple Crown so perhaps this is really the second leg of a Quadruple Crown. TIS THE LAW was a convincing winner of the Belmont and it's hard to see why he shouldn't follow up. UNCLE CHUCK sauntered away with the Los Alamitos Derby last time and while that's respectable I can't see him bothering TIS THE LAW. 12 have been entered for Sunday's Maurice de Gheest over 1300m at Deauville. This looks a decent renewal with the top French juvenile of last year, EARTHLIGHT, heading the market. He re-opposes with GOLDEN HORDE having beaten the Clive Cox-trained runner a neck in last year's Middle Park. GOLDEN HORDE won the Commonwealth Cup before finishing third in the July Cup. EARTHLIGHT swerved the classics but looked perfectly good on his re-appearance winning a Listed race. It's not just a two-horse race by any means. SPACE BLUES won the Lennox at Goodwood last week and while this is 100m shorter, it shouldn't be an issue and he has obvious claims though he's never won in Group 1 company. WICHITA and LOPE Y FERNANDEZ represent Aidan O'Brien and both have been placed in classics so both command respect. I though WICHITA slightly disappointing in the Sussex last week while LOPE Y FERNANDEZ was well behind GOLDEN HORDE at Ascot but was a close second to PINATUBO in the Jean Prat and that puts him right in this. Up to now, with the exception of the staying fillies, the older horses have dominated but time is on the side of the 3-y-o but they only get 4 lbs from the likes of SPACE BLUES who is at the top of his form. He's 11/2 and I might have a play at those odds.

I disagree. You do form analysis but you don't apply the same weighting other analysts do to some aspects of the form which is fair enough. That analysis is also biased toward the betting aspects just as others who draw up their own tissue or odds and compare that with what the bookies are offering. If you considered JUNKANOO a 10/1 shot, he would look a steal at 50/1 though that is more reflective of the weight of money rather than the horse's actual chance as you say. Odds compilers don't normally get it so wrong but when they do (in this instance) the bookies are happy as those who follow the market would have ignored the horse.

I'm not sure where that betting show comes from but I couldn't fancy JUNKANOO at all. He had run fourth to GLENTIES over 2350m at Windsor the time before and that horse had run last the day before over 2400m. He couldn't win a Class 4 and they pitched him into a warm Class 2 handicap. I think he had the run of the race and one or two others didn't but he wasn't the most obvious pick in that heat.

The big news over here has been the media deal which will keep racing on free-to-air for the next three years. ITV Racing, which has been widely praised for its output, will continue providing regular Saturday and midweek slots until 2023. I'm not always convinced by the coverage which tends to shy away from anything too negative or controversial (which is a shame because the specialist channels are completely in the pocket of the racing establishment). The problem is if you criticise the jockeys they will refuse to talk to you and that's seen as a big part of the coverage. The almost unpronounceable AMHRANN NA BHAFAINN, who finished third behind his stable companion SERPENTINE in the English Derby, has been ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery on a leg fracture discovered after he was unexpectedly beaten at 8/15 in a maiden at Naas on Monday evening. It would have been Shergar Cup day at Ascot this coming weekend but even with that pointless exercise not taking place, it's still, a very quiet weekend up here. In Ireland, it's the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for the juveniles over 1200m on Sunday and 15 have been entered. The Molecomb winner STEEL BULL has been entered as have VENTURA TORMENTA and THE LIR JET, who were first and second in the Papin three weeks ago. Aidan O'Brien has entered six so we'll see how the race shapes up later in the week. In France, the Deauville meeting continues this weekend - Saturday sees the rescheduled Hocquart for the 3-y-o over 2500m while Sunday sees the Maurice de Gheest over 1300m. 27 have been entered with first forfeit tomorrow (UK). SPACE BLUES is a confirmed runner but this is often a very classy race.

Day 4 of the Goodwood Festival took place on a scorching hot day in southern England (the third hottest on record at Heathrow) and, despite overnight watering, the ground had quickened despite still being called Good to Firm. The feature was the Group 2 King George Stakes over 1000m and BATTAASH duly collected his fourth renewal of the race and in the process smashed his own track record lowering it from 56.20 to 55.62 which was mightily impressive. To be fair, BATTAASH had every right to win this and Crowley had to give him a couple of taps as GLASS SLIPPERS closed with menace 250m down but those who had taken the 2/7 odds never had a moment's worry. Next stop is the Nunthorpe followed by the Abbaye. Trainer Charlie Hills isn't keen on the Breeders Cup Sprint which would be 1200m round a bend. To be honest, with only 22 races under his belt and he's a gelding so BATTAASH could easily do a couple of seasons yet at the top. A strong supporting card of Group 3 races worth a quick mention - ONE MASTER won the Foret last year and won the Oak Tree despite hating the ground and some traffic trouble. She's a class act and if it comes up soft on Arc day, she'll take a lot of beating. The Bonhams Stakes was a really rough race - TILSIT prevailed but it looked horrendous as he cannoned into MY OBERON on the rail. In many other jurisdictions, TILSIT would have lost the race and Ryan Moore would have banned for weeks but in the UK it's a more lenient environment - TILSIT kept the race and Moore got five days for careless riding. If you can find the race, have a look. The Glorious Stakes over 2400m looked a trappy contest for the older horses and to be honest it was simply PABLO ESCOBARR's turn to continue a fantastic run for trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand. DESERT ENCOUNTER finished second and I'm sure they will be looking to another tilt at the Canadian International.

He only has a handful of runners so far and to be honest they aren't much. He's had one winner, PETIT BAY, who won at Leicester at the end of June off a mark of 47 and she couldn't quite defy a 9lb hike next time but still ran well in defeat.

Slowly catching up with last week's action and I've now seen the third day at Goodwood by which time the hot sunshine had dried the ground to Good to Firm. The feature Nassau Stakes over 2000m for the fillies and mares saw, in contrast to both the Goodwood Cup and the Sussex on the previous two days, the 3-y-o decisively defeat the older fillies. I'm not sure what Frankie Dettori thought he was doing on MAGIC WAND who usually comes from off the pace but FANCY BLUE was always in the perfect position and let's not forget she was second in the Irish 1000 Guineas and won the Diane beating ALPINE STAR who had won the Coronation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hERSvYzZRyE ONE VOICE ran a huge race in second and was closing the winner down at the line. She had come out of a rough Group 2 at The Curragh so the question is whether she improved a lot or the winner didn't quite run to her Diane form. I thought the unlucky horse was NAZEEF who got into every dark corner going but finished well for third and you certainly couldn't say she didn't see out the trip. I'd love to see her in a race like the Juddmonte or the Irish Champion. The Group 2 Richmond Stakes saw a convincing win for SUPREMACY who came home four lengths clear of YAZAMAN. The winner had won a Windsor maiden but his trainer Clive Cox is developing a real reputation as a fine handler of sprinting juveniles and 3-y-o and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see this year's winner emulate the 2019 winner, GOLDEN HORDE, from the same stable who went on to win the Commonwealth Cup. The Gordon Stakes is a Group 3 these days but it was the first real test of the Epsom Derby form. However, ENGLISH KING ran badly and it was MOGUL who restored part of his tarnished reputation by beating HIGHLAND CHIEF. With Epsom second KHALIFA SAT held in fifth, the questions over the quality and value of SERPENTINE's win at Epsom remain. I backed AL SALT each way in the 2000m handicap for the 3-y-o on the basis of his good win last time but you could have knocked me down with several feathers when 50/1 blowout JUNKANOO won. Okay, mine crawled into third and I got back a few pennies but it was another odd race as you get on the Sussex Downs.

Day 2 at Goodwood took place in sunny conditions and on perfect ground. The feature was the Sussex and if you've not seen it I'd take a look as there's a huge amount of controversy and comment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0z8TCjbxc MOHAATHER won and in the end did it well and you'd have to upgrade the performance given the trouble he got into as VATICAN CITY weakened rapidly. Crowley was forced to switch wide and the horse's speed got him home and out of trouble (this seems to happen a lot at Goodwood). I don't know if they will go for the Marois (probably too soon) so that means the Moulin and then back for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. I backed CIRCUS MAXIMUS each way at 6s so made a few pennies. I thought Ryan Moore rode a superb race but had he broken better and not hard to do so much up the hill to take the lead, he might have had more left in the final 100m. SISKIN got there and discovered how hard it is to pass CIRCUS MAXIMUS - I wondered if he really got a true 1600m and I did just think in the final 50m he wasn't going forward but it was a fine effort. KAMEKO was unfortunate - Oisin Murphy came on and admitted it was jockey error but the problem at Goodwood is if you follow the leader you need a gap out and that doesn't always come on a downhill easy track. Again, the start didn't help - I suspect Oisin would have preferred a slower break to get a position but he was leading after 100m. A rematch with MOHAATHER at Longchamp or Ascot looks very likely and while the two runs since Newmarket haven't worked out for the 2000 Guineas winner, it's far too early to dismiss him. The 3-y-o were beaten by the older horses but there wasn't much in it and with another month or two it might be different and indeed a horse like PALACE PIER would have been a fascinating contender and we'll see if the Marois provides further enlightenment.

I'll comment more on the racing at Goodwood as I catch up with it (I have to work for a living unfortunately). A big blow for the track today with the announcement from Boris Johnson the planned 5,000 crowd for tomorrow's meeting would no longer be supported. Let's be clear - the 5,000 intended were NOT going to be normal paying members of the public but Goodwood Annual Members who, during the 5-day Glorious meeting, have exclusive use of the Richmond Enclosure. In a sense, they have already "paid" through their annual membership fee of £564 in year one and £384 for renewal. Tomorrow was for Members and their guest but Goodwood MD Adam Waterworth is complaining about the late nature of the cancellation (yes, well) but the course is looking at a six-figure loss based on preparing the enclosures and the picnic hampers ordered by the members. It will now be August 15th at the earliest before crowds can be re-admitted so I think it's looking unlikely there will be spectators at the York Ebor meeting. Racing goes on however and tomorrow is Stewards Cup day at Goodwood. A really hot day (36c in London this afternoon) has dried the ground to Good to Firm but storms are forecast and from personal experience I know Goodwood is prone to some violent thunderstorms. The Group 2 Lillie Langtry over 2800m has just four runners. MANUELA DE VEGA has done all her best running on a soft surface and was second in this on fast ground last year thrashed five lengths by ENBIHAAR who loves to hear her feet rattle. She didn't appreciate the soft ground on her seasonal bow and I expect a much better effort tomorrow. Two traditional American Grade 1 races tomorrow evening at Saratoga - MIDNIGHT BISOU is probably the best filly or mare in North America and she bids to follow up last year's romp in the Personal Ensign. She was a close second to MAXIMUM SECURITY in the Saudi Cup back in January and trotted up in a Grade 2 last time. She should be much too good for these. The Whitney is the equivalent for the older colts and while it's a small field it's a quality field. Though he's now a 7-y-o, TOM'S D'ETAT is in the form of his life and has won his last four including the Oaklawn Mile (beating IMPROBABLE )and a Grade 2 last time when he easily saw off BY MY STANDARDS. IMPROBABLE looked very good winning the Hollywood Gold Cup last time and I think he might be the one. The Deauville August Meeting kicks off tomorrow and the ground in Normandy is just on the slow side. Six stand for Sunday's Rothschild. WATCH ME won the Coronation at Ascot last year and finished fourth in the Marois and third in the Opera so that's solid form at Group 1 level. She returned with a pleasing win in Listed company and will be hard to beat. The Irish filly KNOW IT ALL has won two in Group 3 company so this will be a big step while Godolphin run two, the pick of which looks to be the Charlie Appleby-trained SUMMER ROMANCE. Like KNOW IT ALL, she is a 3-y-o and gets weight from the favourite but she was beaten a long way in the 1000 Guineas.

The first day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting took place on a fine but breezy afternoon with the ground good. The feature Goodwood Cup over 3200m was a tactical affair and to be honest STRADIVARIUS won in spite of the way the race was run. It probably wasn't Dettori's finest hour in the saddle but the horse got him out of an unpromising position 300m down. NAYEF ROAD ran a fine race in defeat - his jockey controlled it from the start, kept it slow and tried to draw the speed out of STRADIVARIUS and SANTIAGO. It didn't work but it was the only sensible tactic and you can't fault them for not thinking the race through. SANTIAGO looked to be going well 400m out but didn't for me get home against the older more experienced types. He's still a stayer in the making and this time next year the story may be very different. The winner presumably heads to York for the Lonsdale before a final run in the Arc and while you'd think he's unlikely to win in Paris he could well run a place - on a line through GHAIYYATH he's not that far behind ENABLE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK03FwXYTaU On the undercard, BATTLEGROUND followed up his Chesham win with a strong performance in the Vintage defeating DEVIOUS COMPANY and you'd have to say on that evidence BATTLEGROUND and MASTER OF THE SEAS come out as the top two Guineas prospects for next year at this time. BATTLEGROUND is the first foal of Found out of War Front and it doesn't come much better than that. The Lennox saw SPACE BLUES establish himself as the leading 1400m horse in Europe with a commanding performance in a race which often produces a bunch finish. I suppose the Maurice de Gheest over 1300m in which he was third last year as a 3-y-o, is an option as is the Foret, the only Group 1 for older horses in Europe over 1400m. DUKE OF HAZZARD ran a fine race on a course where he often performs but was readily held by the winner.

On to Thursday and seven have been declared for the Nassau. FANCY BLUE brings some big 3-y-o form to the table having won a bunch finish for the Diane last time but I just have a niggle about the quality of that form. NAZEEF won the Falmouth and this filly has advanced through the grades and she'll do for me if she handles the undulations. The trip is an unknown but she has coped with straight 1600m well enough so this easy turning 2000m should be within her compass. DEIRDRE won this last year and a repeat can't be ruled out The one I like is MAGIC WAND who won the Lanwades convincingly and was then fourth in the Eclipse which was mixing it with the very best. Back among her own gender and with Frankie Dettori up, she has a real chance at 6s. The Group 2 Richmond over 1200m has seven runners and YAZAMAN has twice chased home TACTICAL who is probably the top juvenile at present. It doesn't look a strong renewal. Finally, just a note Derby favourite ENGLISH KING re-appears in the Gordon Stakes over 2400m en route to the Leger. He was fifth at Epsom but he has to face runner-up KHALIFA SAT and sixth placed MOGUL so this isn't an easy challenge at all.