After a brief thundery hiatus, the summer’s exceptional heatwave seems likely to resume and for racing the timing could not be better.
Goodwood feels anything but glorious when the weather is poor and an abiding memory of last year’s big meeting is the Sussex Stakes, which was won in a downpour by a mud-loving outsider. This year, though, promises a Glorious Goodwood as it should be: sunshine, summer ground and fiercely competitive racing at one of the most spectacular venues any sport can offer.
All that it will be missing, on the first two days at least, will be Frankie Dettori, who will return from suspension on Thursday after two of the week’s three Group One events are already in the form book.
Dettori would have been aboard the favourite in the Goodwood Cup on Tuesday, when Stradivarius (3.35) should prevail for the second year running, and the Sussex Stakes the following afternoon, as Without Parole, the St James’s Palace Stakes winner, goes up against Expert Eye, a hugely impressive winner of the Vintage Stakes at this meeting last year.
Expert Eye was 10th in the 2,000 Guineas in May but returned to winning form over seven furlongs in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. His proven form at Goodwood is a positive, but his failure on his only previous start at a mile is a concern and on balance, Without Parole (3.35) looks like the better bet. John Gosden’s colt remains unbeaten after four starts, his Ascot form is backed up by the clock and there is every chance that he will continue to improve.
Dettori will return to partner Veracious in Thursday’s Group One Nassau Stakes and she will go to post as one of the favourites despite needing to prove her stamina for 10 furlongs on her first start in all-aged company. She ran well behind Alpha Centauri on her belated seasonal debut at Royal Ascot but at the likely odds, Urban Fox (3.35) is a solid bet at around 3-1 to back up her recent improvement to win the Pretty Polly Stakes.
The draw will, as always, prove important in the big-field handicaps but Thomas Cranmer (1.50) remains in top form and will have a big chance in Tuesday’s opener if he gets a single-figure stall.
In the Stewards’ Cup, Dreamfield is a worthy favourite and Savalas, still lightly raced and improving fast, one to think about at an each-way price.
