Glorious Goodwood: first day

this is one of the best weeks in British and Irish racing featuring the high-class and popular meetings at Glorious Goodwood, near the English south coast, and Galway, close to the Irish west coast. Goodwood starts today with an excellent card, including 3 group races. The Gordon Stakes for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles at 15.45 CET is regarded as an important St. Leger trial and Sir Michael Stoute´s lightly-raced Harbinger (Ryan Moore) is the ölikely favourite, even though he has a lot to find on ratings. Strictly on form this should go to Masterofthehorse (Debbie Mountain/ Philip Robinson), third in the Derby and fourth in the Irish Derby for Aidan O´Brien, following which he was sold to his present connections. Mark Johmnston is always to be feared at this meeting, and his Urban Poet (Greg Fairley) is an interstiung runner.moving up sharply in class after winning his maiden hard held by 9 lengths. The Betfair Cup over 7 furlongs at 16.25 features the placed horses from the July C up, Main Aim (Stoute/ Moore) who was hampered at Newmarket but still finished second, and JJ the Jet Plane (Mike de Kock/ Kevin Shea), who ran on well for third.Th extra furlong here should bother neither of them, indeed should be to their advantage. The two to beat are the two 3yo´s in the field, both owned by Hamdan al Maktoum. While stable jockey Richard Hills partners his father´s Oukba, winner at Royal Adcot last time, the other runner Marcus Tregoning´s Finjaan (Tadgh O´Shea) is our each-way selection here. Tregoning had to close his stable for 6 weeks because of a virus, but at the weekend there were clear signs that he is coming back to form and he saddled on Sunday at Ascot his first winner for 91 days. Finjaan has not run since finishing 9th in the 2000 Guineas but on his best 2yo form should go close here. Finally the Molecomb Stakes for 2yo´s over 5 furlongs at 17.00 features some of the speediest juveniles around. There are 11 runners, all of them previous winne rs, but the one to beat is clearly Monsieur Chevalier (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes). He has won 5 of his 6 starts and was unlucky on the other occasion (when badly hampered at Royal Ascot). He was especially impressive when winning the Super Sprint at Newbury last time, and although this track is possibly not ideal for his come from behind style, he should still score again now.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Royal Destination - William Blake - Alfathaa
2. Race: Harbinger - Masterofthehorse - Firebet
3. Race: Main Aim - J J The Jet Plane - Ouqba
4. Race: Monsieur Chevalier - Iver Bridge Lad - Archers Road
5. Race: Cool Strike - Manyriverstocross - Waldvogel
6. Race: Mister Dee Bee - The Which Doctor - Wellington Square
7. Race: Red Badge - George Benjamin - Lowdown