Glorious Goodwood: day three

Glorious Goodwood goes into its third day when the Goodwood Cup over 2 miles at 16.15 CET is the main feature. This is almost a re-run of the Ascot Gold Cup, which is however run over half a mile further and was won this year by Godolphin´s Colour Vision (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), with Saddler´s Rock (John Oxx/ Johnny Murtagh) a close third, Askar Tau (Marcus Tregoning/ George Baker) fifth and Nehaam (John Gosden/ Paul Hanagan) sixth. As Colour Vision now carries a 4 lbs penalty, that result is not certain to be confirmed and we expect Saddlers Rock to win this time and also hope to see Askat Tau (out of a German mare) to be placed. Simenon (Willie Mullins/ Ryan Moore - expected to be riding again today after his heavy fall yesterday) won twice at the Royal meeting, but in much lower grade, while Aaim to Prosper (Brian Meehan/ Neil Callan) finished in front of Askar Tau last time on soft ground, which Askar Tau dislikes, and is not sure to do so now. Lost in the Mom ent (bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) looks very much Godolphin´s second string here. Obviously Colour Vision, much improved this season, is the one to beat despite the extra weight, but our fancy is Saddlers Rock.

The Richmond Stakes for 2yo´s at 15.45 is also a Group Two, although the field does not seem as strong as usual. The two runners in the colours of Qatar Racing, Ahern (David Barron/ Jamie Spencer). third in the July Stakes last time, and Cay Verde (Mick Channon/ Martin Harley) are the highest rated here, although Master of War (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), from the stable that had won this race for the past four seasons, is an obvious danger. Ahern carries the first colours and as he finished just in front of Cay Verde at Royal Ascot, he is also the logical choice, although the Channon juveniles are running so well that Cay Verde must also come into the reckoning.

The Group Three Lillie Langtry Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 3/4 miles at 16.45 is very interesting from the German point of view. The likely favourite Estimate (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore), who won the Queen´s Vase at Royal Ascot is a daughter of Monsun, as is Bolivia (Lucy Wadham/ Jim Crowley), although the ex-Peter Schiergen mare does not look up to this standard. Gestrür Röttgen´s Wild Coco (Sir Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) and Good Morning Star (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) are both by Shirocco, while Cecil´s second string Amaraja (Eddie Ahern) is also German-bred. We hope Estimate wins, although Irish raider Midnight Soprano (Peter Deegan/ Hughes) looks very dangerous after finishing runner-up in the Curragh Cup after 5 successive victories.

In big fields over 7 furlongs here an inside draw is a huge advantage, and for that reason we take Botanica (Hannon/ Hughes) and Supernova Heights (Meehan/ Kieren Fallon) as our two against the field in the 2yo fillies maiden at 17.20, and Arnold Lane (Channon/ Harley) and Mr. Red Clubs (Tim Pitt/ Shane Kelly) in the handicap at 17.55