"GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2020 [TUES 28th JULY - SAT 1st AUG] -- DAY TWO

WEDNESDAY Day Two
Second day here in Sussex and very nice to have ourselves an early winner with Battleground getting our week off to a nice start in the vintage stakes. The Goodwood Cup was won by Stradivarius for a fourth time, getting out of the traffic and used his class well, by doing so he helped to land some nice multiple bets too.

It's a busy week of action here and we crack on with Wednesday where we have the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. No crowds of course, except on Saturday were I understand 5,000 spectators are expected to attend as one of a handful of test events which might help see a limited return to 'normal' racing. Attendance will initially be offered to Goodwood annual members and their guests.

We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. The meeting runs to Saturday and we'll updating throughout the week alongside the festival over at Galway.

The Qatar Sussex Stakes is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, still a Group One but with reduced prize money available this summer so we'll see if we still attract a high-class field from UK, Ireland and France. This mile-long Group 1 race has previously been won by the peerless Frankel, the French sensation Solow and in 2017, by the 20/1 shot Here Comes When. Last year we witnessed Too Darn Hot winning for trainer John Gosden. Racing will commence earlier than usual at 1.10pm with a fillies handicap and the last race will be concluded at 4.20pm with another 7f handicap. 

So lets look at day two we've got a pair of Group races today with the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes off at 2:45 supporting the feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at 3:15.

Going -- Good, Good to soft in places.

Weather -- Generally a cloudy day expected, can get a bit breezy a 50/50 chance of some showers during the day, high 20C. Though as we not going it doesn't matter as long as there is not too much more rain to change the forecast going.

2:45 Molecomb Stakes 5f (Group 3)
Strong field of 10 line up for the 5f sprint that is the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes today. The 2yo's are headed by Army of India for Mark Johnston, has won a couple of small races either side of being well out the back in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and seems to have a lot to do in this company. Significantly has been runner up on all three of his starts to date, and while the latest run was a listed event at Sandown must be showing more speed at home to be lifted into Group company now, while support for Aiden O'Brien's runner CHIEF LITTLE HAWK should be noted given his strong owners wasn't disgraced in the Windsor Castle stakes at Ascot and one of the more likely winners here. Will pick that one together with SARDINIA SUNSET the filly gets a handy weight allowance and did win a listed event last time at York and very good fourth in the Queen Mary too. 
  
Selections - CHIEF LITTLE HAWK [4th 12/1] / SARDINIA SUNSET [6th 4/1].
 
3:35 Sussex Stakes 1m (Group 1)
A field of 7 declared for the feature race today, made difficult as Aiden has declared three CIRCUS MAXIMUS, looks the strongest as a multiple Group 1 winner (Queen Anne stakes this year) Vatican City (midfield in The Derby) and Wichita (runner up in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas) they are all well respected but would expect the experience of the 4yo to count in this field. Away from his trio we have the two winners of the Colt's classic Kameko and the unbeaten SISKIN. Not much between the pair but Siskin might have bit more speed though neither would want too much more rain. 
  
Selections - CIRCUS MAXIMUS [2nd 6/1] / SISKIN [3rd 9/4f].

Wednesday results to be updated later. Then we will prepare for Day Three which should be ready soon and we'll try and keep things going before the end of the meeting this Saturday. Thursday of course is Ladies Day usually would have been the most glamorous day of the meeting, sadly no one here till Saturday at the earliest. The prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes won last year by Deirdre is the highlight of the eight-race card and the raider from Japan looks set to return to defend her crown. Previous winners include Ouija Board, Midday and Minding. Expect fierce competition as the best of the best compete against the backdrop of the stunning Sussex Downs.