QATAR "GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2021 [TUES 27th JULY - SAT 31st JULY] -- DAY FIVE

SATURDAY Day Five
An excellent day on Friday for connections of Suesa who won Thursday's King George Qatar Stakes. Now we come to the final day of the meeting with some big races to take a look at and the feature is the challenge that is the 28 runner Stewards Cup off at 3.35pm.
With the Galway racing festival also on we've only been looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. The Unibet Stewards Cup takes centre stage for the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Previous winners of this iconic sprint include Lochsong and Dancing Star. The six furlong cavalry charge of the Unibet Stewards Cup is a sight to behold, with a field of 28 sprinters thundering down the Goodwood straight and one of the biggest betting heats of the turf season.

Going - Good (Good to soft in places)
Weather - Generally cloudy day, bit breezy and high 21C

1:55 Stewards Sprint Handicap
6f  [28 runners]
Today's handicaps won't be easy at all and we begin our selective races with a bumper 28 runner handicap where top weight FIRST FOLIO may well gain consolation for not quite making it into the Stewards Cup later today and well fancied here despite the weight burden. Power Over Me, Very progressive 4yo who bagged fifth AW win of 2021 at Wolverhampton in March. Took his form up another notch on turf at Epsom 30 days ago, passing post first but weighing in 2lb light and disqualified. Able Kane [2nd @33/1] is an interesting each way option (33/1) posted a career best when winning 6f handicap at Leicester in May but turned in rare below-par run at Windsor only start since. Could well bounce back after a break and Oisin Murphy retains ride no forlorn hope here.
Selections - First Folio (win @6/1)  /  Able Kane (each way @33/1).  2nd @33/1

2:30 Unibet Summer Handicap
1m 6f  [14 runners]
On To Victory was last year's November Handicap victor who has been in winning form over hurdles before returning with good second in 1m4f listed event here. Likely to go well back in handicap company for Alan King and has Tom Marquand booked for the ride available at 10/1 in the early shows. Will also have an interest in the Sir Michael Stoute trained My Frankel, returned to racing as a 4yo with a win at Kempton back on the up when third in Old Newton Cup at Haydock four weeks ago and step up in trip likely to suit, stable also runs Boss Power here [now a non runner].

Selections - On To Victory  /  My Frankel.

3:05 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2)
1m 6f  [9 runners]

A staying contest for fillies and mares only, Wonderful Tonight is clearly the one to beat here and likely to go off odds-on, is highly progressive on going softer than good, including a Group 1 success on Champions Day last October. Excellent winner of Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes on return and leading player with any further rain a plus, William Buick riding again.

The Irish challenge might be the place to look for something to chase the favourite home, Traisha (JP O'Brien) [Non Runner] needs to bounce back but we haven't given up on this one yet, 20/1 could well place, and his father Aiden runs Divinely is a Group 3 winner over 1m as a 2yo and acquitted herself as a 3yo with plenty of credit up in trip this term, keeping on for second behind Snowfall in Irish Oaks last time and therefore not out of things stepping up in trip again priced around 16/1 a place bet for us.
Selections - Wonderful Tonight (NAP) Won 4/5f  /  Divinely (place).

3:35 Qatar Stewards Cup (Heritage Handicap)

6f  [28 runners]
A maximum field of 28 runners for this summer renewal of the Stewards Cup, where plenty of luck in running will be needed, and it makes sense to take one from each side of the draw while the betting will be frantic and it's 7/1 the field as we currently stand. 
A race won last year by Summerghand, who reappears again this afternoon (pictured above) and is only headed by top weight with Chil Chil [Non Runner] wouldn't be surprised if either of these took centre stage but will look elsewhere for something with a more appealing handicap mark. Commanche Falls [WON @10/1], has a cracking strike rate, getting up late when recording his third win of the year in the Scottish Stewards' Cup handicap at Hamilton a 6lb rise might not stop further progress here though the high draw might. Zarzyni [Non Runner] is another to win last time out (Redcar) and carry a penalty, and a relatively low draw so that's the pair for me against the field.

Selections - Commanche Falls [WON @10/1]  /  Zarzyni [N/R].
  
Have enjoyed the racing this week despite all the non runners and the rain. Found some decent winners today including the big handicap so end the week very happy. We have big crowds back to enjoy the action and we will hope that things keep improving, have a great weekend. 

That's all for this week at Goodwood, Results will appear here during the course of Saturday afternoon. Enjoy your weekend we've still got some action over in Ireland at Galway this weekend, and we will be back racing again soon with some meetings at Pontefract and Kempton Park to update for next week, we hope there will be some other festivals to enjoy in the summer too. Keep safe, be happy, see you soon.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2021 [JULY 26th - AUG 1st] - DAY SIX SATURDAY

DAY SIX SATURDAY
Saturday gets under-way at 12:50 with a maiden contest for 2yo's run over a mile. The afternoon's feature race today is the Galway Shopping Centre Handicap over 1m 3f, worth €60k to the winner, will be under way at 4:20 where a field of 18 runners will face the starter.

As mentioned on day one our recent years have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. Continuing during this season we intend to follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going - Yielding.
Weather Forecast - A high of 17C with a mixed bag of sunshine and rain forecast. 

DAY SIX SELECTIONS;

12:50  Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden [2yo]

1m 73y  7 runners

Buckaroo  [JP O'Brien].  WON Evens
Golden Beach  [D Weld].  3rd @6/1

1:25  Irish Independent On Saturday Maiden

1m 73y  21 runners

Champion Green  [JP O'Brien].  3rd @3/1
Sherkin Island  [D Weld].  WON @8/13f

2:00  O'Leary Insurances Handicap

1m 73y  21 runners

Rosmana  [JP O'Brien].  8th @25/1
Thaleeq  [D Weld].  14th @22/1

2:35  Galway Shopping Centre Handicap

1m 73y  15 runners

Alpine Sierra  [D Weld].  11th @20/1

Jo March  [JP O'Brien].  [Non Runner]

3:13  Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden (2yo)

7f  9 runners

No selections from either trainer here. Basia should see off Nectaris in this maiden before moving onto something bigger.

3:48  Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap (2yo)

7f  9 runners

Barud  [D Weld].  3rd @3/1

Snapius  [JP O'Brien].  2nd @4/1

4:20  Galway Shopping Centre Handicap

1m 3f 180y  18 runners

The days feature contest and while there are no selections from either trainer here we will have a browse at the card and pick out a couple of runners against the field. Bolivar [Non Runner] heads the field, and is making his handicap debut, was sixth in a listed event at the Curragh and expected to give a good account here. Aiden O'Brien runs Iowa who also comes back into handicap company after a listed run at Down Royal, one to watch in the betting, we'll side with the pair of No Say Ever and Sionnach Eile against the field in an open event.

4:50  McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap

1m 3f 180y   21 runners

Abstract  [D Weld].  12th @3/1

Day Six Figures - Results to be updated later tonight.
D Weld   6pts staked today     Returns today   1.61pts.

p/l for week    +1.44pts after Day #6

JP O'Brien   5pts staked today    Returns today  3pts.

p/l for week       -16.25pts after Day #6

Overall week p/l to date   -14.81pts after Day #6

Summer, Horse Racing, Galway, Irish Women, Guinness YES Life IS Good.

Results will be updated on Saturday early evening and we'll have one final day racing on Sunday which will also be published during the afternoon. While it's been a difficult season for all it's clear that Mr Weld has fewer than usual entries here and it might not be too long before he hangs up his training licence, while he's still going and has the support of his main owners we'll keep on following.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2021 [JULY 26th - AUG 1st] - DAY FIVE FRIDAY

DAY FIVE
The fifth day is another evening meeting and will begin at 4:00pm with a 2m Maiden Hurdle. The feature race tonight being the €48,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle over two mile six furlongs due off at 5:30pm. We are finding a few winners but need a few more before the week is out, Dermot Weld is not having as many runners this season at his favourite festival yet is still ahead alas has no declared runners for Friday.

As mentioned on day one our recent years have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. This season we intend to also follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going - NH Good,  Flat Good to Yielding
Weather Forecast - A high of 18C with plenty of sunshine forecast but also some cloudy in the sky but minor chance of showers, well it is Ireland in summer time. 

DAY FIVE SELECTIONS;
5:00  Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle
2m 150y  [17 runners]
Flying Scotsman  [JP O'Brien].  9th @4/1f

5:30 Guinness Handicap Hurdle

2m 6f 168y  [20 runners]
No entries from our selected trainers for the feature race today, so we have a look at the field, Willie Mullins runs four of which My Sister Sarah would be the pick of these. Botani is another to consider and an each way play at 20/1 for Colm Murphy's yard. Uk trainer Harry Fry sends over Black Mischief [Non Runner] after a wide margin win when last seen at Newton Abbot and wouldn't be here for a holiday.

6:05 Guinness Beginners Chase
2m 2f 54y  [11 runners]
Busselton  [JP O'Brien].  2nd @3/1

6:40  Arthur Guinness Chase
2m 6f 111y  [9 runners]
Darasso  [JP O'Brien].  Non Runner

7:10  Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase
2m 6f 111y  [20 runners]
A Wave Of The Sea  [JP O'Brien].  10th @20/1

Choungaya  [JP O'Brien].  13th @20/1

Day Five Figures - Results to be updated later tonight.
D Weld   0pts staked today     Returns today   0pts.
p/l for week    +5.83pts after Day #5
JP O'Brien   5pts staked today    Returns today  1pts.
p/l for week       -14.25pts after Day #4
Overall week p/l to date  -8.42pts after Day #4

Day Six [Saturday] is about to be published and we hope that the weekend can make the figures look a little better. At least Goodwood has been better this year, and we've updated that meeting too already for it's finale.

QATAR "GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2021 [TUES 27th JULY - SAT 31st JULY] -- DAY FOUR

FRIDAY Day Four
Thursday results were mixed for us sadly failing to land a winner but some places and results elsewhere for us however it's a big congratulations to all connected with Lady Bowthorpe [100/30] winning the Nassau Stakes for trainer William Jarvis and jockey Kieran Shoemark landing his first Group 1 contest. It's a shame that this meeting goes ahead at the same time as the Galway festival but we enjoy them both at this stage of the summer.

While we are busy at Galway this week [click here for the Galway pages] we only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps through to Saturday which will feature the Stewards Cup Handicap.

Going - Good to Soft (Good in places).
Weather - We've seen rain most of the week here and it's likely we will see more on Friday below average temps for the time of year with a max high 19C.

2:25 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes
1m (Group 3)  8 runners
The next event has a field of eight three year olds for our opening Group 3 of the afternoon, they are led by the likely short priced favourite Baaeed who is unbeaten in three starts and steps up from listed company into Group class for the first time. Hopefully all eight stand their ground so we can at least have an each way play, The Queen's runner Tactical wasn't disgraced in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and this smaller field should help, I believe has the opportunity to gain a place.
Selections - Baaeed / Tactical (place). 

 No silly hats this week ... 

2:45 Unibet Golden Mile

1m (Heritage Handicap) 22 runners

Another mile event now but has 22 runners so will not be as straightforward. So will pick a pair against the field and probably going to have one from each side of the draw as we don't know how they will cope with the draw on this soften going. The field is led by Qaysar trained by Richard Hannon, rated 105, has form on the soft ground but likely to find one or two better handicapped today. Magical Morning (J Gosden) could be one of those if they handle the soft ground and recent runs tend to be on good going, hasn't been penalised for his last Sandown win so is interesting and drawn in stall 11 gives Frankie Dettori options which side he comes. Support for Rhoscolyn (2nd @13/2) who can race off the same mark here today (2nd on Sunday at Pontefract) has champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle and 16/1 a good win/place option given he will be fine on the soft winning here in May. Shelir is another for the place options from the No1 draw has four runner up places from last six starts, shouldn't be far away and at 20/1 a place bet again too.

Selections - Rhoscolyn (2nd @13/2) / Shelir (to place).

3:35 King George Qatar Stakes

5f (Group 2)  13 runners
Our next race for today is not as difficult as the big mile handicap above, a field of thirteen declared and over 5f plenty of luck is needed, though the one to beat is BATTAASH (pictured below) who has won the last four running's of this contest and will be a short price again today to make it five. Glass Slippers along with Dragon Symbol could be the ones to chase him home but this appears to be a race to watch and enjoy.
Selections - Battash.

4:10 L'Ormarins Queens Plate Glorious Stakes
1m 3f 218y (Group 3)  9 runners
A select field of nine for this Group 3 worth £56k to the winner, headed by Euchen Glen who scored by a long way to win the Brigadier Gerard stakes at Sandown and despite being an 8yo is expected to run up to that form again. Mogul was a winner here last year for Aiden O'Brien and steps down in class for this, been a winner of Group 1s at Longchamp (Grand Prix de Paris) and Sha Tin (Hong Kong Vase). Looks the one to beat back down in class. As an each way play last year's winner of this race returns Pablo Escobar with blinkers added and 12/1 worth a look.
Selections - Mogul (win) / Pablo Escobar (place).

That's all for here on Friday the results to be updated during the afternoon with our final day on Saturday to follow which of course will feature the Stewards Cup. Saturday will therefore be updated soon and the conclusion of this years meeting will feature a great card including the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes and also the Stewards Cup heritage handicap.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2021 [JULY 26th - AUG 1st] - DAY FOUR THURSDAY

DAY FOUR THURSDAY
We must move on to our fourth day which will begin in the early evening once again at 4:35pm with a 2m Novice Hurdle. The feature race today, and indeed for the week, is the Grade A Galway Hurdle [6:15] over a two mile trip, and is worth €150,000 euro's to the winner.

As mentioned on day one our recent years have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. This season we intend to follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going - NH - Good, Flat - Yielding.
Weather Forecast - A high of 17C with the overall outlook of rain forecast, wherever you are watching hope you safe and having a good afternoon.
Day Four Selections;
17:10  Guinness Open Gate Brewery Beginners Chase
2m 6f 111y  15 Runners
Speak Easy  [JP O'Brien].  Pulled Up @8/1

17:45  Rockshore Novice Chase (Grade 3)
2m 2f 54y  8 Runners
Druid's Altar  [JP O'Brien].  4th @11/2

18:15  Arthur Guinness Handicap Hurdle
2m 11y  20 Runners
Embittered  [JP O'Brien].  14th @40/1

Band of Outlaws [JP O'Brien].  Non Runner

Winner Takes It all [JP O'Brien].  6th @9/1

19:15  Guinness Novice Hurdle
2m 4f 156y  13 Runners
Banbridge [JP O'Brien].  4th @11/4

Day Four Results - Will be updated here during the course of Thursday evening after racing has concluded. Day Five should be available soon as well as the Goodwood meeting. 

Having a bit of success here though could be better after a good start at the beginning of the week, we keep going through to Sunday's finish.  

D Weld  0pt staked today     Returns today  0pts.
p/l for week    +5.83pts after Day #4
JP O'Brien  6pts staked today    Returns today +1pts.
p/l for week       -10.25pts after Day #4
Overall week p/l to date   -4.42pts after Day #4

Information and selections for Day Five (Friday) will be published soon, and we'll hope for better luck before we finish on Sunday. Don't forget the Goodwood meeting too and there is also another one for our regular Kempton / Pontefract meetings which takes place next week too, yes it's a very busy week.

QATAR "GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2021 [TUES 27th JULY - SAT 31st JULY] -- DAY THREE

THURSDAY Day Three
Wednesday was another successful day for Oisin Murphy who claimed the Sussex Stakes with Alcohol Free following up her excellent exploits at Royal Ascot and another famous winner for the owner Jim Smith. Managed a winner after all the non runners when Armor took the Molecomb Stakes, still enjoying all the racing here and at Galway.

We are only looking at the major races each day not the entire card so focused on the main Group Races or major handicaps. So lets look at Day Three which is of course Ladies Day where the feature race will be the Group 1 Nassau Stakes worth £300,000 this year, prize money having been reduced throughout the return to racing;

Going - Good to soft (Good in places).
Weather - Generally sunny, bit breezy and high 18C

2:25 Qatar Richmond Stakes
6f (Group 2)  7 runners.
Just the seven runners for our first Group contest today, the Richmond stakes over six furlongs for 2yo's only, just over £85k to the winner won last year by Supremacy (Clive Cox) and that yard is represented this time by Caturra. Based on the betting and the ratings the top two of Perfect Power and Asymmetric seem to be the ones to focus on while support for Hollie Doyle's KHUNAN could be worth following, currently 12/1 shame there's only the seven runners and two places. 

Selections: Khunan (each way) @16/1.  2nd 16/1

Return of silly hats this year ... 

3:00 1m 3f 218y Qatar Gordon Stakes (Group 3).
A good quality event for the field of just eight three year olds here, Aiden O'Brien won this last year with Mogul and has a pair today looking to follow that, Frankie Dettori booked for Sir Lucan while Ryan Moore has picked Wordsworth and that looks like the right pick for us too. This year's Epsom Derby form is brought by Third Realm who was fifth then, as well as Youth Spirit (8th) and both should find this track a little easier to negotiate.
Selection: Wordsworth.

Fancy Blue winning the 2020 Nassau Stakes

3:35 - Nassau Stakes (Group 1)
1m 2f  [6 runners]
Also labelled as the Fillies Group 1 today this has attracted six runners for ladies day. Fancy Blue (pictured above) won this last year for Donnacha O'Brien and his father will be represented by the pair of Empress Josephine (L Dettori) along with Joan of Arc (Ryan Moore). I however am siding with the home challenge from Audarya as James Fanshawe's talented globe trotting mare has already won at the Breeders Cup, was runner up at Royal Ascot behind Love, and won't even mind any rain should that continue to fall this week.

Selection: Audarya. 

That's all for Thursday, results will be updated during the afternoon, and we had a very successful day today with two winners and profit on the day, and we will soon have an update for Friday which will feature the £300,000 Qatar King George Stakes (Group 2) where Battaash will be looking to win for the fifth time. Add in three further top quality races and Friday of the Qatar Goodwood Festival has to be one of the most enthralling day's racing in the entire calendar.

GALWAY FESTIVAL 2021 [JULY 26th - AUG 1st] - DAY THREE WEDNESDAY

DAY THREE
The Galway festival is off with a bang, after the first couple of days results we are going steadily all things considered with Dermot Weld still ahead on +6.83pts after two days, and JP O'Brien is slightly behind on -5pts for their selections and therefore we are +1.83pts points overall. The third day begins in the early evening again the opening fixtures will begin at 4:35pm with a mares handicap hurdle, but the feature race this afternoon is the Grade A Galway Plate over 2m 6f which will get underway at 6:15pm. 

Don't miss our Goodwood coverage too today click to view Wednesday

As mentioned on day one our recent years we have focused on the horses from trainer Dermot Weld and we will continue to track his progress this week though we might also offer one or two other selections in particular the feature races if no Weld runner is declared. Also for this season we intend to follow the success of JP O'Brien who often has a nice priced winner and seems to have taken well to training and has the ability to be as good as his father in time.

Going - NH - Good [Good to firm in places]
Weather Forecast - A high of 17C with a chance of a few showers later as it has been so far this week.

DAY THREE SELECTIONS;
As the card is a NH one this evening am not that surprised by the lack of entries from Dermot Weld (just the one in the feature Galway Plate today) while JP O'Brien has five entries in that contest alone, sure there will still be plenty of action to come from both.

17:10 Tote+ Placepot Pays More Novice Hurdle (Listed)

2m 110y (Class 1)  7 runners

Persia  [JP O'Brien].  4th @6/1

17:45  Tote+ At tote.ie Galway Races Maiden Hurdle 
2m 5f 11y  20 runners

Desir Du Large  [JP O'Brien].  WON @9/4

18:15  thetote.com Galway Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade A)
2m 6f 111y  [22 Runners]
Wednesday's feature race is the Galway Plate, fourteen fences face this huge field which is headed by the talented Samcro, a prize of €250,000 for the winner.

Joseph O'Brien, who sent out Early Doors to land the prize last year, has five of the 22 with perhaps the most interesting of the quintet being recent Wexford winner Top Moon. Willie Mullins has six too, plus a reserve too, they not really letting the others get much of a look in really. 
JP Runners - Darasso (5th @20/1), Home By The Lee (19th @14/1), Assemble (7th @14/1), Top Moon (12th @15/2), A Wave Of The Sea [1st reserve  - N/R].

18:45  Tote+ Biggest Dividends At tote.ie Handicap Hurdle

2m 5f 11y  20 runners

We have the sole representative from Dermot Weld here as Dalton Highway is looking to use his recent Curragh flat win as a springboard to further success over the hurdles. JP O'Brien enters New Ross here, a winner of a Punchestown hurdle contest back in May. Has not run up to that form since and while the yard should never be discounted is going to be an outsider here looking to bounce back to form.

New Ross [JP O'Brien]  15th @28/1

Dalton Highway [D Weld]  3rd @11/4

19:15  Tote+ Proud Sponsor Of The Galway Races Handicap Chase

2m 2f 54y  20 runners

Star Max  [JP O'Brien]  5th @6/1

20:15  Tote+ Pays You More At tote.ie Flat Race

2m 110y [4yo]  17 runners

Level Neverending  [JP O'Brien]  WON @9/2

Day Three Results;
Will be updated on Wednesday night.
D Weld 1pt staked today     Returns today  0pts.
p/l for week    +5.83pts after Day #3
JP O'Brien 10pts staked today    Returns today +9.75pts.
p/l for week       -5.25pts after Day #3
Overall week p/l to date   +0.58pts after Day #3

Results to update later tonight, and Day Four should be ready by then, not forgetting our other updates this week from the 'Glorious' Goodwood meeting.

QATAR "GLORIOUS" GOODWOOD FESTIVAL 2021 [TUES 27th JULY - SAT 31st JULY] -- DAY TWO

WEDNESDAY Day Two
Second day here in Sussex and despite the rain which caused a large number of non runners yesterday we hope you are enjoying all the racing on right now. The Goodwood Cup was won by Trueshan ridden by Hollie Doyle while the original favourite Stradivarius was taken out due to the ground and denied a chance of winning for a fifth time.

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. The crowds are beginning to return now and will make this a special spectacle after the previous year and more without having them. The prize money also appears to be returning to something nearer 2019 levels.

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 Mohaather winning for trainer Marcus Tregoning. Racing will commence at the usual time of 1:50pm with a handicap for 3yo's and the final race will be concluded at 5.20pm with another 7f handicap. 

So lets look at day two we've got a pair of Group 3 races today with the Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes off at 2:25 then the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes off at 3:00 supporting the days feature event the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at 3:35.

Going - Soft.

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.

2:25 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes
7f Fillies and Mares (Group 3)
Strong field of 17 line up for the 7f contest which is for fillies and mares, the Group 3 'Whispering Angel' Oak Tree Stakes today. The ladies feature a few in good form but have sadly been given the widest draws, as I'd rather rule out anything drawn higher than stall ten it would mean that the likes of Agincourt and Highfield Princess will probably struggle to feature. Sacred however has secured the one draw, and this smart 3yo who ran seventh in the 1000 Guineas over a mile will be one of the strong fancies now returning to seven furlongs. William Haggas has trained the winner of this in two of the last three seasons so clearly knows what it takes, Tom Marquand rides. Valeria Messalina [Non Runner] trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington was runner up in this last year, only a short head behind One Master, should be ready to go well again back to somewhere approaching her best when two lengths second to Pearls Galore in a 7f Fairyhouse Group 3 latest. We will pair these against the field in a fairly open renewal.

Selections - Sacred / Valeria Messalina. [Non Runners]

3:00 Molecomb Stakes
5f  2yo's (Group 3)  11 runners
Strong field of 10 line up for the 5f sprint that is the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes today. The 2yo's have all won a race with the exception of Kaboo, even so he's still very prominent in the early betting markets. Armor ought to be popular, having won on debut, was then 5th in the competitive Windsor Castle stakes at Royal Ascot with the winner that day Chipotle lining up too will therefore back them both against the rest of the field. 

Selections - Armor [WON @6/1] / Chipotle.
 
3:35 Qatar Sussex Stakes
1m  (Group 1) (British Champions Series)  9 runners
A high quality field of eleven declared (now nine runners with two non runners) for the feature race today, we have representation from France with Duhail (Andre Fabre) looks a big price for a well regarded colt and wouldn't be coming here for a holiday. Ireland of course would have several big players, Aiden O'Brien runs two now as Battleground is a non runner so relies on Lope Y Fernandez [L Dettori] also Order of Australia [R Moore] but the one to beat is surely Poetic Flare trained by Jim Bolger. Already a winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and major player having sauntered clear to win the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. The filly Snow Lantern returned to top level form winning last time out at Newmarket and might be the one to place here today.

Selections - Poetic Flare.

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 the most glamorous day of the meeting featuring the prestigious Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes won last year by Fancy Blue 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.