Superstar Stradivarius bids for fourth Goodwood Cup - full preview and selections for Tuesday's racing

Over the course of five days, we will be treated to the superstar stayer Stradivarius bidding for his fourth Goodwood Cup success; the brutal sprinter Battaash aiming to claim his fourth triumph in the King George Stakes; and a spine-tingling Sussex Stakes packed with this season’s heroes.

Here's Tuesday's race-by-race preview by Jack Dawling - who you can follow on Twitter: @_JDRacing

1:10: British European Breeders Fund EBF Fillies’ Handicap:

We kick off a momentous five days of racing with the inaugural ‘British EBF Fillies’ Handicap’ over a mile. What a sight it will be to witness 12 magnificent thoroughbreds bounding down the Goodwood mile again.

Separate holds strong claims for Richard Hannon and Pat Dobbs having been dropped in grade from a Listed affair last time out. However, it appears that seven furlongs may be her optimum trip and others are preferred. Charles Hills’ Vividly took an extreme liking to Goodwood last year when being successful in a Class 2 Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and she’ll be hoping to bounce back from her disappointing reappearance at Ascot earlier this month. She never looked on terms that day and if needing that run, she may well be able to get involved.

WAASAYEF may hold the key to finding the first winner of the day as she makes her first appearance of the season. Last September she was just held by Queen Daenerys, the Investec Oaks 4th. That form looks rock solid having also beaten Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes fourth by eight lengths. If reproducing that form she’ll take the world of beating, especially considering trainer John Gosden has an exceptional record with three year-olds returning from a long lay-off. But it goes without saying that there are risks attached considering she hasn’t been seen for 311 days.

All the Glorious Goodwood runners and riders.

1:45: Unibet You’re On Handicap:

It gets no easier in the first ITV race of the day when we are treated to the ‘Unibet You’re On Handicap’ over a mile and a quarter.

Derevo looks to be the market leader here for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. He travelled strongly on his last appearance at Doncaster but couldn’t quicken in the last two furlongs and allowed Fifth Position to pounce late on and take the spoils. Fifth Position finished in a respectable 3rd in the John Smith’s Cup at York, but it looks like being stepped up in trip would be preferable and Goodwood may well prove unfavourable for him.

Fayez was triumphant last year at 25/1 for David O’Meara and Daniel Tudhope and it could be worth siding with their entry, TINANDALI, to repeat their success. He stayed on in an eye-catching manner into 5th when denied a clear run in the John Smith’s Cup at York last time out. He’s looked better for every run he’s had this season and, if getting a clearer run, may well be able to plant a strong challenge.

Mark Johnston has trained five of the last 18 winners of this affair so it’s impossible to discount his chances here. The pick of his battalion comes in the form of Maydanny, who didn’t appreciate the conditions last time out at Newmarket when odds-on favourite. He may well relish the step up in trip to a mile and a quarter and could well be in the frame.

2:15: Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (Group 2):

One of the premier juvenile races of the summer takes place on the first day of the festival with Group 2 honours up for grabs in the Vintage Stakes. Last year’s affair was nothing less than a procession as superstar Pinatubo powered to a superb five length success.

This year, however, the Vintage has an aura of animosity intertwined with it due to the disruption of this season, meaning this season’s star two year-old’s have been few and far between. One of those potential two year-old superstars is on show here, as the current 2000 Guineas favourite Battleground takes centre stage.

The front three in the betting are usually a telling point to unlocking the winner of the Vintage, with 17/18 previous winners coming from there - and favourite backers could get off to a good start in the form of BATTLEGROUND. He won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot quite cosily and he could make it two consecutive successes here. Aiden O’Brien seems to have a firm grasp with his two year-old’s, having three winners from three with two year-old favourites at Goodwood, therefore it looks like Battleground may be tough to beat.

Devious Company may well be the one to plant a challenge to the favourite after putting in a very creditable performance in the Superlative Stakes in behind the ‘wonder colt’ Master Of The Seas. That’s rock-solid form and should follow Battleground home.

2:45: Qatar Lennox Stakes (Group 2):

The Group action comes thick and fast on Tuesday, with a very intriguing Lennox Stakes at 2:45. David Elsworth’s Sir Dancealot will be bidding for a third success in this race in as many years and is sure to put in a bold challenge on a track which he knows so well. Last time out in the July Cup he was outpaced, but now stepped back up to seven furlongs he may be able to build on the promise which he showed on his reappearance in the Criterion Stakes when in behind Limato at Newmarket. David Elsworth has a record of two from three when sending six year-old’s to Goodwood and that could bode well for Sir Dancealot.

Space Blues looked classy when getting the better of D’Bai in France back in June and will be sure to get involved. Charlie Appleby is 1/23 with four year-old’s at Goodwood and that could be a serious concern here for the favourite. At the grand age of eight Limato will be hoping to back up his stellar performance in the Criterion Stakes and I’m sure he’ll be a fans favourite to land the spoils, but at 5/1 he looks an almighty short price and it may be wise to look elsewhere.

Two who are guaranteed to put in a gutsy performance lie in Maries Diamond and DUKE OF HAZZARD. Maries Diamond is assured to get to the front and will attempt to dictate for Mark Johnston and Silvestre De Sousa. He put in an almighty performance in the Group 1 ‘Queen Anne Stakes’ at Royal Ascot when finishing third and will appreciate this drop back to seven furlongs.

If getting an easy lead again, he could be tougher to pull back then that day and should be in the frame. Marginal preference is for Duke Of Hazzard, who is three from three at Goodwood, winning twice here last year including the Group 2 ‘Celebration Mile’. Last time out he finished a creditable third behind the sensational Mohaather in the Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot and it looks like he may face an easier task here. It looks like he’ll appreciate the drop back to seven furlongs and could mount a serious challenge to land his fourth success on the South Downs.

3:15: Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1):

All eyes will be fixated upon the greatest stayer on planet earth as STRADIVARIUS bids for his fourth Goodwood Cup. He needs no introduction after destroying the Ascot Gold Cup field by ten lengths and is the firm favourite to add a 16th success to his illustrious career.

He is met with an impressive three-year-old in the form of Aiden O’Brien’s Santiago, who will be hoping to be the breaker of many hearts. John Gosden (trainer of Stradivarius) believes Stradivarius could be facing “the greatest challenge of his life” when he crosses swords with Santiago, having to give a 15lbs pull on the weights to the St Leger favourite.

While both Stradivarius and Santiago are winners of the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot; Stradivarius is the only three-year-old to have won the Goodwood Cup in the past 29 renewals. Gosden dismissed the importance of that statistic, stating “Stradivarius hadn’t knocked off an Irish Derby as well as a Vase, so I think this horse (Santiago) sets a very high standard.”

Behind Stradivarius that day was the front-running Nayef Road and he’ll be hoping to stay out the trip for Mark Johnston. He could prove a touch tougher to pull back at Goodwood, but faces an almighty task with these two giants of the sport going head to head.

3:45: Qatar Handicap:

Eleven line up for the Qatar Handicap over five furlongs to compete for the sixth race on day one. Tom Clover’s Celsius heads the market as favourite after putting in a creditable performance at Newmarket when 2nd last time out. He comes to Goodwood after winning here in the Tatler Handicap last year and should put in a strong effort for Tom Clover and Andrea Atzeni. This does, however, look a tougher affair and appears to have value elsewhere.

Fighting for favouritism in the market is Acclaim The Nation, who finished half a length behind Celsius when they met at Haydock in June. He’ll look to dictate from the front and you may see him go off at a very strong pace.

Another who will attempt to lead from the front is David Griffiths’ seven-year-old ORNATE. He will without doubt fly off at a blistering pace and could well prove tough to plug back at a track which is run to suit. Last year he was set a tough assignment here in the Group 2 King George and finished in a respectable third behind super sprinter Battaash, so will appreciate this easier task at hand. In a tight race such as this, it may well benefit to side with Ornate each way at a large price to stay out this five furlong trip and put in a nice performance.

4:20: British E.B.F Maiden Stakes (Plus 10):

In the penultimate race of the day we will see two-year-olds trying to stake their claim in the British E.B.F Maiden Stakes. Out of the nine runners, only four have had a previous run and the pick of the bunch may come from Marcus Tregoning’s 150,000gns purchase Alkumait, who made very smooth headway late on when making his debut at Newbury nine days ago and should improve drastically from that run.

With regards to the newcomers, it’s hard to ignore John Gosden’s nicely bred Tawleed. Out of Exceed And Excel, this colt should put in a grand performance for the master trainer.

4:55: British EBF Fillies’ Handicap:

The finale of day one of our glorious festival is a Class 3 handicap over a mile and a quarter. Mark Johnston’s TULIP FIELDS looks the one to beat here dropping in grade from a Listed assignment at Hamilton last time out. She’s already won at Goodwood this campaign on the first behind closed doors meeting when making a nice impression over a mile and a quarter. This is a step up to a mile and a half but she has hinted that this may be her optimum trip. She’ll take the world of beating and is preferred to return the winners enclosure.

Asiaaf was keen at Sandown on her last run and was just held from making back to back successes after claiming the spoils here in June. The step up to a mile and a half shouldn’t be a problem and she could be the one to mount a challenge to Tulip Fields.