Glorious Goodwood Meeting 2007

The Glorious Goodwood Meeting gets under way tomorrow Tuesday 31st July 2007 with the Group 2 Betfair Cup over 7 furlongs for three year olds + as the feature race. Also on the card is the Group 3 Gordon Stakes for three year olds over one and a half miles and the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes for two year olds over 5 furlongs.

Wednesday sees the Group 1 Sussex Stakes for 3 year olds + over 1 mile as the feature race, backed up by the Group 2 Vintage Stakes for two year olds over 7 furlongs. Aidan O’Brien appears to hold the keys to the Sussex Stakes.

The Group 2 Goodwood Cup for 3 year olds + over two miles is my favourite race and is the feature race on Thursday. Geordieland ran second to Yeats in this race last year and second to Yeats in this year’s Ascot Gold Cup. With Yeats not running this time perhaps Geordieland can go one better. Distinction has been off the course for a long time but has apparantly been pleasing connections at home.

Third Set was impressive at Ascot on Saturday and could win the Totesport Mile which is the feature race on Friday. Expect a lot of runners for this race. The Group 2 Richmond Stakes for two year olds over six furlongs is one of the supporting races along with the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes for fillies over 7 furlongs.

On Saturday we may well see Mandesha make her first trip to Britain and contest the Group 3 Nassau Stakes for 3 year old + fillies and mares over ten furlongs. She has won three Group 1 races in France. The big betting race of the day will be the Stewards Cup, a six furlong sprint handicap for 3 year olds+.

The location of Goodwood racecourse is magnificent, especially on a sunny day. I have only made a few visits there myself over the years. The first time I went was in 1963. I remember No Fiddling with Jimmy Lindley aboard winning the first race which set me up for the rest of the day. Tiger trained by Sir Gordon Richards won the Gordon Stakes that afternoon. As I have said on other blogs it seems easy to remember winners over the years but you quickly forget the losers !

For the racecards with the runners and riders visit the sporting life.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".