Everything has changed

The Qatari influence was everywhere at Goodwood, the term ‘Glorious’ has vanished and everything has changed. Even so, I must say that last week’s was just about the most enjoyable spectacle on the Sussex Downs I have ever experienced. There was Frankie Dettori continuing his tremendous surge (with the Qataris themselves chalking up several winners), Solow getting the better of a gallant Arod in the Sussex Stakes and Legatissimo putting her rivals well and truly in their place in the Nassau.

The latter result was good news for this page and the tipping at Goodwood generally was quite accurate, with Mount Logan getting callers to the line off to a perfect start at 8/1. Having said that, I was disappointed with the final day, when I should have given closer consideration to Charlie Hills’ winner of the Stewards’ Cup and also fell for Yeager in the closing apprentices’ handicap. He did not look all that keen to me and was being rousted some way from home. I shall leave him alone from now on and wait for Jeremy Noseda to find some form; for a very good trainer he is enduring a quiet campaign.

I am in Canada on a family visit at present and updating the line from here is not easy. Tp be percetly honest, studying a tricky Brighton festival has made me even more convinced that we need to concentrate on reasonably high-class racing these days. I love Brighton and my race is due almost as soon as we get back, but the cards this week were a little disappointing and it hurst a bit when Pour La Victoire, for example, was able to win the Brighton Bullet, a very rough race, on Friday after finishing fourth of five in a weak sprint on the opening day. I shall be leaving a message on the line to the effect that things will be very quiet as we move towards the York Ebor meeting because, quite frankly, my results at Royal Ascot and Goodwood were very pleasing and what followed both meetings was anything but.

The Shergar Cup at Ascot is one of those meetings that leave the purists quite cold but delight the crowds thronging the stands and concourse. Personally, I have always enjoyed the occasion, the difference in jockeys’ styles proving particularly interesting.

I like two or three at each-way prices. Double Up will make a bold bid in the opening Dash but 10st 2lb is a steadier and there is probably one to beat him. I shall not be heavily involved here but Boom The Groom is showing signs of ability on turf and may go close.

In the Stayers at 1.30 I’d be inclined to give another chance to OUR GABRIAL, who was outclassed in a very warm Goodwood Cup but has shown his ability to bounce back within a week in the past and will be happier in a handicap.

Right at the bottom in the Shergar Cup Challenge we have BARWICK, now trained by Ian Williams. This is Barwick’s time of year and, whilst he might have been happier at Epsom or Brighton, he looks  a bit on the ‘dark’ side in this. I’d ignore the most recent run on the AW and have a little on him each-way.

Sir Mark Prescott’s AMOUR DE NUIT carries a 6lb penalty in the closing long-distance handicap at Newmarket but the trainer often builds sequences with horses like this and I’dd be tempted to play at a short price, as long as odds against is available.