Glorious Goodwood - Day 1

The five-day Glorious Goodwood festival kicks off tomorrow with three Group races, three handicaps and a two-year-old maiden.
Star of the day could be three-year-old Strong Suit, who has rebounded from a slow start to the season and is now progressing nicely under the trainer/jockey combination of Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes.
Fiorente and Slumber could give us an intriguing battle in the three-year-old Gordon Stakes, while a few stars of tomorrow could be found in the two-year-old Molecomb Stakes.

Goodwood (good)
2.00 Class 2 handicap, 9f192yrds, 4-year-olds+ (18 runners)
Modun (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) 7/2fav or Circumvent (Paul Cole/Richard Hughes) 14/1ew
Second in the John Smith's Cup at York on July 9th, Modun should challenge again after being only slightly moved up the handicap rankings. Circumvent, who has run in Group company before, showed signs of improvement in his last run, and his handicap mark is low enough to make him an outside each-way selection.

2.35 Gordon Stakes (Group 3) 12f, 3-year-olds (11 runners)
Slumber (BW Hills/Michael Hills) 9/2 or Well Sharp (Michael Dods/Philip Makin) 25/1ew
Fiorente is the favourite for this Group 3 contest after his second place finish in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, behind King George winner Nathaniel. Slumber's only run at this distance was a decent third behind Irish Derby victor Treasure Beach, and he should give Fiorente a good run for his money at a decent price. Well Sharp is the lowest ranked runner, but did finish third behind Brown Panther in the King George V handicap last month.

3.10 Lennox Stakes (Group 2) 7f, 3-year-olds+ (9 runners)
Strong Suit (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 5/2fav or Beacon Lodge (Clive Cox/Adam Kirby) 12/1ew
After a slow start to his three-year-old campaign (included breathing surgery), Strong Suit has responded well by taking the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing third in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly. The weight advantage over his older peers rightly makes him favourite. Beacon Lodge's result this year have been decent, the ground will suit and he ran well at Goodwood last year.

3.45 Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) 5f, 2-year-olds (14 runners)
Requinto (David Wachman/WM Lordan) 5/1 or Crown Dependency (Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes) 9/2fav
Irish raider Requinto ran extremely well when winning back at five furlongs in the listed Tipperary Stakes on July 9th and is expected to go well again. Crown Dependency finished third in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the firmer ground likely to work in his favour.

4.20 Maiden Stakes, 6f, 2-year-old colts & geldings (13 runners)
Muarrab (Ed Dunlop/Richard Hills) 6/1ew
This well bred (and expensive) colt runs his debut race and is expected to make a good impression ahead of bigger races later in the summer.

4.50 Class 3 handicap, 8f, 3-year-olds+ (20 runners)
Suited & Booted (Jane Chapple-Hyam/Luke Morris) 25/1ew or Guest Book (Mark Johnston/Silvestre De Sousa) 12/1ew

5.25 Class 3 handicap, 5f, 4-year-olds+ (19 runners)
Verinco (Bryan Smart/Tom Eaves) 14/1ew or Judge N Jury (Ronald Harris/Luke Morris) 14/1ew