Trade Commissioner winning at Sandown over 1m last month
PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)Trade Commissioner camp buoyed by workout
LONGTIME ante-post favourite Trade Commissioner was on Saturday declared on course for Glorious Goodwood and Friday's Betfred Mile after pleasing connections with his latest workout.
The John Gosden-trained four-year-old, 4-1 market leader with the sponsors, has been at the forefront of the betting since completing successive wins over Friday's trip in the Coral Challenge Handicap at Sandown.
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The son of Montjeu had previously been tried over a longer trip but Gosden is happy to keep him to 1m.
After watching Trade Commissioner's exercise on the Limekilns on Saturday morning, the trainer said: "He is an intended runner at Goodwood. He breezed nicely this morning and seems to handle any ground so that shouldn't be an issue. We decided to come back in trip with him a little while ago and a mile seems to suit him."
Trade Commissioner was among 43 horses to stand their ground for the race, although Royal Hunt Cup winner and second-favourite Prince Of Johanne runs at Pontefract on Sunday and looks doubtful for Goodwood.
Excellent Guest was runner-up in the Hunt Cup before disappointing at Ascot last time. However, trainer George Margarson said: "He seems in good form after his non-event at Ascot, when he headbutted the stalls and lost his race at the start.
George Margarson: upbeat
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker"It's hard to say that he doesn't stay a mile after finishing second in a Royal Hunt Cup but he travelled like the winner all the way through the race and just didn't get home. I think he will find it easier to get a mile around Goodwood, when he can be produced quite late.
"He has won on firm and good ground, so I am sure that the going at Goodwood [described as good on Saturday] will be fine for him. He has also been successful on good-to-soft ground before at Ascot, but that was when he was rated 80 and, when you are running off a mark of 98, you need everything in your favour.
"He is good nick and all of the signs suggest that he heads to Goodwood in good order."
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