Shogun ready to show his true worth back on fast ground

The Gurkha is undoubtedly Aidan O’Brien’s big gun on the second day of the Qipco Festival at Goodwood but he has some good chances in the other Group races, starting with Shogun in the Beringice Gordon Stakes (2.35).

This doesn't appear to be the best renewal of this race and Shogun’s form figures this year are far from inspiring but he has only once run an ground that didn’t have the word soft in the going description and on that occasion he was second in the Derby trial at Leopardstown ahead of Idaho, who went on to be placed in two Derbys.

He hasn’t conclusively proved he stays 1m4f, but his pedigree suggests he will relish the trip and, back on a fast surface, I confidently expect him to produce his best performance of the year, which would be good enough to win.