Goodwood misses thunderstorms again with another scorcher in store for fourth day of Glorious meeting

Punters are expecting Royal Ascot form to be turned around in the feature race on day four of Glorious Goodwood with Big Evs being backed to lower the colours of Asfoora.

Big Evs, who won the Molecomb over course and distance last year, finished third behind Australian sprinter Asfoora in the King Charles III Stakes last time, but has been backed into favouritism for the King George Qatar Stakes (3.35) in recent days.

His position at the head of the market tightened further on Friday morning with Paddy Power cutting his price to 15-8 (from 9-4).

Firm spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Big Evs wasn't quite a match for Australian raider Asfoora at Royal Ascot, but he has already proven himself over course and distance on what can be a tricky track.

"That previous experience here could be what's making punters back Big Evs to turn around the length-and-a-half deficit from Ascot."

Victory for Big Evs would continue Mick Appleby's sensational week with the trainer's form figures at the meeting reading 11321.

The Jack Channon-trained Desperate Hero, also a course-and-distance winner, is another positive in the King George Stakes, having shortened up to 11-1 (from 14).

Market movers

1.50 Tenerife Sunshine 9-1 (from 10)
2.25 King's Gamble 13-2 (from 7-1)
3.35 Big Evs 15-8 (from 9-4); Desperate Hero 11-1 (from 14)

Posted at 11.30am

Goodwood misses thunderstorms again

Goodwood once again missed the thunderstorms overnight and another glorious day is in store for the fourth day of its flagship meeting.

The going remains good to firm following a dry night and the track was watered once more, with 5mm applied across most areas of the course. No rain is expected throughout racing.

Clerk of the course Ed Arkell, speaking just before 8am, said: "The thunderstorms ran about eight to ten miles north of us last night and it got quite black for a bit but we didn't get any rain. The ground is good to firm again, 7.8 on the GoingStick. We've got a misty start but that will be burning off in the next hour and a half or so, leaving another warm, dry and sunny day.

"All the false rail has gone today, so we have fresh ground on the bends. We watered last night, putting down 5mm from the mile to the intersection on the round course and from five furlongs to past the winning post on the straight, and just gave the bends a freshen up as well."

Goodwood to water overnight ahead of day three of the meeting

Goodwood: another fine day is forecast for day four of the meetingCredit: Edward Whitaker

Around 2-4mm of rain could be forecast before the final day of Glorious Goodwood on Saturday and a decision to water further will be taken later on Friday.

Arkell added: "There's a front coming in across the country tomorrow with some light rain on it and we'll be waiting as long as we can to get some certainty on it before making a decision about watering tonight."

The feature on day four is the King George Qatar Stakes (3.35), which features a thrilling clash between Asfoora and Big Evs.

There are plenty of non-runners at Goodwood, mainly on account of the ground, most notably Makarova in the King George Stakes. She joins Jasour, who was ruled out with injury on Thursday, and Moss Tucker in missing the Group 2 sprint.

Updated at 11am

Non-runners

1.50 8 Zealandia
2.25 5 Ice Max
3.00 2 Rebel Territory, 10 Mirsky, 15 New Image, 19 Pisanello, 21 Native Warrior
3.35 7 Moss Tucker, 10 Jasour, 11 Makarova
4.10 4 Liberty Lane
4.45 6 Zabeel Road
5.20 1 Dambuster, 3 Kamboo, 5 Master Builder