Five dark horses to note at Glorious Goodwood this week

The Qatar Goodwood festival begins on Tuesday and these five dark horses who it could pay to keep an eye on.

Goodwood Cup (3.35), Tuesday

Stradivarius may prove difficult to beat in his quest for a third Goodwood Cup but you can never rule out an improving three-year-old taking on his elders, and Aidan O'Brien's South Pacific is certainly one is on the rise.

He showed stamina and class when landing the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and remains a horse who can continue improving, with the longer distance expected to suit the son of Galileo.

Dr Simpson
Molecomb Stakes (3.00), Wednesday

Dr Simpson has looked a hugely exciting prospect for the Tom Dascombe team this season and she looks overpriced considering she has done very little wrong in two starts.

She shaped well on debut at Windsor before getting off the mark in comfortable fashion by seven lengths at Chester last time. Fillies do not have a particularly good record in the Molecomb but this looks capable of out-running her odds.

Indeed
Golden Mile (3.00), Friday

Since joining Dominic Ffrench Davis' yard this season Indeed has proved a revelation, finishing second on his stable debut, before enjoying back-to-back wins at Chelmsford and Newmarket.

Indeed has won two of his three starts this seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

He was put up 7lb for his impressive win on the July course but as the Golden Mile is an early closer will only have to contend with a 3lb penalty. He won that contest well and there could be more to come from this improving four-year-old, with the Goodwood course likely to suit.

King George Qatar Stakes (3.35), Friday

Battaash is probably going to be too hard to beat in this but one horse who could trouble the two-time winner is Houtzen. A line can be drawn through her last start in the King's Stand after she stumbled badly at the start before running on to finish eighth.

Houtzen makes her first start for Martyn Meade in the King George Qatar StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

She was a Group winner in Australia and makes her first start with Martyn Meade here. It will be interesting to see how she bounces back from her Ascot disappointment and how she compares with the British sprinters when given a chance to show what she's truly capable of.

Stewards' Cup (3.40), Saturday

This speedy three-year-old has always been held in high regard by Charlie Hills and could prove much better than a mark of 107 as the season progresses. He landed a competitive Listed event on his seasonal bow but disappointed in the Commonwealth Cup, finishing seventh.

Khaadem drops into handicap company for the first timeCredit: John Grossick

On his return to Newbury he bounced back to form to finish a decent second in the Hackwood Stakes and is worth a bit of interest now dropped into handicaps.

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