Johnston looks strong again but keep an eye on Appleby

Aidan O’Brien has never been top trainer at Glorious Goodwood. Mark Johnston has been ten times.

But the greater firepower O’Brien has been sending to the meeting since prize-money rocketed under Qatar’s largesse means he is vying for favouritism with Johnston for the prize.

O’Brien, who has Churchill in the Sussex and Winter in the Nassau among his arsenal, is 9-4 with Paddy Power. Johnston, whose triumph last season was his tenth in 19 years, is 5-2. The firm consider John Gosden and Richard Hannon the next most likely challengers.

But Charlie Appleby, runner-up to O’Brien at Royal Ascot, has a good-looking team and merits the highest respect at 14-1 in what looks an open contest.

He doesn't have an immediately obvious hand in any of the biggest contests but is strong in the handicaps, with Queen’s Vase third Secret Advisor in Wednesday’s 1m4f event, Friday's Betfred Mile the target for Royal Hunt Cup runner-up Blair House and the unexposed Culturati in Saturday's Stewards’ Cup.

Endless Time in Thursday’s Lillie Langtry and Frontiersman, bound for Friday's Glorious Stakes, add persuasion to the argument for the in-form trainer, who has produced nearly half of his runners to finish first or second this season and in which he is operating to a level-stakes profit.

William to conquer?

With the pick of Ballydoyle’s runners and some excellent outside rides, including Happy Like A Fool for Wesley Ward in Wednesday’s Molecomb Stakes, Ryan Moore is odds-on to retain his leading jockey crown.

Frankie Dettori, successful in 2015, should get off to a strong start on Big Orange in Tuesday’s Goodwood Cup, but a jockey who rides the course just as well is William Buick, who took the award in 2014.

Buick has had 15 Glorious Goodwood winners, was the course's top jockey in 2016 with nine successes and has added another two from four rides this year.

Runner-up to Moore at Ascot and with Appleby’s horses to ride, he is attractive with Paddy Power at 10-1, a price, like Appleby’s, that could get bigger with the bulk of their best chances later in the week.

Paul Binfield, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “Ryan Moore looks invincible but among the trainers it’s too close to call. Mark Johnston has a serious love affair with Glorious Goodwood and always targets the meeting. He may not have standout horses but he has had a great reputation in the smaller handicaps and two-year-old races.”

Top Trainer

Paddy Power 9-4 Aidan O'Brien, 5-2 Mark Johnston, 9-2 John Gosden, 6 Richard Hannon, 15-2 William Haggas, 8 Sir Michael Stoute, 14 Charlie Appleby.

Betfair 9-4 Aidan O’Brien, 5-2 Mark Johnston, 9-2 John Gosden

Top jockey

Paddy Power 1-2 Ryan Moore, 4 Frankie Dettori, 10 William Buick, 12 James Doyle, 16 Silvestre de Sousa, 33 Joe Fanning

Betfair 1-2 Ryan Moore, 4 Frankie Dettori, 10 William Buick