Wonderful Tonight given green light for Lillie Langtry with ground to suit

Wonderful Tonight is among nine fillies and mares declared for Saturday's Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, and trainer David Menuisier anticipates no repeat of the lightning fast ground which kept her out of the King George at Ascot a week earlier.

William Buick will be back on board for Wonderful Tonight's second start of a campaign connections hope will culminate in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, having guided the daughter of Le Havre to an impressive success in the Hardwicke Stakes on her seasonal reappearance.

"There could be a bit more rain about and they're saying the ground will be no quicker than good," said Menuisier on Thursday morning. "I couldn't see it getting faster than that after they had 50 millimetres of rain earlier in the week. It's not going to be perfect but there could be a few showers around.

David Menuisier with Wonderful Tonight at his Pulborough yard, just up the road from GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

"She needs to run so she doesn't get silly so we'll go and then she can have a break before her next tasks, as long as there isn't a drastic change."

The likely presence of Wonderful Tonight – who is 7lb clear of her nearest rival on official ratings – has not deterred others from taking up the challenge in the Group 2, with Hardwicke fifth Albaflora set to reoppose.

3.05 Goodwood Saturday: Lillie Langtry racecard and betting

Other noteworthy runners are Divinely, who was best of the rest behind Snowfall in the Irish Oaks, and Believe In Love, an impressive winner of the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown on her most recent start.

"There's plenty of prize-money and it's a historic race so it's great that there are nine runners," said Menuisier. "The filly is really well but we won't be taking the opposition lightly, even though she'll be a heavy favourite.

"There's an unexposed three-year-old in there getting the weight [Divinely] and Goodwood is a funny track. You never know they'll handle it until they've done it."

Read reports from Goodwood this week

'Better than Chief Singer' - Smith's high praise for star filly Alcohol Free

Prix Morny among top-level targets for Armor after commanding Molecomb win

First Group 1 for Alan King as Trueshan relishes conditions in Goodwood Cup

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here