Temperature about to rise as Too Darn Hot takes centre stage

Day one of Glorious Goodwood was too darn windy but normal service may be about to be resumed with Too Darn Hot all the rage to show his true colours in the Qatar Sussex Stakes, the £1 million highlight on day two.

Last year's champion juvenile, Too Darn Hot had been expected to start the current campaign as dominantly as he had ended the previous but was prevented from running in the 2,000 Guineas with a minor injury that rather threw his schedule into flux.

Instead of Newmarket, he started his season at York, when failing to quite see out the extended mile and a quarter in the Dante Stakes and again came out second best in the Irish Guineas nine days later.

Those reverses did not stop him starting favourite for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, however, where he looked the most likely winner turning for home, only to succumb to Circus Maximus and stablemate King of Comedy late in the final furlong.

Yet just as it appeared that last year's sheen had faded away, he put in a performance that had all the hallmarks of his 2018 dominance when dropped back to 7f in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at the start of the month and he once again finds himself in a familiar position at the head of the market for Wednesday's Group 1.

The main question now revolves around the return to a mile and whether Too Darn Hot's speed will be as potent over an extra furlong, although Goodwood's helter-skelter mile would be less of a stamina test than Ascot's round mile.

Circus Maximus and Phoenix Of Spain, who defeated Too Darn Hot at the Curragh, reoppose while the redoubtable Queen Anne Stakes winner Lord Glitters leads the older milers into battle in a race that has often provided a memorable clash of the generations.

Away from the day's big-race and ground permitting, Wesley Ward will saddle his first runner at Goodwood when Maven tackles the Group 3 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes.

A son of US Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, Maven was a late absentee from the Norfolk Stakes last month due to soft ground but made up for that with a Group 3 win at Chantilly and his natural speed should be seen to good effect on this speedy 5f track.

His main rival according to the market is Liberty Beach, who is also blessed with brazen speed and the winner of three of her four starts.

Oh so easy: Lil Rockerfeller and Silvestre de Sousa saunter to a 15-length victory in the 2018 Goodwood HandicapCredit: Getty Images

Stamina rather than speed is the key to winning the opening Unibet Goodwood Handicap, with winning chaser Lil Rockerfeller out to score back-to-back wins in the 2m4½f handicap.

Last year the popular stayer, who refuses to go into the stalls, bolted up by 15 lengths in a race which is started by flag and tape rather than starting gates.

Get ready for the classiest of handicap chases

Officially it is only a handicap. Unofficially it is so much more than a handicap.

The last six winners of the thetote.com Galway Plate have won ten Grade 1s between them and banked over €2.5 million in prize-money over their stellar careers. The average rating of the last five winners is just shy of 146. There have been Irish Gold Cup winners, Ryanair winners and a Cheltenham Gold Cup third masquerading as summer handicappers in the last decade. If only we knew then what we know now.

But, where is the class act among this year's field? It could be Yorkhill, of course it could. He could laugh at this lot if he is in the right mood. But, if he is in bad humour, he could veer violently left and pop into Supermacs for a burger in between the two fences down in the dip.

Yorkhill: supremely talented but quirkyCredit: Caroline Norris

Coney Island beat Anibale Fly and Road To Respect in the Drinmore a few years ago, you know, and unbelievably he is still only eight. Can someone please check his birth certificate?

The best horse in the race is Black Corton according to the handicapper and Bryony Frost is just the type of girl Galwegians fall for. She enjoys herself, has the gift of the gab and, most importantly, she is lethal from the front so beware. If she gets a freebee, she might not come back.

Peregrine Run has won his last five, Borice has won his last two races by a combined 67 lengths and Mengli Khan was third to Defi Du Seuil in a vintage renewal of the JLT at Cheltenham in March.

Five of this year's field are already Grade 1 winners so it is going to take something special to pocket the juicy cheque for €177,000. Only a handicap, you say. Are you having a laugh?

The layers won't be laughing if Buildmeupbuttercup wins the maiden for amateur riders at 6.45 for Willie and Patrick Mullins. She was second in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting and looks in a completely different league to her rivals. She will be the focal point of so many multiples on Wednesday.

Subsequent Ballymore winner City Island passed the post in front of Getareason in the opening 2m5f maiden hurdle last year – before subsequently being disqualified for a positive sample – and Dancing On My Own runs in the same colours of Sean Mulryan this time around.

He was only beaten half a length by Buildmeupbuttercup in a maiden hurdle at Navan and was third and fourth to Klassical Dream on his next two starts. That is strong form for July, isn't it?

Galway has never been so competitive. Who would have thought we get a glimpse of Yorkhill in July. He is sure to put on a show, we just don't know whether it will be a comedy, horror or thriller. Tune in at 7.20pm to find out. Parental guidance is advised.
David Jennings

Armchair guide in Britain

1.50 Goodwood
Unibet Goodwood Handicap, 2m4f

A competitive field including last year's winner Lil Rockerfeller battle it out in this marathon handicap, one of Goodwood's oldest races.

2.25 Goodwood
Unibet Handicap, 1m3f

Sir Ron Priestley heads the betting as he bids to join this race's illustrious roll of honour, which includes top-level performers Pilsudski, Pether's Moon and Dartmouth.

Dartmouth: a previous winner of the Unibet Handicap at Goodwood

3.00 Goodwood
Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, 5f

American trainer Wesley Ward continues his love affair with British racing by running the unbeaten Maven in this £75,000 sprint.

3.35 Goodwood
Group 1 Sussex Stakes, 1m

Too Darn Hot returns to a mile in a red-hot contest featuring his Royal Ascot conqueror Circus Maximus and Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain.

Armchair guide in Ireland

5.10 Galway
Tote Supporting Irish Racing Since 1930 Maiden Hurdle 2m5f

Willie Mullins has won this opening contest four times in the past five seasons and bids to maintain his strong recent record with Diamond Hill.

5.40 Galway
Tote Proud Sponsor Of The Galway Races Handicap Hurdle 2m5f

Joseph O'Brien began the festival with a bang and has a strong chance here with top weights Air Supremacy and West Coast Time.

6.10 Galway
Sign Up For A Tote Account Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle 2m1f

Dan and Harry Skelton, who have a big chance in Wednesday's feature with Azzuri, will warm up for that contest by sending out the in-form So Lonely, a three-time winner over hurdles.

6.45 Galway
Play The Tote Trifecta (Q.R.) Maiden 1m4f

An interesting bunch are set to do battle with Buildmeupbuttercup and Run For Mary likely to play prominent roles.

7.20 Galway
thetote.com Galway Plate 2m6f

No horse has enjoyed a better summer than Peter Fahey's Peregrine Run, with the nine-year-old chasing his sixth win on the trot in today's big race.

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