What you need to know to start your day including going from all the tracks

The weather hasn't always helped Goodwood live up to its Glorious moniker this week, but there's barely a cloud in the sky for the final day of the meeting and, with the Stewards' Cup the headline act, it promises to be a thrilling day of racing.

Sir Dancealot, representing the same connections as yesterday's Betfred Mile winner Master The World, has been the horse for money in the Stewards' Cup but will his high draw – near the stand's rail – prove the place to be? We'll know a bit more after the first race when 17 runners thunder down the same six furlongs in an exhilarating race to kick off proceedings.

The Gordon Stakes – surely a contender for the strongest Group 3 in the calendar bearing in mind its remarkable recent roll of honour – plays chief supporting act this year, and the exciting Crystal Ocean looks to live up to his big reputation.

It has been an up-and-down week for most punters this week, with Tuesday and Wednesday something of a bloodbath, followed by more favourable results the past two days, but, with five handicaps on the card, today could prove decisive in the battle between backers and layers.

Good luck.
Tony McFadden from Goodwood

Going report

Goodwood - first race 1.50

Soft, good to soft in places (GoingStick 6.7 on Saturday at 9am).

Clerk of the course Seamus Buckley said: "We've dried out nicely and it's been a lovely, sunny morning without a cloud in the sky, and there are one or two areas round the back that have quickened up quickly. It was so badly damaged on the stands side on Thursday after Wednesday's rain, the ground is certainly even and better from the middle to the far side, so I would say the far side would be a bit quicker than the stands side."

Newmarket - first race 2.05

Good (GoingStick 7.2 on Friday at 11am). The repositioning of the bend into the home straight has increased the distance of the 12f races by 19 yards.

Doncaster - first race 2.10

Good to soft, good in places (GoingStick 7.5 on Saturday at 6.30am). The round course is railed out six yards from 1m2f until the round joins the straight, adding about 18 yards to races one, three and five.

Thirsk - first race 2.15

Good, good to soft in places (GoingStick 7.4 on Friday at 11am). Home (Wood Bend) dolled out by circa six metres which adds distance to standard for round course starts approximately as follows: 20 yards from 7f, 1m and 1m4f starts.

Galway - first race 2.30

National Hunt - Soft; Flat - Soft, soft to heavy in places

Lingfield - first race 5.15

Soft, good to soft in places (GoingStick 7.3 on Saturday at 6am)

Hamilton - first race 6.00

Good to soft, soft in places (GoingStick 6.2 on Saturday at 7am). Straight reduced to 14m wide (far side rail moved in 2m). Loop rail out five yards, adding approximately 13 yards to races five, six and seven.

Market movers

Goodwood 1.50 The Wagon Wheel 8-1 from 12-1

Richard Fahey made no secret of the fact the ground is a concern for his three-year-old but with the going description having dried out overnight and the sun having been shining all morning on the south coast, punters appearing to be taking a chance that things might just come good for the last-start winner.

Goodwood 3.35 Upstaging 25-1 (from 28-1)

Clerk of the course Seamus Buckley has warned punters this morning that the better ground is to be found away from the stands side of the course and so it will be no surprise to see those drawn lower coming in for some support. Upstaging will break from seven and tends to enjoy a downhill dash.

Galway 4.50 Rosin Box 10-1 (from 14-1)

This is a very tough seven furlong handicap but there has been money around for John Joseph Murphy's four-year-old Rosin Box. Lightly raced, Rosin Box's sole win came over a mile and perhaps, with the ground at Galway on the testing side, punters are hoping stamina could win the day.

What's on today

It is a racing day and the main points of action should be fairly obvious, as they have not changed since at least Tuesday.

Away from Goodwood and Galway, Newmarket host Listed racing in the opening Chalice Stakes (2.05), while over on the east coast of the USA this evening there are two Grade 1s from Saratoga. Gun Runner goes in the Whitney Stakes, but those who have had burned fingers at Goodwood might want to watch the preceding Test Stakes through knitted fingers - last year's winner was 55-1.

What to back

As ever, our tipsters have their selection of best bets on the day.

Paul Kealy has produced another set of Saturday Sizzlers, while Pricewise tries to solve one of racing's toughest puzzles. (Members' club)

What to read

Get set for the last day of Goodwood with the Opening Show.

Our regular columnists Richard Hughes and Freddy Tylicki also give their thoughts on the racing and beyond. (Members' club)

What to watch

Get ahead on everything taking place across the weekend with the Racing Postcast.

The best of Racing Post Sport

The football league kicks off on Saturday and we have previewed Aston Villa vs Hull among other Championship matches.

It is also day two of the world championship athletics in London. Read our best bets on day two.

Final thought

It will need another couple of years before a detached view can be taken, but the new front-loading of Goodwood leaves a fairly strange feeling at the end of the week. The stars of the show have already been decided. Though few would argue with the Gordon Stakes or Stewards' Cup having the ability to produce champions, the gratification is often delayed.