Beckett and Gosdens chasing further Goodwood success - but which line of form will prove the key?

There were two and three-quarter lengths between Tattycoram and Miss Tonnerre when they met in the Musidora Stakes at York last time, but they were fighting it out for fourth and fifth. Tattycoram got the best of the battle, but better was expected from Miss Tonnerre.

She went off at only 7-2 compared to Tattycoram being an 18-1 chance, and it is possible to argue that Miss Tonnerre should have finished closer. She took a heavy bump from third-placed Go Go Boots at a crucial stage and wasn’t given a hard time when beaten.

However, Tattycoram helped set the pace that day in a race that was run at a solid gallop and probably did too much too soon. There evidently shouldn’t be much between her and Miss Tonnerre again this time, but preference is for Tattycoram to confirm the places on these same terms. 

Tattycoram’s trainer Ralph Beckett won the race with Antonia De Vega in 2019 and the Gosden stable has twice been successful in the last ten seasons. Their representatives are Queen Of Thieves and El Budoor, who carries the same colours as 2023 winner Al Asifah.

Al Asifah came in totally unexposed, with one win from one, and El Budoor has a similar profile. She has had two runs but was successful in a maiden last time and should improve.

Similar comments apply to Janey Mackers, who has also won only a maiden and was fancied by some shrewd judges for the Height Of Fashion at the track last month, only to be declared a non-runner on account of the quick ground. This softer surface looks far more to her liking.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Going update

Goodwood took 12.6mm of rain on Friday night into Saturday, turning the ground soft, with the potential for more later on Saturday afternoon.

Clerk of the course Ed Arkell said: "I'm looking at something rather unpleasant on the radar so we'll see what that gives us. It was soft when we walked it at 7am this morning and it's probably tightened back a tiny bit since then. We'll see what we get in the next few hours."

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Anna Swan, Purple Rainbow and Rhapsody
I hope and think Purple Rainbow will appreciate the extra trip. She’s in good form and ready to go. I don’t know about the ground, but the Night Of Thunders we’ve had seem to go on it and her dam Daphne stayed well. We hope she might improve going up in trip. Rhapsody has been a bit disappointing so we’re trying something different. She won very impressively at Yarmouth on soft ground so we’re hoping a bit of cut will suit her. Anna Swan ran awfully at Newmarket and we don’t know why, but we’re hopeful of a better show. She works nicely at home.

Jane Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Bowerchalke
She came out of her win at Chelmsford the other day in really good order and we’re looking for some black type with her. We think she’s a filly who will appreciate a little cut in the ground.

Janey Mackers was an impressive winner at Doncaster back in OctoberCredit: John Grossick

David Menuisier, trainer of Janey Mackers
She wasn’t really 100 per cent tuned up for Newmarket but also she just couldn’t lay up on the ground. The ground was just rolling under her feet and she didn’t know what was going on. We’re going back to basics and trying her on softer ground to see what happens. She won in good fashion last year but I haven’t seen the same filly so far this year. Let’s hope on softer ground we see it tomorrow. I think she is more of an autumn filly, she’s more of a slowly maturing type.

Ed Walker, trainer of Miss Tonnerre
Her effort at York was disappointing because we think she's quite smart. She took a big bump, which Tom Marquand thought was her undoing, and she was fresh and keen as well. We're hoping she does a lot better with a run under her belt.    

Richard Hughes, trainer of Quebella
She’s a lovely filly and will love the cut in the ground. She was good at Windsor last time giving away weight on going that wouldn’t have totally suited her. I think she’s got a really nice chance.

Robert Havlin, rider of Queen Of Thieves
We made a lot of use of her at Chester and she didn’t get home, so we held her up last time and they went a slow gallop which meant she never got into the race. We’ll change our tactics again for this race and hope that will get the result we’re after, but I do think she’ll be better over a mile and a half.
Reporting by Peter Scargill and Scott Burton

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