'He could be a massive contender' - key quotes and analysis for competitive £150,000 Coral Golden Mile

Ed Dunlop won 2014’s Golden Mile and his representative this time is Skukuza, who 8lb well in with just a 3lb penalty to carry for an all-the-way Listed win at the Curragh.

That win followed a Premier handicap success at the same venue when Ryan Moore used contrasting tactics and the colt’s versatility will be an asset from stall 17. 

It’s also worth noting that a wide draw has been no barrier to success in recent years with the last two Golden Miles won from stalls 18 and 21.

Bopedro is another drawn wide. The nine-year-old has shown he retains plenty of ability this season and his latest effort at Ascot is worth excusing, given the unsuitable slow early tempo. Danny Tudhope deserts him in favour of Mirsky but the trainer has landed two of the last five runnings, including with Orbaan, who was down the order on jockey bookings.

Course form has come to the fore already this week and five-time course winner Rhoscolyn has to be of interest after the rains arrived. They didn’t go quick enough for him over seven furlongs on Wednesday and he lurks on a dangerous mark, his joint-lowest since winning here in 2023.

Arisaig is another course winner of interest at double-figure odds. The filly won at this meeting last season and her only other course visit was an unlucky fifth when beaten just under two lengths at Listed level earlier this season. 

She wasn’t seen to best effect when runner-up at Sandown last time, unable to reel in a rival who made all the running, and that form has already received a boost with the winner going close in Saturday’s International. This race should be run to suit and the yard’s entries have been outrunning their odds this week.
Analysis by Phill Anderson

'In the end he just had a canter' - Menuisier expects big run

Local trainer David Menuisier has already welcomed a winner at Glorious Goodwood this week and believes Tribal Chief has every chance of adding a second in the ultra-competitive Coral Golden Mile.

David Menuisier: has a live chance in the Golden MileCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Menuisier, who is based 15 miles from Goodwood in Pulborough, is confident his four-year-old can return to the form he showed towards the end of last year and go close in the £150,000 race, which attracted a full field of 20 albeit before the downpours.

"If he handles Goodwood perfectly, and I can't see why he wouldn't, he could be a massive contender," said Menuisier. "He started off the season really well with a second at Newmarket in April behind Bullet Point. I then sent him to France to run in a handicap but he was really disappointing. 

"He came back with a sore foot and an abscess, so he must have been feeling it. Sometimes those take a long time to come through – at the time of the race the horse was fine but afterwards he wasn't himself. 

"At Newcastle last time he had a nightmare as he was trapped with nowhere to go on the rail and in the end he just had a canter." 

What they say

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Skukuza
He's got a lot of weight for a reason, but he's in good form and we've got Mr Moore, who knows him well having ridden him twice this season. The draw in stall 17 could be kinder, but we've got what we've got. I think if the rain comes, then it'll favour us just as long as it doesn't go very soft.

David O'Meara, trainer of Bopedro, Rhoscolyn, Mirsky, Theoryofeverything and Blue For You
Mirsky had a good season up until Epsom. Ascot probably didn't suit him and it took plenty out of him, so maybe he was feeling the effects at Sandown. He seems in good form and Goodwood should suit him well, but hopefully the ground isn't too heavy. Rhoscolyn likes Goodwood and soft ground, but the mile could stretch him a touch. He ran the other day from a bad draw in a race that didn't suit, but he's come out of it well and he'll enjoy the rain. Blue For You is struggling for form and has a wide draw in 20, so if they start coming across to the stands' side after the rain then it might not be as bad. Theoryofeverything will like the ground if it softens up and Bopedro has been running as well as he ever has this year. He got stuck in traffic at Ascot last time, but he went from Ascot to Goodwood when fifth in the Golden Mile last year. He seems in better form.

Charlie Johnston, trainer of Arisaig and Dutch Decoy
It's been the plan for Arisaig for a long time. She obviously won over course and distance last year and she's coming into it off the back of a very good run at Sandown. Jamie [Spencer] is booked, we've got a solid draw in nine and all the ducks are in a row. We're worried about the rain, though. If it goes soft, then it'll severely impede her chances. Dutch Decoy has had two wins and he was third in race two years ago and second last year, so he'll have a very good chance.

Michael Bell, trainer of Greek Order
He's in good order. He's got a kind draw in stall two and he's won on slow ground, but we'll be doing a weather watch. He's in very good form and we're looking forward to it.

William Muir, joint-trainer of Ebt's Guard
He's in extremely good form and he looks a picture. Everything he's doing is really good and it doesn't matter about the ground, but I think he's better with cut in it. He ran a terrific race in the Hunt Cup when seventh as he was probably drawn in the wrong place. Last time we dropped him to seven furlongs in the Bunbury Cup and he got hampered twice, which probably cost us getting placed. His form is strong and it has been all year, and it's all positive. He was unlucky when he was second here last year. If he got the gap he would've definitely won, so hopefully we have a change of luck with him.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, owner of Real Gain
Real Gain has had some niggly issues which have kept him off the track for over a year but Richard [Hughes, trainer] reports him to be working very well. Any rain that falls will be a huge help to him.

Alistair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owner of Fantastic Fox
He'll love the ground, he's been waiting for that, but he's got a terrible draw. He's a hold-up horse and ridden for luck, which he hasn't had in a while, but if he gets some luck it looks a good race for him.  

Clive Cox, trainer of Star Anthem
He'll appreciate the rain. He's in very good order and he's run here before, so we don't think he'll have any problems with the track. He'll like the easier conditions if it comes.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Fifth Column
He's in good form. He obviously won very well at the July meeting and he's just got in off bottom weight. The rain has arrived, but he's relatively versatile when it comes to ground.
Reporting by Liam Headd

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