Matt Chapman: Spain can reign in Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes

IT’S Day 2 of Glorious Goodwood Wednesday and of course ITV is back with all the best action for the big Sussex Stakes afternoon.
Let’s get straight to it, and the 1.50pm at Goodwood is a handicap over an extended 2m 4f. LIL ROCKERFELLA was rated a lot lower when hacking up in this last year, but I have a feeling he will be tough to beat again. He stays all day and will get a positive ride. Should go close.

Next up at 2.25pm is another handicap, this time over 1m 4f. EMINENCE has only raced over this trip once and that was the best effort of his life when third in the King George V Handicap at Ascot. He was unlucky not to win that day as well. He could be the one to back each-way here for Aidan O’Brien.

It’s the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes for juveniles over 5f at 3.00pm. Goodwood is all about speed, and MAVEN has it in bundles. The US raider from Wes Ward’s barn will take some stopping under Frankie Dettori after a fine Group success in France last time.

And finally the big one, the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over 1m at 3.35pm. PHOENIX OF SPAIN ran poorly at Royal Ascot behind the re-opposing Circus Maximus, but he’ll be hard to keep out the frame here. I think he will be able to sit handy behind the Irish pacemaker and get first run on some of these. His Irish 2000 Guineas win was really good and he was a fine juvenile with plenty of scope for Charlie Hills.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

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