GLORIOUS GHANAATI

I'VE got high hopes Goodwood could turn out to be Glorious for Ghanaati in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday.

The Group One race is the week's main event and Ghanaati can raise herself from very special to superstar by adding the midsummer mile crown to her wins in the 1,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot's Coronation Stakes.

Yes, perched high atop the Sussex Downs in near matchless countryside, Glorious Goodwood is back with us on Tuesday with a five-day feast of first-class racing in unsurpassed surroundings.

The course is on the private Goodwood estate and while it is undoubtedly posh, it also has a rich tradition as a day out for the non-silver spoon brigade.

Before the days of package holidays it had a huge following among northern racegoers holidaying along the south coast resorts while the factories of Yorkshire and Lancashire closed for their annual breaks.

Sadly they and the jobs which sustained them have been scattered to the winds of 'progress'.

But as the crammed coach parks prove the place is still a magnet, though any keen punter will tell you that the course can be a nightmare of hard luck stories with more boxings-in than you get at an undertaker's.

As for Ghanaati, when she won the Guineas at 20-1 with Richard Hills on board it was a surprise to many but not to trainer dad Barry Hills, who told everyone with the manners to ask that she was an exceptional filly.

She certainly looked dazzling at Ascot and can outgun market rival Rip Van Winkle, who should be thrilled to turn up at a racecourse and not find Sea The Stars in the field.

Rip Van Winkle has finished fourth to Sea The Stars in the 2,000 Guineas and Derby before being runner-up to John Oxx's magnificent colt in the Eclipse.

Back over a mile round here Rip Van Winkle may find Ghanaati is simply too fast.

Double

Michael Stoute can knock in a double on opening day with Harbinger in the Gordon Stakes and Main Aim in the Betfair Cup.

Main Aim, who gets better and better, was a superb second over six furlongs in the July Cup and the extra furlong here will be bang up his street.

In Thursday's Audi Stakes over five furlongs Luca Cumani's Ialysos, 'the Greek Freak', will be all the rage but better value may lie with Moorhouse Lad.

These pure speed tests are specialist's races and Moorhouse Lad has won this.

I love Saturday's Stewards' Cup but nothing leaps out at me. Mac Gille Eion carries a 3lb penalty but does relish switchback speed tracks like this and will run a huge race for each-way backers.

Read Alastair Down every week in the Racing Post

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