Glorious Goodwood has provided top quality racing again this week, highlighted by Frankel easing to a second successive victory in the Sussex Stakes. The curtain comes down on the festival with the traditional cavalry charge for the Stewards’ Cup on Saturday.

This year’s race looks as competitive as ever with Ladbrokes going 10-1 the field. One of the best-supported runners is the Scottish-trained Hawkeyethenoo. The six-year-old son of Hawk Wing has won seven races for Jim Goldie but is yet to race at Goodwood. He has become something of an Ascot regular but has shown form on a variety of tracks and was an excellent second at Epsom so there is no reason why he won’t handle the undulations here. A bigger concern is the fact that he has been campaigned over 7 furlongs, including last time out when a running on seventh in the International Stakes. Prior to that he had run a fair fifth in the Group 1 July Cup and an excellent third in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting.

The Ascot form matches him closely with the runner-up Waffle but Hawkeyethenoo received a hefty bump at the furlong pole and a bold run is expected. A good draw in stall four gives him every chance of continuing a trend for the winners to come from the far side of the course. David Barron has not raced Waffle since his fine Ascot run and he is also well-drawn in 6 and gets a 10-1 quote from Ladbrokes along with Hawkeyethenoo

Friday’s big betting race is the Betfred Mile and the draw is often decisive in this race. The ante-post favourite Trade Commissioner had been given an impossible task from stall 21 but trainer John Gosden has pulled him out of the race after he reportedly failed to eat up. Having dominated the early betting exchanges on the race; his absence throws it wide open. Top weight Prince Of Johanne has also been done no favours with a 16 draw and may struggle to confirm his Hunt Cup form with Excellent Guest (stall 3). Ladbrokes have clearly done their homework and it is the low numbers that head their re-formed market. Mark Johnston’s Fulbright is their new favourite at 8-1 ahead of Excellent Guest at 9-1. It is bound to be a competitive race but, given luck in running, both should run well.

Saturday’s other feature race is the Nassau Stakes with John Gosden running Izzi Top and The Fugue. Bet365 make Izzi Top 2-1 favourite to continue her winning ways at the expense of her stable companion. The Fugue drops back to a mile and a quarter for the first time since her impressive Musidora Stakes win and is a 7-2 chance.

Author Profile: Harvey Mayson+

written by Harvey \\ tags: Betfred Mile, Excellent Guest, Frankel, Goodwood, Hawkeyethenoo, Izzi Top, Jim Goldie, John Gosden, Nassau Stakes, The Fugue, Trade Commissioner, Waffle