The Unibet Golden Mile is always one of the most exciting races at the Goodwood Festival and, while a lowish draw is advantageous and plenty of luck is needed to find a passage through the big field, previous course form must also be regarded as a plus.
To this end, SENIORITY is not too badly drawn in stall 11 and is fancied to repeat last year's victory off a mark just 3lb higher.
William Haggas's charge, aboard whom Ryan Moore will be carrying the Royal colours once again, overcame the usual trouble in running 12 months ago to win decisively from the in-form Poet's Society.
Sent to Dubai earlier this year without much success, Seniority seems to be returning to form at just the right time and can turn the tables on his Epsom conqueror Gossiping on much better terms and also take another step forward after a promising, staying on fourth on the Newcastle all-weather subsequently.
Haggas also fields the likely favourite Mojito who is 6lb well in on his future mark after making a successful reappearance from the re-opposing Escobar (recent winner) at Sandown early last month.
That was some performance after a 21-month absence but I always have reservations regarding the second run in such situations.
Indeed is another well handicapped runner under a 3lb penalty for winning at Newmarket recently (4lb higher in future handicaps), though this looks a stiffer task especially from stall 16.
Earlier, FIFTH POSITION is interesting back at a mile in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
Roger Varian's charge ran better than his 'fifth position' suggested over a mile and a quarter against older, higher-rated rivals at Sandown last time and had previously performed creditably on this course (1m3f) behind Private Secretary and Spanish Mission.
Andrea Atzeni should be able to ride a positive race here, perhaps similar to the front-running tactics deployed for a game win over Space Blues (two wins and two high level seconds since) at Nottingham back in April over this trip on which form his mount looks over-priced.
In the opening Theo Fennell Oak Tree Stakes, Haggas has no less than four representatives and none have been done too many favours by the draw.
However, I am hoping for a bit of magic from Tom Marquand aboard the recent Bunbury Cup runner-up SOLAR GOLD from stall 18.
The wide start position will be reflected in her likely odds, but this daughter of Sea The Stars is progressing nicely and was a little unlucky at Newmarket where forced to race apart from the winner Vale Of Kent, and with nothing to race with in the closing stages.
Solar Gold had earlier looked unlucky again when third to the re-opposing Billesdon Brook at Chelmsford where she had to wait for an opening and, with better fortune, this genuine filly can go close here at decent odds.
Posted at 1700 BST on 01/08/2019.
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