Strong entries for August Bank Holiday at Goodwood Racecourse
Last year’s winner Lightning Spear heads the confirmations for the Group 2 Grosvenor Sport Celebration Mile on Saturday 26 August at Goodwood Racecourse.
David Simcock’s six-year-old colt beat Zonderland, who was also one of 16 left in the race at the final confirmation stage, by a length and three quarters in 2016 and clearly acts well on Goodwood’s unique mile course, as he returned to form to finish a close third in the Qatar Sussex Stakes earlier this month. Alongside Beat The Bank, Lightning Spear is currently 11/4 favourite with the new race sponsors.
Beat The Bank is another with recent course and distance form, having won the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Andrew Balding’s three-year-old will be tackling Group 2 company for the first time if he lines up on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien has left two horses in the race; Deauville, who was recently third in the Arlington Million in the USA and Lancaster Bomber, who finished sixth in the Qatar Sussex Stakes.
Thirty four horses have been entered for the Goodwood Revival Handicap earlier in the card on Saturday, with the race carrying total prize money of £100,000. The Group 3 Prestige Stakes has attracted 15 high class entries, with Qatar Goodwood Festival winner Billesdon Brook among the most eye-catching.
On Sunday, the Group 3 Weatherbys Racing Bank Supreme Stakes has received 25 entries, including Royal Ascot winner Bless Him and the highly rated Dutch Connection.
Commenting on the going, Seamus Buckley, Clerk of the Course, said; “The course has recovered well after the Qatar Goodwood Festival meeting and the ground staff have done a fantastic job of reinstating the surface. We’ve had 16mm of rain over the last 24 hours and I am describing the going as Good to Soft at present. The forecast is for a more settled, dry week, so I would anticipate starting the fixture on Good ground.”
Tickets to the August Bank Holiday Weekend start from just £10 per day, with under 18s going free. All of the additional entertainment and activities are free on entry. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.goodwood.com
ENDS
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