THE big two meetings of the summer flat season come at Ascot and Goodwood but, aside from being right-handed, the pair have little in common, and horses who fail to fire at Ascot can reward the patience of backers at Goodwood. Here are a few who flopped in Berkshire but are expected to fare much better in West Sussex.

Flora Of Bermuda (Andrew Balding)

Lennox Stakes (Tuesday)/ Oak Tree Stakes (Wednesday)

Flora of Bermuda is entered in both the Lennox Stakes and the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood and I’m looking forward to seeing the recent Summer Stakes winner stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time.

She is not too fond of the stalls and often starts slowly at sprint trips (got upset at Ascot and should have been withdrawn), and tends to do her best work late, including when running on late for fourth to Lazzat in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (six and a half furlongs at Deauville) in 2024.

That was the longest trip she’s tackled and she ran right up to her best behind a horse who is just about the best sprinter in Europe on his day. On that evidence, she should relish seven furlongs on a sharp track and would be of massive interest if taking up either engagement; she’s 16/1 for the Lennox at the time of writing, but I’d be inclined to see her declared as Andrew Balding also has Marvelman in that contest.

Oolong Poobong (Ed Bethell)

Bolney English Wines Fillies’ Handicap (Tuesday)

Oolong Poobong wasn’t seen last year after an eye-catching run at Royal Ascot and shaped really well on her belated return at Thirsk, which led to me suggesting her as one of the better handicap bets of the week at Royal Ascot.

Things did not go well for her in the Kensington Palace Stakes, however, but I’m prepared to forgive that having seen the jockey bookings for Tuesday.

High draws were best at Ascot and she was drawn in stall 3 of 24, but a bigger reason for her poor run is that Jamie Spencer decided to do his best to undo the draw bias by restraining her at the start and then switching across the track to the stands side. This ploy has been tried before, including by Spencer, and it rarely works.

Those with long memories will recall him getting “ride of the season” plaudits when winning the Nunthorpe on Kyllachy by switching all the way across the course, but few remember that runner-up Malhub was drawn next to Kyllachy and ran to his draw, showing that the dramatic move was not needed. For the next 20 years the mercurial Jamie has tried to repeat the feat on other occasions but has found the magic failing to work again. I’m not bitter, though...

Connor Beasley has been booked to ride Oolong Poobong in the Bolney English Wines Fillies’ Handicap on Tuesday and the change of rider and ease in class can see her bounce straight back to form having been dropped a couple of pounds since the start of the season.

Sahara King (Richard

Hannon)

Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (Wednesday)

Unlike a few, Sahara King holds just one entry at present and is very likely to line up in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap which kicks off Wednesday’s card. He was last seen finishing unplaced behind Lost Boys in the Golden Gates Handicap at the Royal Meeting but had shaped very well on his previous start when just failing against the same horse in the London Gold Cup at Newbury, where he came with a strong run from the rear up the home straight and battled all the way to the line. The form is clearly very strong and the question is why he disappointed at Ascot, with Wathnan Racing buying him and Lost Boys prior to that contest.

For me, Sahara King didn’t run badly at all at Ascot, but being ridden from the rear made him a hostage to fortune and although he ran on in the closing stages, the leaders were never stopping as can be the case in round-course handicaps at the Berkshire venue. He showed at Newbury that he likes to come with a sweeping run rather than quickening instantly, and the key to him at Goodwood will be for Sean Levey to get an uninterrupted passage up the straight.

It’s often said that Goodwood suits front-runners, but the truth is that races there unravel according to pace and the leaders often commit too early when going downhill at the entrance to the straight, which can suit the hold-up horses who are able to switch wide up the centre (although heaven help anyone trying to get through on the far rail).

Sahara King was suited by getting room at Newbury and will need a bit of space to operate in, but he remains one to be interested in. He wore cheekpieces at Ascot, incidentally, but still tended to edge right late in the day and I doubt the headgear is needed.

Godwinson (Jack Channon)

Coral Golden Mile (Friday)

Godwinson is expected to line up in the Coral Golden Mile on Friday and the 2025 Lincoln winner is now with Jack Channon having moved from William Haggas but remains in the ownership of Jon and Julia Aisbitt.

Rated 94 when scoring at Doncaster last year, he followed up at Newcastle from a 5lb higher mark and was raised again to 104 but now finds himself back below his last winning mark having been unplaced in the Hambleton Handicap at York and the Royal Hunt Cup for his new trainer.

It’s easy to suggest he’s lost his way, but there was more in the Ascot run to suggest he could get back on track, racing off the pace at Ascot and improving his position when denied a clear run two furlongs out. He was forced to switch again a furlong later and not knocked about as he passed a couple late to finish in midfield.

That run will ensure that Godwinson is fully up to speed for his new yard and while he may need the draw to help him in a race that usually favours those berthed in single figures, he can unleash a good turn of foot and is capable of winning from off the pace if needed, overcoming a wide draw in an admittedly smaller field when scoring over course and distance in 2024.

Backers must trust that all his ability remains intact, but he has hinted that is the case and will be a threat to all if getting the breaks.