MARK Johnston is virtually unstoppable at this meeting and sent out a hugely promising juvenile debutante in 12/1 chance Threading, who ran away with the Markel Insurance Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, coming home six lengths ahead of Your Choice with Pulitzer third.

This followed success for the stable with Londinium in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap over a mile and half.

Threading was offering William Buick swift compensation following the defeat of Ribchester and, like everyone else, he will be wondering if further glory at the highest level awaits. The filly is a daughter of Exceed And Excel and is from the family of Dubai Millennium, her unraced dam Chaquiras being a full-sister to the Godolphin star.

“I said to Jono Mills, Godolphin’s bloodstock manager, that the only rule is that there are no rules,” Johnston smiled. “Many people think that Exceed And Excels need top of the ground, for example. But we’re here to run and that’s what we were always going to do. We won’t get too carried away. She’s been a bit more low-key than Lumiere, but clearly that was very impressive. We’ll take the future as it comes and she’ll be out again shortly.”

Brian Meehan’s uneasy favourite Mushahadaat had finished second on softish ground at Newbury and had the perfect draw under the stands’ rails but dropped out soon after half-way.

Johnston saddled three in the Matchbook Betting Exchange race, a contest he has dominated over the past few years. Quite a few punters now cover all of the trainer’s runners in this sort of event because there is no telling which one will shine on the day.

Given a good ride by Joe Fanning, Londinium, 9/1, seized the initiative two furlongs out and stayed on strongly to hold gallant On To Victory (conceding 13lb) by a length and a half. Fanning has been a stable stalwart for many years and was recording his 17th festival winner.

FIRST FOR JOSEPHINE

It rained throughout the afternoon and it was pouring down during the marathon Betting Exchange Goodwood Handicap over the extended two and a half miles. As usual, several jumping yards were involved, while Ian Williams, who operates under both codes, has a good record in a unique event.

He won this one with 25/1 chance Cool Sky, who kept on gamely for Josephine Gordon up the straight and finally wore down the well-backed Aurora Gray to score by just over a length. Arthur McBride, up there all the way, was third.

Cool Sky is a dual-purpose horse and the soft ground did not bother him, although Gordon, who was riding her first Goodwood festival winner and must have done five interviews off the reel straight after the race, commented on the nature of the task.

“It will only get worse as the afternoon goes on but he stuck his neck out and plugged on,” she said. “He had the cheekpieces off today and I didn’t want to hit the front too soon but he was happy enough to knuckle down.”

On a good day for women riders, Hollie Doyle kept Richard Hannon’s Billesdon Bess going to land the fillies’ handicap over a mile and quarter before the ultra-consistent Truth Or Dare emerged from the murk to take the seven-furlong Cantor Fitzgerald Handicap for James Bethell and Danny Tudhope.

Irish treble in Perth

While all eyes were on Galway, there were three more Irish-trained winners at Perth on Wednesday. Gordon Elliott recorded a double, both partnered by Richard Johnson, while Gavin Cromwell landed the bumper with Vino’s Choice, the mount of Tom Scudamore.

Elliott’s winners began with Mountain King who ran out an easy 18-length winner of the two and a half mile handicap chase at 3/1.

In the following three mile hurdle Swingbridge (7/4 favourite) raced clear on the run-in to complete the double.

Vino’s Choice was sent off at 6/1 but made mooth headway to lead well over a furlong out and was soon pushed clear, readily. Rubbing Shoulders at 5/4 was the beaten favourite for Elliott and Johnson.