Goodwood Saturday

1:20 Coral Glorious Stakes (Group 3) 1m 3f 218y

Al Aasy has the form to win this, but his run style always leaves him a slight hostage to fortune, and whilst he’ll like some cut in the ground, so too will Arabian Crown, an impressive winner of Sandown’s Classic Trial on good to soft ground last year and unbeaten in two runs on soft ground as a juvenile.

Three starts this season haven’t seen him run to quite that standard, but he had been off the track for almost a year before his return and probably needed his first two runs.

He shaped better in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on his latest start, and, under conditions that suit, he represents some value against the market leader.

1:55 Coral Summer Handicap 1m 6f

Align The Stars made all in this last year, but those who have been ridden patiently have a better record historically in this contest, so I’d be happy siding with a hold-up horse here, with two catching the eye straight off the page.

French Duke produced a lifetime best when winning over a mile and a half at Ascot in September on yielding ground and – for the second year running – shaped much better than the bare result in a Royal Ascot handicap last time.

He won here last year on the back of a luckless run in the King George V Handicap, and was again an eyecatcher when seven and a half lengths eighth of 18 to Ethical Diamond in Duke of Edinburgh Stakes last month.

He needs to prove his stamina for this longer trip, but tends to do his best work late over shorter, and is clearly worth a try at mile and three quarters.

Stamina is no concern for Subsequent, who badly needed his first outing of the season at York, and his last of six behind Al Qareem in the John Smith’s Silver Cup is easily excused; he looked a much-improved performer towards the end of last year once the ground turned softer and that’s very much in his favour here.

He handled the track well enough when fifth at this meeting last year, with a mile and a half on quick ground not proving enough of a stamina test, but he’ll be ideally suited by today’s conditions and makes plenty of appeal at the current odds.

2:30 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 1m 6f

Term Of Endearment bids to follow up last year’s success in this contest, but she hasn’t recaptured the pick of her form for Henry de Bromhead since being sold expensively, and I’m happy to oppose her now.

Goodie Two Shoes didn’t make the grade over fences for Joseph O’Brien, but she has looked better than ever since returning to the flat, winning her last three races, all on right-handed track. She beat Drawn To Dream in the Stanerra Stakes last time, and the runner-up has since run well to be third in the Curragh Cup behind Al Riffa.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock is effective on good ground, but four of her wins have come with ease in the ground, and she should have no trouble with what is likely to be tacky ground here.

3:05 Coral Stewards’ Cup 6f

Apollo One is arguably a little high in the weights and has been beaten in this race off lower marks, but that statement needs context as he has run tremendously well to be runner-up behind Aberama Gold on heavy ground two years ago and found only Get It too strong on good to firm last season.

He has work to do with Get It on Wokingham form, but is one of the most consistent top-end sprint handicappers of recent seasons, and the fact that he’s drawn next to George Baker’s speedball means that he’s likely to get the run of the race, and that makes him of interest in a race where track position is likely to be crucial.

Purosangue disappointed in this 12 months ago but had excuses on the ground, while he was badly drawn in the middle, and arguably ran his race beforehand when getting upset and rearing just before the stalls opened.

He ran well on heavy ground here as a juvenile and is definitely a better horse when getting his toe in, so I can see him running much better today having dropped to a mark that saw him start favourite last term.

Purosangue caught the eye keeping on well from a disadvantageous position in the Wokingham, also on ground quicker than he would like, and he appears to be running himself into form at just the right time.

3:45 Whispering Angel Handicap 7f

Three runs on good to soft and heavy ground as a juvenile saw Spirit Of Farhh finish in the frame twice before winning readily at Newbury when heavily supported. His best effort this season coincided with encountering softer conditions last time when a ready winner at Newmarket recently, with the first two six lengths clear of the others (runner-up runs there on Friday night, if you need a steer).

He clearly saves his best efforts for easier ground and whilst a 6lb rise for that win demands more, his proven ability on the ground means he is a big player, and it would be a brave man who would suggest his progress has levelled out just yet.

Eve Johnson Houghton is enjoying a good week with two winners and a third from seven Goodwood runners, so there are no concerns on that score.

Newmarket Saturday

2:10 British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap 6f

Sayidah Hard Spun looked to benefit from the return to six furlongs when winning narrowly at Ascot last time, and the assessor has not been harsh in raising her 3lb for that nursery success.

She is reunited with Billy Loughnane now, who was aboard for her previous win at Kempton, and the partnership should prove hard to beat in a race which is numerically weak.

3:20 British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes (Listed) (Fillies & Mares) 1m 4f

Sioux Life hasn’t matched her smart Italian form in two runs for Marco Botti this season, but she went without her usual tongue tie on her return and wasn’t disgraced when fifth of eight to Estrange in the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock last time.

A facile winner of the prestigious Premio Lydia Tesio in October, she takes a welcome drop in grade here and should win if back to her best.

Subsequent 1:55 Goodwood – 1pt e/w 10/1 (Sky Bet - 5 places; general 4 places)

Goodie Two Shoes 2:30 Goodwood – 1pt win 4/1 (Hills, 7/2 general)

Apollo One 3:05 Goodwood – 0.5pts e/w 20/1 (Ladbrokes - 5 places)

Purosangue 3:05 Goodwood – 1pt e/w 15/2 (Sky Bet - 7 pl; 8/1 Ladbrokes, BetVictor 5 pl)

Spirit Of Farhh 3:45 Goodwood – 1pt e/w 20/1 (g