15:35 - Qatar King George Stakes
This is a Group 2 five furlong dash, and it is a really interesting race.
The Charlie Hills trained Battaash is chasing a hat trick, having won a Listed race and a Group 3 at Sandown. Both of these runs were on good to firm ground and it is difficult to judge if he will be as effective on the softer going. The only time he has raced on actual soft ground was at Ascot, and he weakened rather quickly inside the final furlong, after being quite unruly in the stalls that day.
Clive Cox has two runners in this and the one I really like is Profitable. He hasn't been into the winners enclosure since Royal Ascot last year, however, he has been running well and a return to soft conditions is right up his street. He was second on good to firm going to the brilliant Lady Aurelia last time out and prior to that he was second in much softer conditions at Deauville. He hasn't raced here at Goodwood before, however, I am hoping that doesn't cause any issues as I think he will be very tough to beat.
Marsha is a horse that I really like and she has been incredibly consistent in Group company this year. She ran in the same race as Profitable at Royal Ascot and finished just a head behind when she was the 11/4 favourite. She was the heavily odds on jolly next time out at the Curragh and was beaten into second place, and the ground is a big worry for me. She has never been tested on anything as soft as this, so I have my reservations about whether she will be able to cope with it.
The Other Clive Cox runner, Priceless, has form on good to soft going and with Adam Kirby on board this Exceed And Excel filly is a big price at around 10/1. It wouldn't surprise me to see Kirby fly out of the stalls to try and get a good position, and if he is able to, I think he will try and make all. Whether or not she is good enough to hold them all of is another matter, however, I think she has an excellent chance of making the first three.
Today's selection
Profitable - 1 point @ 3/1