15:35 Goodwood

Wednesday 2 August 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:50

Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 1m 46.11s

(5)

Here Comes When^h³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: A M Balding| OR: 110| D

20/1

Won a Group 2 back in 2014 in soft ground at Newbury and all his best efforts have come with cut in the ground. Not beaten that far in this race behind Solow two years ago but would need to improve markedly to win this and that looks unlikely at this age.

Form: 5104-13

(9)

Kool Kompany¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Hannon| OR: 110| BF| D

40/1

Multiple Group winner in his time and returned to form with a win in a decent Listed race on Lincoln Day at Doncaster on seasonal bow but not been in the same form since. Effective in any ground but he looks at least a level below this on all known form.

Form: 2-18406

(1)

Lightning Spear²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D M Simcock| OR: 117| CD

8/1

Respectable effort behind Ribchester in the Lockinge and soft ground probably in his favour but very disappointing on two subsequent runs at Royal Ascot and Sandown. Plenty to prove off the back of those efforts and work to do to turn around the form with Ribchester when that rival stormed 3½L clear when they met earlier in the season.

Form: 913-297

(6)

Ribchester⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: R A Fahey| OR: 125| D

8/13

Won his third Group 1 with a win in the Queen Anna Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, running out a convincing winner and beating a subsequent Group 2 winner rated 120 in the process. Convincing winner of the Lockinge the time before, showing his versatility from a tactics perspective, making all and forging clear. Equally as versatile from a ground perspective and leading claims of landing his third Group 1 on the spin for a yard in excellent form.

Form: 312-311

(2)

Toscanini⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: R A Fahey| OR: 110

66/1

Shirked his pacemaking duties in the Lockinge but seen to better effect in that role at Royal Ascot last time. Likely to be deployed in similar fashion here for his stablemate and likely to struggle to hold on for a place.

Form: 10-4580

(7)

Zelzal⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: L Dettori| T: J C Rouget| D

4/1

Won the Group 1 Jean Prat Stakes in France last year but that contest not as strong as this race. Beaten favourite on his two subsequent starts but trainer's runners warrant respect when brought over and each-way claims if he returns to form.

Form: 10113-2

(3)

Lancaster Bomber⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118

8/1

Fine effort behind Barney Roy at Royal Ascot, hanging on for second well with stablemate Churchill back in fourth and ran well in the 2,000 Guineas when used as a pacemaker for his stablemate when staying on for fourth. All evidence to date suggests he wants faster ground than what he will get here though.

Form: 22-4452

Non-Runners

(4)

Zonderland³⁴⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: C G Cox J: A Kirby

(8)

Churchill⁴³

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: R L Moore

Forecasts

Ribchester (8/13), Churchill (13/8), Zelzal (4/1), Lightning Spear (8/1), Lancaster Bomber (8/1), Here Comes When (20/1), Zonderland (33/1), Kool Kompany (40/1), Toscanini (66/1)

RIBCHESTER will be hard to beat in his bid for a third straight Group 1 and his versatility conditions wise may give him the edge over Churchill. Aidan O'Brien's four-time Group 1 winner probably found his run at Royal Ascot coming too soon after successes in the Guineas either side of the Irish Sea but he ought to give Ribchester most to think about if he's back to form. Zelzal has been a little disappointing on his latest two starts but he's prevailed in Group 1 company in his native France and he's an interesting runner on his UK debut.