Fourteen in frame for Betfair Celebration Mile at Goodwood

The highlight of the three days is the Group 2 Betfair Celebration Mile on Saturday.

A total of 14 horses have been entered including Chachamaidee, winner of the bet365 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on her last start for her trainer Sir Henry Cecil.

The filly is super-consistent, finishing in the top three on each of her last ten starts, and also won at Group 3 level at Lingfield Park earlier this season.

The feature race of Glorious Goodwood earlier this month was the QIPCO Sussex Stakes and Farhh, who finished second to the mighty Frankel on that day, remains a possibility for the race on Saturday for Saeed Bin Suroor. Before the Sussex, he was a good second to Nathaniel in the Coral-Eclipse, over 1m2f.

Aljamaaheer is another entered for Celebration Mile with Glorious Goodwood form, having finished an unlucky third in the RSA Thoroughbred Stakes.

Roger Varian, Aljamaaheer’s trainer, said: “He is an intended runner for the Betfair Mile on Saturday. He was so unlucky not to win in the Group 3 at the Glorious Meeting and he has always trained like a good horse.

“He has come of his previous race well and in great form. I hope it doesn’t get too wet again, I see there is a bit of rain forecast ahead of the weekend.”

Eight-year-old Premio Loco, trained by Chris Wall, loves Goodwood, having previously won over course and distance. The gelding was fifth in the Betfair Celebration Mile last year behind Dubawi Gold and before then was third behind Frankel and Canford Cliffs in the 2011 renewal of the QIPCO Sussex Stakes.

Andrew Balding could be double handed in the race, with both Side Glance and Tullius as options.

Tullius has progressed hugely this season, having started off by winning a handicap and going on to victories at both Listed and Group level, winning the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last time out.

Side Glance has never raced at Goodwood before but ran a good third behind Frankel at Royal Ascot, having won at Epsom on Derby Day before that.

Aidan O’Brien has entered three horses at this stage - Daddy Long Legs, Reply and Declaration of War.

The latter will be making his debut for Ballydoyle, having been previously trained by Jean-Claude Rouget in France, where he was unbeaten in two starts as a two-year-old.

If Reply takes his chance, he will be stepping back up in trip to a mile, having run in the Darley July Cup over the sprint distance of six furlongs. His only race over a mile previously was in the Irish 2000 Guineas, finishing third.

Van Ellis, Thistle Bird, Penitent and Set The Trend make up the rest of the field at the five-day entry stage. Seamus Buckley, clerk of the course at Goodwood, said: “I’m delighted with the condition of the course – it has recovered well from the festival meeting earlier this month.

“Presently it’s dry, sunny and warm with the going: good with good to firm places on the round course. I would dearly love to produce ground similar to the Festival meeting and will be watering as necessary to maintain the present conditions. We are look forward to an exciting weekend of great racing.”

* We’ll have further previews - and tips - on this website as the festival approaches.