It's all good at Goodwood as Hughes and Hannon bid to extend lead

It may be low-key compared to the festival, but the course’s last evening meeting of 2011 still promises absorbing action.

The track has recovered well after five days of Glorious in which 500 horses were in action on it, and the going is expected to good for a seven-race card.

There are two chances for Richard Hughes and Richard Hannon to extend their impressive leads at the head of the top jockey and trainer Goodwood standings for 2011. They team up with Aldwick Bay in the 6.30 and First Cat in the 7.05.

Hughes has 15 Goodwood wins to his name this season, with Frankie Dettori his nearest challenger on seven, while Hannon has sent 12 winners to post – seven more than second-placed John Dunlop.

Arundel-based Dunlop might fancy his chances of cutting the gap with Knightly Escapade in the 6.00.

One of the heroes of Glorious is back – top female jockey Hayley Turner, a popular winner of the totesport Mile on Boom Or Bust, rides Sweet Ovation for Mark Usher in the 5.30, Kings Bayonet for Alan King an hour later and the Andrew Balding-trained Arabian Star in the 7.40.

The action kicks off at 4.55 with the Ladies Night Maiden Auction Stakes.

The rest of the card comprises the Kennels Stakes, Chichester City Maiden Stakes, Southern Daily Echo Stakes, Westerton Stakes and Golf At Goodwood Stakes, finishing with the Goodwood Handicap Stakes at 8.10.

Clerk of the course Seamus Buckley said last week’s rain had helped the surface get over Glorious.

“We’ve had 45mm of rain since the festival and the lads have worked to get the track looking nice again.

“We’ve not needed to water and may even get a shower during the day.”

Follow tonight’s meeting live at www.chichester.co.uk and on twitter - use @stevebone1