Ascot and Newmarket fixtures can offer clues for Glorious Goodwood

The G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes is the highlight of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and is staged over a mile on the idyllic Sussex Downs.

A host of potential contenders for that event line up in the £600,000 G2 Betfred Summer Mile at Ascot at 3.15pm on Saturday, live on ITV.

The market is headed by Mohaather (9/4) who finished an unlucky seventh in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. The four-year-old met trouble in running behind Sussex Stakes contender Circus Maximus and has been backed to make amends on Saturday with ground conditions set to suit.

Mohaather is currently a 7/1 chance for the Sussex Stakes, but his odds could constrict with a smooth performance at the weekend. He takes on fellow Queen Anne Stakes also-rans Skardu (6/1) and Duke Of Hazzard (8/1).

The latter makes appeal for Paul and Oliver Cole given he may have needed his reappearance and had previously looked very progressive last term.

Marie’s Diamond (11/2) was by contrast a cracking third in the Queen Anne Stakes and has proven a real money spinner for connections. She will relish ground conditions and is another to consider, given she also holds an entry in the Sussex Stakes.

Two horses with entries in the Sussex Stakes have also caught the eye in recent days. Montather is a 40/1 chance for the event following a smooth win in novice company at Thirsk, whilst Al Suhail has been confirmed as a runner in the event on the back of a Listed success at Newmarket on Thursday for Godolphin.

Godolphin’s Terrebellum is a general 6/1 chance for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and holds live claims in the G1 Falmouth Stakes (4.10pm) at Newmarket today.

The exciting four-year-old was only beaten by a head in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and is a hot 10/11 favourite for the mile contest for fillies and mares at Newmarket. This looks a perfect prep race ahead of Goodwood in three weeks time.

She is set to take on fellow Sussex Stakes possible Nazeef who is unbeaten in her last five starts and landed the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. A 9/2 shot for this event, she is a general 14/1 chance for the Goodwood highlight and is another interesting runner.

Billesdon Brook has a fine record at Goodwood and was successful at the 2019 Qatar Goodwood Festival in the Oak Tree Stakes. She looks sure to line up in either that race or the G1 Nassau Stakes at the meeting later this month and should run a good race in the Falmouth for which she is 16/1 shot for trainer Richard Hannon.

Godolphin’s Earthlight is another to keep an eye on. He was unbeaten in five starts last term, which included victories in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes and makes his reappearance in the Listed Prix Kistena at Deauville on Sunday.

Sussex jockey Ryan Moore has a host of big rides this weekend. They include the classy Kipps in Friday’s bet365 Handicap (3.35pm) at Newmarket for which he heads the betting at 7/2.

Moore has some interesting rides on Saturday at the track with Hudson River holding leading claims in the bet365 Superlative Stakes (3.00pm) for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Moore also rides for O’Brien in the feature Darley July Cup (3.35pm) on 33/1 chance Southern Hills, whilst Mutamaasik is also of interest at 9/2 in the bet365 Bunbury Cup at 4.10pm.

The £250,000 G1 Darley July Cup (3.35pm) is the highlight. Royal Ascot winners Golden Horde (9/4) and Hello Youmzain (5/1) are set to face off with the former being a son of the 2013 July Cup hero Lethal Force.

Irish raider Sceptical (4/1) was a good third to Hello Youmzain in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and is also worth considering alongside Khaadem (6/1), a good fourth in that race and Threat (8/1) who drops down in trip following a creditable fifth-placed effort in the St James’s Palace at the Royal Meeting on his seasonal debut last month.

Best bet of the weekend

4.10pm Newmarket (Friday): Terebellum: 10/11 favourite

Tips and odds via MyRacing.com.