Through The Card: Goodwood, Wednesday 31 July

13:50 - An open staying handicap starts day 2 of the Goodwood festival with a number of horses at the bottom of the weights having to race from out the handicap. TRUE DESTINY (10) warrants plenty of respect having not finished outside the top two since upped to two miles and looks like an attempt at this extreme trip is well worth a go off the back of a staying on second over two miles and a furlong at a stiff Pontefract on soft ground. If the extra distance prompts more improvement, he looks to have an excellent chance. Lil Rockerfeller attempts to back up last year's win in this contest but must off a 17 lb higher mark and Fun Mac, off the back of a good fourth in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting, head the alternatives.

14:25 - A three-year-old handicap full of progressive and lightly raced types with plenty of the field having Group race entries further down the line suggests that connections of all of them think that improvement is forthcoming of their handicap marks. DURSTON (14) at the bottom of the weights has done well in his last two starts when quickening up to win off steady paces, with the drop back to a mile a half no problem last time at Chester. He has a St Leger entry, suggesting connections think that he is extremely well treated off a mark of 88. Topping the list of alternatives is Kosciuszko on his first handicap start and you can never rule out Mark Johnston trained runners at Goodwood and his pick of the three looks to be Sir Ron Priestley.

15:00 - Liberty Beach sets the standard in here after a taking performance to win a listed event at Sandown with Aussie Showstopper in behind, although he had little luck in running and would have got closer. However, it could pay to be with the lightly raced fillies that could progress dramatically, with HAND ON MY HEART (12) looking just the type. Connections have had her two siblings in training and have done extremely well and she looks another to contest some strong races after winning well on debut with a bit in hand. She was receiving newcomer allowances that day but the performance suggested she was smart and the booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye. Wesley Ward has his first ever Goodwood runner in the shape of Maven but would have preferred quicker ground and the penalty may hinder his chances.

15:35 - The feature of the day is the Sussex and it looks like the three-year-old contingent will come to the fore again, as it has been the case in seven of the last 10 years. CIRCUS MAXIMUS (5) has been supplemented for this, as was the case when he won the St James' Palace at Royal Ascot and he can repay connections faith in him here. He had both Too Darn Hot and Phoenix Of Spain behind him that day but Too Darn Hot has since come out with an authoritative performance in the Prix Jean Prat but the step back up to a mile poses a question. Queen Anne winner Lord Glitters looks the best of the older generation.

16:10 - MIGHTY SPIRIT (5) is still a maiden but this contest looks winnable for her and she can break that today. She's a very fast filly and speed tests have seen her record her best two efforts when second in a York listed race on her second start and then last time out when third in the Weatherby's Super Sprint. She ran with great credit in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot when racing on the wrong side and that forms looks a step above what others have achieved.

16:45 - NEAROOZ (8) very much caught the eye last time at Chester when having no luck in running before staying on strongly to be beaten half a length behind re-opposing Ocala at Chester. She posted excellent closing sectionals as well to get as close as she did and a repeat of that performance gives her every chance of going one better. Naqaawa has the beating of Vivionn on the back of their last meeting and she heads the alternatives, along with Lady Of Shallott.

17:55 - Lyndon B missed an engagement last week and looks to have excellent form claims in here after an easy success last time on handicap debut. He looks to be a nice progressive type for connections and step forward again here but LIGHT AND DARK (13) did similar on his handicap debut at Newmarket when benefitting from a well-run race. He looks like he'll get that again today in a field of 18 and will need luck in running given his run style but he can prove better than his mark.