Today's Horse Racing Tips: Julie Johnston can defy her penalty at Goodwood

Mark Johnston tough filly can improve again

Back Julie Johnston @ 11/4 Goodwood 16:20

Mark Johnston is always worth following in the Goodwood handicaps, he won this last year and I think he has a good chance of taking it again with Julie Johnston, who would be a fitting winner for him. This two-year-old filly has that typical Johnston progressive profile, winning a weak race at Chelmsford before showing marked improvement to win her second race at York last time. She really toughed it out when winning at York, showing good fighting spirit when the challengers came. Today she carries a 6lb penalty for that success, which came over today's trip.

I think she is still on a workable mark and if Silvestre De Sousa can get her out in front again with the expected improvement to come I think she could be difficult to haul back in.

Cephus is better than his mark of 89 suggests

Back Cephus @ 6/1 Goodwood 13:10

Brian Meehan's colt Cephus has a very interesting profile. He won on debut at Newmarket and was pitched directly into Group 1 company on just his second start where he was down the field in the Guineas. However, the fact they thought of him good enough to even run in that race suggests he must be a better horse than his current rating of 89 suggests. I thought he ran an eye-catching race when well backed before the off at Kempton last time out where he finished second and although he receives a 3lb increase for that performance, the handicapper may have underestimated him.

Jim Crowley (who rode Cephus at Kempton) is on the favourite Al Qaqaa, who won well enough at Newmarket last time out but in all honesty going off at 4/7 he should do. So he probably didn't beat much, but he did it in a good time and undoubtedly will keep improving with racing. An opening mark of 88 shouldn't be beyond him but I think Cephus may just be too good for him today.