Ryan Moore at Glorious Goodwood: The views on my five rides on day two

Ryan Moore
26 July 2016

Will Ryan Moore be wearing these silks to glory in the Sussex Stakes on The Gurkha?

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A brilliant day of racing in store at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday and here Betfair Ambassador Ryan Moore talks exclusively about his Sussex Stakes hope The Gurkha as well as his other four rides on day two...

15:10 Goodwood - The Gurkha

"But he looked and felt top-class on quick ground over a mile at Deauville, and hopefully those are the conditions that he will get on Wednesday afternoon."

14:35 Goodwood - Shogun

To be honest, I have been disappointed by his recent efforts, even if the ground hasn't been to his liking. But this is the first time he has encountered 1m4f on fast ground, and I would expect him to improve for it. If he does, then he is a major player in this race, as I was pretty impressed with him when he finished second to Moonlight Magic in the Derrinstown, where he had Idaho and Beacon Rock behind him. That was over 1m2f on good ground, and he certainly shaped as though this trip would suit.

I rode Platitude to finish second off a mark of 99 in the King George V handicap and he continues to go the right way judged on his Bahrain Trophy second.

The boss also runs Ulysses in here, and I sat on him at home the other day. He won a maiden for me very impressively at Newbury but, as I said before the Derby, I think a lot of people got a bit carried away with that win and the fact that he is so well-bred didn't help the levels of expectation.

That Epsom run came too soon for him and it could be that he doesn't fulfil his undoubted potential until he is a 4yo, but if there is a horse in here to prove a lot better than a Group 3 horse then it is probably him.

But, as it stands, this is a very tight and competitive Gordon Stakes where you can make a case for most, such as the progressive Qatari Hunter and Prize Money if he comes back to the form of his Tercentenary second.

15:10 Goodwood - The Gurkha

Everyone seems to be billing this as the re-match between Galileo Gold and The Gurkha, but I think it would be a mistake to simply label this as a two-horse race.

We have the impressive Irish 2,000 Guineas Awtaad in here for starters, and his form obviously ties in very closely with those two horses. Then you have Queen Anne third Lightning Spear, a horse like Toormore who goes so well here, and Ribchester. I don't think the Jersey Stakes rode like a particularly good race but Ribchester was much the best horse, and he was carrying a 5lb penalty, too.

I honestly don't know what would have happened at Ascot had The Gurkha jumped better and had a trouble-free run, but what I do know is that Galileo Gold is a top-class miler and I am not underestimating him for a minute.

What I am hoping is that the faster ground will just favour my horse more. It was quicker than the official description of good when he won the French 2,000 Guineas so impressively. Of course, Ascot didn't go to plan and I was disappointed that he didn't go on and win the Eclipse, though again that was again a messy and unsatisfactory race for me and the ground blunted his speed. But he looked and felt top-class on quick ground over a mile at Deauville, and hopefully those are the conditions that he will get on Wednesday afternoon.

I have a lot of faith in the horse, but I imagine Hugo (Palmer) and the other trainers have plenty in theirs, too, and with good reason. As a jockey, these are the races you want to ride in.

15:45 Goodwood - Sportsmanship

I haven't ridden this War Front colt yet but it is interesting that Aidan immediately name checked Goodwood as a possible next target after he won his 6f maiden at Leopardstown last time. That form is some way detached from the likes of The Last Lion and Global Applause, and he races over 5f for the first time too, but everyone knows how well the stable's 2yos tend to progress with their racing and he didn't look short of pace last time and fast ground suits him well, as you'd expect of a War Front.

There are a few unexposed horses in here but The Last Lion arguably sets the form standard on his Norfolk Stakes second. But I wouldn't be at all surprised were the fifth there, Global Applause, be the horse to beat on this faster ground. I rode him when he beat Mehmas in the National Stakes at Sandown, over 5f on quick ground, and I don't think he was suited by testing conditions and racing away from the main action at Ascot.

16:20 Goodwood - Grand Myla

Didn't show much on soft ground on his debut but she took a big step forward on a faster surface when third at Newmarket last time. She will need to improve again to take a hand in the finish here, but this is only her third start so of course it is possible. However, I think she only has an outside each-way chance, if I'm being honest, but I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

16:55 Goodwood - Intimation

I'd be pretty sure that she is better than a 90-rated filly, but she does have a bit to prove here. The negatives are that she ran poorly at Newcastle last time and I think fast ground would not be in her favour. But she is talented, as she showed when winning with some dig at Nottingham and Leicester last season, and her comeback effort over 1m1f at Newmarket wasn't too bad.

And she is very well-related, too, being a Dubawi half-sister to such good horses as Mutakayyef and Intrinsic. She definitely has the ability to win off this mark, but I am worried about quick ground for her.