Most eyes in the racing world will be focussed on Glorious Goodwood, as the fifth and final day of the meeting takes place on Saturday. The Stewards' Cup looks as competitive as ever, with twenty-eight hardy sprinters set to hurtle down the straight course.
The veteran Borderlescott, who won this contest in 2006, would be a popular winner at a track where he has performed so well over the years, and it wouldn't be a surprise were the old boy to make a bold bid dropped back to handicap company.
Hawkeyethenoo and Waffle have also acquitted themselves well in competitive sprints of late, and occupy prominent positions in the market. The Andrew Balding-trained Dungannon tops the Timeform ratings for the prestigious contest and, unsurprisingly, is among the market leaders in a race where, at this stage, punters are having trouble separating the principals.
The Stewards' Cup may prove to be the big betting race of the day, but the aficionado's will be largely concentrating on the Group 1 Nassau Stakes. John Gosden has enjoyed a fantastic season so far, winning numerous top-level prizes, and he has a strong-hand for Saturday's contest as he saddles the likely favourite Izzi Top as well as The Fugue. The former was successful in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on her latest start and has looked a most progressive performer this year.
The Fugue has also created a good impression this season and was perhaps slightly unlucky in the Epsom Oaks behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Was. The O'Brien trained filly also runs at Goodwood on Saturday, adding further spice to what looks to be an exciting race. Although disappointing on her seasonal debut, Nahrain possesses plenty of ability and should not be left out of consideration, having won a Group 1 at Longchamp before running a cracking race in defeat at the Breeders' Cup last year.
It is a highly-competitive card at Goodwood and the opening race, a Stewards' Cup consolation, looks like it could well be a difficult puzzle to solve. Head Space has been in good form this year and is sure to come in for support despite failing to justify favouritism at York last week and is just one of a number of horses who could be involved in the finish.
There is a strong international flavour to the action this weekend, as Sunday sees the curtain come down on Galway's seven-day extravaganza. Dermot Weld will not match his amazing feat of last year, where he saddled 17 winners, but he has been firing them in as usual and his Elegant Concorde is sure to be fancied on Sunday, despite making his first start since the 2010 Champion Bumper.
Although Galway has provided a competitive and exciting spectacle, the top-quality racing comes from the continent. Moonlight Cloud, who bypassed the July Cup, will bid to follow up her victory in last year's Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday. Her latest effort was at Royal Ascot, when finishing close up behind Black Caviar, and she should launch another bold bid. Timeform's Chris Williams has previewed the race in depth, which you can read here.
There is further international Group 1 action from Dusseldorf, as the three-year-old fillies take centre-stage in the German Oaks. Chris Williams has also written an article previewing the valuable contest, and you can read it here.
