17:00 That’s it from a modest early season meeting here at Goodwood, the weather not helping matters. However the later meetings this season promise much, with the highlight being Glorious Goodwood in July.

The next meeting here is on May 20th and we will be here to cover it.

16:56 Another one for the punters in our finale, a 1m 4f maiden stakes.

Gibb River set off in front and held that position until three out.  Cill Rialaig had tracked the leader and the favourite Tactic was settled mid-division.

Three out Cill Rialaig took up the running but the move was tracked by Tactic.

Two out Tactic had the measure of Cill Rialaig, however Gibb River wanted to come back for more and was closing the gap by the time the line came, with Tactic recording a diminishing length victory over Gibb River.

16:18 Finally some respite for favourite backers as Charlotte Point takes the 1m fillies handicap, although favourite backers must have had concerns as she was most mulish at the start, however the stalls handlers, once again, did a fantastic job.

King’s Siren set off in front but certainly not in the style of the front-runner in the previous contest.
Indeed as they turned for home the field were very well bunched and it was hard to call the winner.

Two out Eddie Ahern asked Charlotte Point for an effort and, briefly it looked as though she was not going to respond. However Ahern won the battle and she soon had a couple of lengths on her rivals.

Tony Culhane managed to grab the far rail on the grey Silver Games but the move flattered to deceive.

15:55 Last years joint champion apprentice is having a bad day at the office. After facing the recalcitrant Monaco Dream in the opener he was on the equally stubborn Dinarius in our fourth contest.

Planting himself half way to the start he then planted himself in front of the stalls. A blindfold and five stalls handlers got him behind the stalls but they failed to get him in and the starter lost patience.

In the race itself Cossack Prince shot out of the stalls like a bat out of hell and within a quarter of a mile he had at least a ten length lead on his rivals.

A mile from home the field were strung out like the runners in a three mile novices chase, rather than a 1½ mile flat contest.

Turning for home Cossack Prince still had twelve  lengths on his rivals, who were bunching up behind, headed by Mista Rossa and Cape Of Luck. The favourite, Kokkokila, by contrast looked most reluctant and seemed to throw in the towel three out.

Two out the field were closing on the leader, who still had an eight length lead. Even at the furlong pole, although his stride was beginning to shorten, Cossack Prince still had six lengths on his rivals.

Indeed inside the final furlong he seemed to increase his lead again and by the time Cossack Prince crossed the line he had opened the gap back to nine lengths.

Mista Rossa held on for second place whilst Potentiale ran on for third.   

15:24 Last time I was here at Goodwood I was told off for venturing into the Richmond Enclosure not wearing my jacket, there is absolutely no danger of that this afternoon.

15:11 This is turning into a bad afternoon for favourite backers.

We almost had an emotional finish to the race as the old favourite The Tatling hit the front inside the final two furlongs and it looked as though the twelve-year-old was going to come home for his 15th career win.

However Pat Cosgrave on Caprio had other ideas and came with an almost last to first charge to win by three parts of a length.  

Harlech Castle also came with a late run, after missing the break, to just grab third spot over Artistic Licence.

14:54 A six furlong handicap for our third contest, it’s had to believe we are half way through the afternoon now. One of the runners is the old stalwart, The Tatling, trained by Milton Bradley.

Not surprisingly he looks relaxed in the parade ring.

14:40 Well who said you need a big field to have an exciting race. Only four runners but what a cracker.

It was a race where something was going to give, with both Star Rover and Grand Zafeen defending unbeaten records. In the end both were beaten as our paddock pick, Desert Auction, came with a perfectly timed run from Richard Hughes to grab victory in the dying stages.

Star Rover was first away, followed by Grand Zafeen, Desert Auction and the debutant Hairs Vital, who missed the break.

By three out the two unbeaten runners were side by side battling it out for the lead. As he did yesterday Star Rover did hang right.

Approaching the furlong pole Grand Zafeen looked to have the measure of Star Rover. However, the front two had moved off the rail leaving an opening for Desert Auction and Richard Hughes needed no extra invitation as he launched his charge with a perfect run.

14:24 An update on Monaco Dream's fall. Apparently she slipped on some suspect ground and since the race groundsmen have been carrying out some repair work.

14:23 Only four going to post for our second, and feature, race – a 5f conditions race.

Even though I have tipped Star Rover I really did like the look of Richard Hannon’s Desert Auction in the parade ring.

Having said that there were no negatives in the parade ring.

14:11 A mile maiden stakes to get us underway and a race in which Jessie James was sent off the odds-on favourite and yet again the John Gosden runner failed to get his head in front.

Eastern Empire, under Richard Hughes, managed to get a flyer out of the stalls, soon had a good lead and was never headed.

Richard Mullen kept the favourite covered up until moving out two furlongs from home. When asked for his effort he ran on but was unable (or unwilling) to pass the leader, going down by three parts of a length.

Maria Nunziata was always with the pace and came home third.

Debutant Monaco Dream was a real mare going to the start and had to be led most of the way by William Buick. Never in contention during the race she stumbled and fell as they passed the line. Both horse and rider were unhurt.

13:49 The weather is getting worse, some drizzle in the air now. Also a very small crowd, one of the smallest I have seen here - and I have been coming here for over 20 years.

13:05 Good afternoon from Goodwood, where the weather is not exactly glorious - it is overcast with a stiff breeze.

We have just the one non-runner so far, details on the right.

08:01 A dry night overnight at Goodwood, where the going is Good to Firm (watered)

Our selections for this afternoon are as follows:-

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

3:35
3 Dinarius (withdrawn)
4 Marie Louise (Not eaten up SC - 11:16)

Results

2:00 Maiden Stakes 1m

1st 3 Eastern Empire 11/1
2nd 5 Jesse James 8/13 fav
3rd 10 Maria Nunziata 7/1
12 Ran
Distances 3/4 & 3 1/4
Fav second
Tote
Win £11.70
Places £2.70 £1.10 £2.10
Exacta £23.00
CSF £16.88
Time 1' 41.83"

2:30 Conditions Stakes 5f

1st 2 Desert Auction 11/2
2nd 4 Grand Zafeen 5/4 fav
4 Ran
Distances neck
Fav second
Tote
Win £6.40
Exacta £14.90
CSF £12.92
Time 59.57"

3:00 Handicap 6f

1st 6 Caprio 15/2
2nd 3 The Tatling 8/1
3rd 2 Harlech Castle 9/1
8 Ran
Distances 3/4 & 3/4
Fav 1 Superduper 11/8 (6th)
Tote
Win £10.10
Places £2.50 £2.20 £2.20
Exacta £82.20
CSF £65.35
Tricast £555.34
Time 1'12.54"

3:35 Handicap 1m 4f

1st 7 Cossack Prince 5/2
2nd 2 Mista Rossa 11/2
6 Ran Nr 4 w/d 3
Distances 9
Fav 5 Kokkokila 9/4 (5th)
Tote
Win £2.80
Places £1.90 £2.40
Exacta £17.30
CSF £14.76
Tricast £47.59
Time 2' 39.7"
No Rule 4

4:10 Fillies Stakes 1m

1st 3 Charlotte Point 7/2 fav
2nd 8 Cumana Bay 4/1
3rd 7 Sterling Sound 10/1
9 Ran
Distances 3/4 & 3/4
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.90
Places £1.50 £2.00 £2.90
Exacta £11.20
CSF £17.73
Tricast £128.60
Time 1' 42.04"

4:45 Maiden Stakes 1m 4f

1st 7 Tactic evens fav
2nd 4 Gibb River 7/1
3rd 2 Cill Rialaig 17/2
8 Ran
Distances 1 & 7
Fav winner
Tote
Win £1.90
Places £1.10 £2.20 £1.80
Exacta £10.40
CSF £9.25
Time 2' 38.20"