18:00 That’s it from Goodwood and the final day of the Racing For Change free week – I have to say I have enjoyed the week – it has certainly attracted a few new racegoers, lets hope some of them return.

I am having a few days off now to recharge my batteries.

From an almost glorious Goodwood a very good evening.

17:57  stewards enquiry into the 16:35 race. They decided Terrys Flutter interference with Chilworth Lad was accidental but deemed the rider of the winner, Pat Dobbs, was careless when he allowed Casual Glimpse to interfere with Remotelinx and he picked up a one day ban.

17:55 An eventful final race in which Tuesday’s Nottingham winner Until  The Man jinked out of the stalls, unseating jockey Darryll Holland in the process.

Of those who did take part Milnagavie set the pace, accompanied by Flyinflyout and Eltheeb.

Turning for home the front three were joined by Buona Sarah.

By two out Flyinflyout had left the party and the other three joined in battle.

The favourite Eltheeb ran on to open a reasonable lead with, Buona Sarah the main challenger but only finishing 2½ lengths behind.

Front running Milnagavi plugged on one paced to finish third.   

17:32 Our final contest is the Family Fun On 31 May Handicap, a few yards shy of 1¼ miles.

17:20 Only six runners but an eventful race with the favourite Casual Glimpse the, arguably, fortunate winner despite an official winning distance of two lengths.

The favourite grabbed the stands rail but still managed to run in snatches.

Main market rival Chilworth Lad missed the break but was on terms by halfway at which point Terrys Flutter held a narrow lead over Casual Glimpse, Chilworth Lad and Miss Maudie.

Chilworth Lad had done well to get back into contention but his chances were not helped by Terrys Flutter who began to drift to his right, carrying Chilworth Lad across to the far side,

This allowed Casual Glimpse to follow the rail.      

Chilworth Lad and Terrys Flutter crossed the line together on the far side with Chilworth Lad getting the call.

17:09 The EBF Goodwood Hotel Maiden Stakes is another five furlong contest, this time with six lining up.

16:47 A strange race tactically with Sophie’s Beau setting off at a blistering pace with Sard and King Of Reason in pursuit.

By contrast Jay’s Treaty began the race running very green, unusual for a Mark Johnston horse.

Sopjie’s Beau still held the lead turning for home but it was no surprise when he finally blew up two out.

This allowed Sard to take up the running. Off the course for 207 days the lay off did not seem to have done him any harm and he ran on to record a 2½ length victory.

The favourite King Of Reason tried to close the gap but to no avail.

For Jay’s Treaty the penny finally dropped as they turned for home and he made good late progress to come home third although never troubling the winners. He is bound to have learned from the experience and will come on for the run.

Another debutant to watch next time out is Whisper Wind who was given a gentle introduction but was making eye catching late progress to finish fourth.    

16:32 We have the unofficial figures which are around the 13,500 mark. This includes 11,000 advance tickets and 2-3,000 on the day sales.

The figures for this meeting last year are just under 8,500.

16:22 Down to seven furlongs for the next, the inappropriately named in this weather Garden Party Median Auction Stakes in which eleven run but Compton Park doesn’t.

16:10 Turning for home joint favourite Shamwari Lodge looked to be in an impossible position, against the rail and hemmed in.

Luckily a gap appeared and once it did Pat Dobbs asked for an effort and she swept to the front, coming home a length clear of Hafawa.

Hafawa had been to the fore throughout, sharing the lead with All Annalena.

Hafawa was left clear in front two out and looked the likely winner until Shamwari Lodge made her run.

The other joint favourite, Super Sleuth, was settled fourth or fifth throughout before running on to take third spot, albeit two lengths behind the runner-up.

15:55 Super Sleuth is being a madam down at the start

15:52 Back to the loop course for our fourth contest, the EBF Conqueror Stakes, a Listed contest for fillies and mares.

Nine line up and one or two on their toes in the parade ring.

15:33 A few heart attacks here with a dramatic finish to the third contest.

Favourite Russian Spirit was first away whilst, by contrast, Definightly missed the break.

The leader was tracked by King’s Caprice and Mutamared in the early stages but it was five furlong specialist Make My Dream who took up the running after two out.

Make My Dream is a prolific winner over five furlongs over five furlongs but 0-31 over six.

It finally looked as though he was going to break his duck as he looked to be strong in front with both Russian Spirit and the running on Kerrys Requium unable to close in.

However the slow starting Definightly had been making steady headway and in the final 50 yards to heartbreakingly deny Make My Dream the elusive six furlong victory.

Make My Dream took second with the early pace setter Russian Spirit only third.

15:20 Indeed quite a few negatives going to the start with Definightly, Kerrys Requium and Russian Spirit all pulling very hard.  

15:15 King's Caprice is being very reluctant going down for our next race

15:12 The next race is one where topology of Goodwood does not help. The six furlong Belucky At stanjames.com handicap begins over the brow of a hill, unseen from the stands.

14:59 A good spring and an upset for favourite backers as Ocean Blaze, who blazed a trail for the first half of the race, could only finish third.

Osiris Way, like Ocean Blaze a dual course winner, tracked the favourite before edging ahead two furlongs from home.

Ocean Blaze tried to fight back to no avail – indeed she was even denied second place by the running on Even Bolder who just got his nose in front on the line.

Not for the first time Piscean threw his chance away with a tardy start, he seems to fall asleep in the stalls.

14:45 Richard Hoiles is doing an excellent job of providing background info for the first timers - not OTT but hopefully getting it about right so as not to annoy the regulars.

14:44 As is often the case with sprinters, an edgy lot.

Absa Luta was early to post and not that keen to go down.

Our Piccadilly was also early to post, having to be mounted on the course and another not keen to go down.

14:30 Not for the first time this week we move from the longest race on the card to the shortest as we have an explosive five furlong sprint next. The Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap sees seven facing the starter.

In contrast to the plodders in our opener we will witness a demonstration of explosive speed.

14:27 Mark Johnston’s Gargano, as is the wont with his runners, set the pace and soon had a big lead on his rivals, who were headed by Rock ‘n’ Roller and Just Rob.

By contrast Uncle Eli missed the break but after three furlongs had worked his way to mid-division.

Red Hot Desert, obviously unused to the rain, had a sulk and was soon tailed off.

Up front Gargano was still leading as they turned for home, although the lead was diminishing and it was no surprise when he was swalleoed up approaching two out.

Just Rob took up the running and was soon a couple of lengths clear and built up sufficient a lead to hold off all comers, recording a one length victory.

Best of rest was Curacao, running on well, followed home by Devil To Pay who just got the better of Relative Strength in a photograph for third spot.     

14:04 A big negative in the parade ring is Mykingdomforahorse – very edgy, on his toes and pulling, also a very small horse.

Rowan Tiger also seemed a bit edgy.

13:49 Our opening race of the day is also our longest, the Haveago At stanjames.com Handicap a 1m 6f contest with eleven lining up.

Cleraly Michael Bell took exception to Highland Legacy being burdened with being our selection, a she is now a non-runner, as is Morar.

13:35 Being Goodwood there is no sign of Tommo.

13:26 A belated good afternoon from Goodwood. If the traffic approaching the course is anything to go by then day six of the racing for free initiative is going to be very successful.

There has been some rain but it is currently dry. The sky is a mixture of grey, white and blue and it would be no great shock if we had more rain.

07:45 There has been 2.5mm of rain in the last 24 hours and the going has eased to Good.

Our selections are:-

21:19 Friday

Advance news:-

Going

Good, Good to Firm places on the round course (GoingStick: 8.3 on Friday at 14:00)

Straight course Stand Side

First 2 Furlongs of the 1m course is dolled out approximately 5 yards.
Top bend dolled out approximately 3 yards.
The Running Rail from the 6 furlong marker on the Lower Bend to the 2 furlong marker in the straight is dolled out approximately 6 yards. All distances on the round course races are increased by about 15 yards.

Staying mainly dry

Watered

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

Non-runners

14:15
1 Highland Legacy (going - 09:18)
3 Morar (bruised foot - SC 09:03)

16:00
5 Carcinetto (travel - 09:59)
10 Victoroa Sponge (temperature - SC 08:01)

16:35
2 Compton Park (other - 14:48 Fri)

17:10
3 Fred Willetts (travel - 10:00)

Results

14:15 Handicap 1m 6f

14:50 Handicap 5f

15:25 Handicap 6f

16:00 Fillies Stakes 1m

16:35 Maiden Stakes 7f

17:10 Maiden Stakes 5f

17:40 Handicap 1m 1f 192yds