Charlie says Roaring Lion can follow up in the Juddmonte

Charlie was impressed by Roaring Lion’s Eclipse victory and says he can follow up in the Juddmonte

Glorious Goodwood is one of the most eagerly-awaited summer racing festivals with the Gp 1 Sussex Stakes one of its highlights despite Alpha Centauri waiting for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville – a race sponsored by her owners, the Niarchos family.

We know the brilliant filly will not be tried on soft ground and her end-ofseason target is likely to be the Breeders’ Cup Mile given the love affair the family have for the meeting. With that in mind our first recommendation must be for Alpha Centauri (4/1 at BetVictor) to win at Churchill Downs at the beginning of November.

You can get rain in the area at that time of the year but I feel that is factored into the price. She will surely be 6/4 on the day if she gets to the track in the same form as she was at either the Curragh or Newmarket in recent weeks. Recommendation: Alpha Centauri 1pt win Breeders’ Cup Mile 4/1 at BetVictor

Without Jessica Harrington’s star filly, the Sussex Stakes looks to be Without Parole’s for the taking, but 6/4 with BetVictor looks short enough given this unbeaten son of Frankel might be ground dependent and it must rain in Britain eventually?

I would prefer to look for an each way alternative and feel Lord Glitters (16/1 at BetVictor) might be the one for David O’Meara.

The selection has finished runner up in all three starts this term, but travelled like the best horse in the race when just touched off by Beat The Bank in the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot last time. The selection would certainly not be a 16/1 chance if there was give underfoot with a career record of 2211212122 when the word soft or heavy appears in the official going description.

Jamie Spencer has been in the plate for the five-year-old’s last couple of starts and I wonder if he had his time again whether he would have left his challenge even later, given he appeared to hit the front before being run out of it close home by Andrew Balding’s Beat The Bank at Ascot last time.

Goodwood’s round mile will hold no terrors for the grey who has, arguably, improved with each start this term. He may need to find a bit more again in the Sussex Stakes but I am a big fan of O’Meara and it goes without saying that any significant rain would be a big help. Recommendation: Lord Glitters 1pt each way Sussex Stakes 16/1 at BetVictor

Looking further afield and it seems as if the Juddmonte International Stakes at York will be one of the races of the season and a fascinating clash-of-thegenerations. Trainer John Gosden suggests Enable will make her belated seasonal reappearance in a race that is sponsored by her owner Prince Khalid Abdullah.

The filly was a brilliant winner of her last six starts last season but all those wins were gained over 12f and it might be worth noting that she was beaten on her reappearance over this 10f trip last season.

Defence of her Arc de Triomphe crown looks the main end-of-season target for the daughter of Nathaniel and at 5/1 with BetVictor she is reluctantly overlooked in favour of stablemate and Eclipse Stakes winner Roaring Lion (3/1 with BetVictor) who is a confident selection.

I was amazed at the time it took to confirm Roaring Lion as the Sandown winner and thought at one stage that the Stewards’ were considering the ride and tactics of Wayne Lordan aboard Happily – he certainly didn’t make life easy for Oisin Murphy.

I felt Roaring Lion was value for much more than the official margin of a neck over the Guineas’ winner and I would be disappointed if he didn’t confirm the form on the Knavesmire.

The 5-year-old Poet’s Word was a brilliant winner of the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes and I don’t agree with the opinion that odds-on favourite Cracksman underperformed. I just think the latter is a better horse now on ground with plenty of give and probably a-mile-anda-half.

Poet’s Word is a big danger if he comes through the King George with his reputation intact but I feel Roaring Lion is a high-quality colt over 10f on good ground and cannot be opposed. Recommendation: Roaring Lion 2pts win 3/1 at BetVictor Juddmonte International Stakes