CRYSTAL OCEAN

The event is named after the Duke of Gordon, one of the dukedoms held by the Duke of Richmond — the owner of Goodwood Racecourse The Gordon Stakes serves as a trial for the St Leger, nine horses have won both races Sir Gordon Richards and Willie Carson are the leading jockeys in this race with six wins apiece Sir Michael Stoute has won the race nine times, including victory with Ulysses last year Commanche Run won this race in 1984 and went on to win the St Leger the same year THE bookies have had a very good Goodwood so far with 100-1, 50-1, 33-1 winners, not to mention Here Comes When chinning Ribchester at 20-1 in the Sussex Stakes.

Needless to say I backed all four in a five-fold accumulator... but the last one, a favourite, let me down.

The bookies also enjoyed a very decent Cheltenham this year with the likes of Douvan flopping in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the front three in the betting turned over in the Gold Cup.

It just goes to show you can study the form book all you like but beating the book is never easy.

A large part of racing hinges on good-old fashioned lady luck.

As a football commentator once said, “I’m not a believer in luck, but I do believe you need it.”