DOUBLE HANDFUL

’VE been telling people all week I’ve a strong fancy for today’s Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

As a result I’ve been trying to scrimp some money together for a wager.

I was washing my car with my son yesterday when he asked:

“Dad, could you not just use a sponge?”

I love a four-runner race where the favourite looks vulnerable.

My father always used to tell me, “the value always lies directly behind the favourite in a fourhorse race,” although invariably his selection would finish just behind the favourite... in third.

Dee Ex Bee undoubtedly has the best form of the four three-year olds in the race, but that form was registered three runs ago when finishing second in the Derby.

Mark Johnston’s charge followed that performance when a disappointing seventh (of 12) in the Irish Derby and

then a third in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp. That Epsom form, though mightly impressive, is misleading because Dee Ex Bee desperately needs cut in the ground to perform at his best, and he won’t get that at Goodwood today. Johnstone might even withdraw Dee Ex Bee, although his main target is the St Leger and he might want to get a run in before then. Either way, I’ve snaffled an early price on Charlie Appleby’s CROSS COUNTER.

Cross Counter has graduated from two wins on the sand to scoring in a £50,000 Ascot handicap last time. He stayed on strongly at the business end and the form is looking strong as the third home that day, a stable companion of Dee Ex Bee’s called Elegiac, has won since. Only a fool would rule out the only filly in the race, Sun Maiden as her trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, has won this race 10 times and is bidding to win for the fourth time in five years.