Bank on Battaash for Goodwood glory

BATTAASH has no Blue Point to worry about and is therefore impossible to oppose in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

As Godolphin’s dual King’s Stand winner - who this year had the capacity to follow up a few days later in the Diamond Jubilee - has been packed off to stud, Charlie Hills’ Battaash appears to face a pretty straightforward task on Friday.

Even with a 3lb penalty, Battaash is still well clear on the official ratings - and he would have to run a long way below his best for him to be beaten.

What is another problem for his rivals is that Battaash appears better at Goodwood than anywhere else and has looked nigh on unbeatable in winning this race for the past two seasons.

With habitual frontrunners El Astronaute and Copper Knight in the field, he should also get a nice lead if Jim Crowley wants to sit in behind.

It seems a significant drop in class for Jubiloso in the Theo Fennell Oak Tree Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute was wary of stepping the inexperienced filly markedly up in class for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but she ran with great credit.

She finished third there, on just her third outing, to the French raider Watch Me and the dual Guineas winner Hermosa.

The fact Stoute allowed himself to be carried along in the wave of enthusiasm for his filly suggests he thinks she has a great deal of ability - and this drop down to Group Three company, plus a step back in trip, is surely a springboard back to the top level.

The Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes looks a wide-open affair, but King Ottokar may be suited by the race.

Having beaten Dashing Willoughby first time out this season, he was sent off favourite for the Chester Vase but failed to see out a mile and a half.

Dropped to 10 furlongs for the Hampton Court Stakes, he arguably travelled as well as anything until Sangarius blew him away. There was no disgrace in that, and he only lost second in the dying strides, so it is easy to see why he is back down to a mile.