GO DUTCH AT GOODWOOD

Dutch Connection can take a starring role on the first of five days of top-notch action at Goodwood by landing tomorrow’s Qatar Lennox Stakes.

The race sponsors are gunning to have this Group Two seven-furlong contest upgraded to Group One status in due course and the £300,000 prize fund has certainly tempted a handful of decent horses into running.

This intermediate distant can be a bit tricky to read sometimes as you have sprinters trying to eke out their stamina, while the mile horses try to find that extra stride, but in Dutch Connection you have a horse who has proved more than capable over seven furlongs.

He won the Group Three Jersey Stakes over the distance at Ascot last year before heading here for this very event, although he had to settle for second on the day.

Dutch Connection found Toormore too good on that occasion but the good to soft ground would hardly have been ideal as he went down by threequarters of a length.

Charlie Hills then stepped him up to a mile at Keeneland last October but again the ground was not ideal as he disappointed and he has since failed to really make his mark on three subsequent outings over eight furlongs this term.

He appeared to be outstayed when second in the Summer Mile last time so this switch back to seven furlongs seems to make sense and while he is not the pick of the three Godolphin runners judged on jockey bookings, he has triumphed at a track where previous course experience is a huge plus.

Isomer made it third time lucky at a very skinny price at Salisbury earlier this month, but he can handle a big step back up in class in the Qatar Vintage Stakes.

This Group Two represents his first assignment at this kind of level, but Isomer has some strong form in the book and it is easy to see why Andrew Balding thinks his runner deserves a shot at the prize.

Beaten three-quarters of a length by the well-regarded Cunco on his debut at Newbury in May, he reversed that form when Cunco finished a length behind him in the Chesham at Royal Ascot.

Unfortunately that run was only good enough for second as Churchill claimed the Listed prize for Aidan O’Brien by half a length and is now favourite for next year’s Derby after winning a Group Three heat last week.

That result certainly marks Isomer as above average and while he did not beat much when sent off the 1-5 favourite at Salisbury, he could do little more than win and his two-length verdict should have sent his confidence sky high.

Seven furlongs is clearly his trip at present and the 3lb he gets from likely favourite and Superlative Stakes winner Boynton could prove very handly.

Arch Villain can oblige local trainer Amanda Perrett in the Better Odds With Matchbook Summer Stakes.

At Beverley, Bond Bombshell is the choice of two David O’Meara runners in the Roberta Marshall Memorial Handicap.