IRISH RAIDER SET TO SWOOP

15:00 Goodwood

The Gordon Stakes over one mile and four furlongs for the classic generation of colts and geldings.

This race can sometimes be viewed as a trial for the St Leger.

Wordsworth is the likely favourite and its easy to see why. Despite the fact he seems to hit the crossbar more frequently than getting his head in front, his recent placed efforts have been in the highest level and this represents a drop in class.

Third Realm beat Derby winner Adayar in the Lingfield trial. Obviously if that’s taken at face value he would have a serious chance. Maybe he was flattered by that performance because that form was reversed emphatically at Epsom, but he is still unexposed.

Most interesting for me is what appears to be the Aiden O’Brien second string Sir Lucan. He is completely unexposed at middle distances. He beat Wordsworth fair and square at Naas last time over a furlong further than today’s trip. There could be even more to come from this horse now upped in distance, and a crack at the Leger maybe on the cards.

SIR LUCAN (WIN)

written by Matt Polley