14:40 Goodwood

Both Lead Artist and Sonny Liston would prefer faster ground and a chance is taken that POKER FACE (best priced at 9/2) can bounce back from a below par effort at Royal Ascot. The Simon & Ed Crisford trained five-year-old was a three-time winner last season on good to soft and soft ground including in a Group 3 and Group 2 in France. 

Poker Face returned with a 2nd placed finish at Sandown when trying to concede 3lbs to Charyn before disappointing on faster ground on his next two starts. The forecast rain will help his chances and I expect him get back to winning ways in this race. 

15:15 Goodwood

The Jonny Portman trained SWEET REWARD (best priced at 9/1) defied odds of 16/1 to win this race last season and he should hold strong claims off only a 1lb higher mark. The seven-year-old is a three-time winner on soft ground and was an impressive five length winner of this race last season under those conditions. 

Sweet Reward outran odds of 33/1 to finish 2nd on his reappearance off a mark of 87 so he is no doubt well handicapped off a mark of 84 and he will much prefer this ground in comparison to the good to firm he encountered when 5th here over 1m1f earlier this month. 

15:35 York

The Irish hold a strong hand in the Ebor this year and preference goes to MAGICAL ZOE (best priced at 10/1) who makes her flat handicap debut in this race off a mark of 102. Better known for her exploits over hurdles where she is a listed and Group 3 winner, the Henry De Bromhead trained six-year-old has run well at the Cheltenham festival for the past two seasons when finishing 2nd in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle and 4th last season in the County Hurdle behind last year’s Ebor winner Absurde.

Magical Zoe has run three times on the flat since and particularly caught the eye last time when 3rd at Fairyhouse in a Group 3 when beaten only 1 ¼ lengths. Her opening mark is fair and she should be well suited by the demands of this race. 

16:55 Goodwood

With both Angle Land and Conservationist contesting this race from out of the handicap, it looks a good opportunity for ENCHANTING (best priced at 4/1) to enhance her course record. An impressive course and distance winner here in June by 4 ¾ lengths under Hollie Doyle, the Andrew Balding trained filly has finished 2nd and 5th on her previous two starts here including when only beaten 3 ¼ lengths last time in a handicap off a mark of 83.

The handicapper has dropped Enchanting 2lbs down to a mark of 81 and she looks sure to run well back on a softer surface having previously won on a novice race on heavy ground last season.