Goodwood set for soft conditions

Clerk of the course Ed Arkell believes the going will be soft, good to soft in places for day one of Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday. 

The five-day festival, which is one of the highlights of the flat-racing season, runs until Saturday and the going was expected to be good for the opening day. 

But a downpour has seen that change and Arkell is almost certain the action at Goodwood will be starting on soft ground. 

He said: "It's soft and good to soft in a few places on the round course after 33.1mm of rain on Sunday, although looking at parts of London I think we got away quite lightly.

"I envisage the going being soft, good to soft in places by the time of racing, although it might be the other way around if it gets really hot but I don't expect it to." 

Hannon hoping for bold Snow Lantern performance

Trainer Richard Hannon says Snow Lantern can handle soft conditions and will be eager to impress in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday. 

The three-year-old grey filly, owned by Rockcliffe Stud, is one of 10 runners that will be duking it out for glory in the Sussex Stakes and the wet weather seen on Sunday is set to bolster her chances. 

Speaking about Snow Lantern, who won the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last time out, Hannon is hoping to see a strong display from his charge, who has Jamie Spencer in the saddle in place of the suspended Seam Levey. 

He said: "She's staying at a mile for now. It looks like it's going to be soft ground, which she proved she can go on at Royal Ascot, and the owners want to go there. 

"It looks like being a very good race and so it should be. We'll go there, try our best and see how we get on." 

Samcro heads Galway field

Samcro will have to defy top weight in the Galway Plate on Wednesday as 22 runners prepare to battle for the £214,000 prize. 

Trained by Denise Foster, the nine-year-old has endured a mixed 2021 and was seen pulling up at Cheltenham in the Ryanair Chase before picking up a win at Killarney. 

Last time out, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned charge could only manage sixth at Listowel, although connections are still feeling optimistic ahead of Wednesday's Goodwood outing. 

JP McManus has five entrants, headlined by The Shunter, while Joseph O'Brien also has the same amount of runners and there is a good deal of hype surrounding recent Wexford winner Top Moon. 

Wonderful Tonight in line for Goodwood outing

David Menuisier's Wonderful Tonight has been confirmed as one of 23 entries for Saturday's Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood. 

The four-year-old had been due to run in the King George at Ascot last weekend but the lack of rain forced Menuisier to withdraw his charge and instead opt for a trip to West Sussex. 

Speaking about the recent Ascot decision and the upcoming Goodwood trip, the French trainer said: "When you train a soft-ground horse you always need a bit of luck with races in the middle of the summer. 

"She's the filly of a lifetime with big targets in the autumn, so we've got to do right by her. We'd like to give Goodwood a go and she's entered in the Lillie Langtry Stakes, so could run there."