Feast of Action at glorious Goodwood festival

Headed by tomorrow's Gr.1 QIPCO Sussex Stakes, the fixture takes place at one of Britain's most picturesque racecourses on the estate of Lord March. The dress code is smart, but a world-removed from Royal Ascot, with gentlemen swopping top hats and tails for panama hats and linen suits, while women leave haute-couture at home in favour of more casual frocks and flat-heeled shoes.

The racing action comes fast and furious, with seven races each day and sprint contests that hurtle downhill for much of the trip, but it is the one-mile clash between QIPCO 2000 Guineas victor Kingman and last year's winner Toronado in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes which is set to highlight this year's meeting. Just five horses will go to post, but Outstrip was not far behind Kingman at Royal Ascot, and War Command was an outstanding two-year-old who has stablemate Darwin to help set a suitable pace.

Moodrick, who was bought by David Redvers Bloodstock at Arqana's May breeze-up sale and carries the colours of Essafinaat and Qatar Racing, runs in today's Bet 365 EBF Maiden Stakes (4.15). He faces a tough challenge on debut with 14 rivals to beat, but trainer Olly Stevens says: "He began strengthening up last month, works well and looks to have above-average ability."

Horses owned outright or in partnership by Qatar Racing are set to run each day at Glorious Goodwood, and the team has a number of options in Friday's Gr.2 King George Stakes over five furlongs and Gr.3 Oak Tree Stakes for fillies over seven furlongs (see five-day entries on this site). After the sad loss of juvenile Songye (Makfi), who looked set to win at Windsor last night until suffering a tragic leg injury, a change in fortune would be welcome.