Galway and Goodwood unique racing specials

Two full-on festivals, each with their own unique character, highlight racing in Ireland and Britain this week.

On the west coast of Ireland the six-day Galway meeting starts this evening, while on the south coast of England the Qatar Festival still commonly known as Glorious Goodwood begins its five-day run tomorrow.

Galway's fixture, an event which has echoes of the scenes found on Epsom Downs during the Derby meeting, is highlighted by the Galway Plate, a steeplechase, followed closely by the Galway Hurdle, yet the king of the meeting, in terms of winners, is leading Flat-race trainer Dermot Weld.

He has five runners today, while Ger Lyons has four, including two for Qatar Racing Brutal runs in a maiden (18.15), while Restive tackles a handicap (19.50).

Brutal was second at Roscommon earlier this month, building on a promising debut effort at Gowran in June, while Restive finished runner-up at Navan last month, and was a winner at the Curragh last year as a two-year-old.

Jockey Colin Keane believes there is a maiden victory to be had with Brutal, and both he and Restive are equipped with blinkers for the first time.

Goodwood stages exclusively Flat racing at a setting which many would describe as among the world's best. While Dermot Weld is the man to beat at Galway, Mark Johnston, a Scot based in Yorkshire, is his Goodwood equivalent.

Qatar Racing's five-day entries include the high-class pair Arod and Lightning Spear in Wednesday's Gr.1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, and Pallasator in Thursday's Gr.2 Goodwood Cup.

Saturday's QIPCO-sponsored Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot resulted in another very smart performance by Highland Reel, who made all and had every base covered as his rivals threw down challenges. He recorded his third triumph at the top level and, judging by the way he reversed Royal Ascot form with third-placed Dartmouth, looks an improving horse.

Racegoers at Ascot were entertained by a show organised by Retraining of Racehorses, which included an apperance by Qatar Racing's former globetrotter and Group One winner Side Glance (pictured below).

Meanwhile, in France yesterday, Qatar Power won a Listed race for Freddy Head's stable in the colours of Sheikh Abdulla Bin Khalifa Al Thani.