Racing: Goodwood clerk of the course Seamus Buckley is predicting "perfect racing ground" for the start of the mid-summer five-day meeting.The Glorious Goodwood fixture kicks off today and Buckley is delighted with the going at the Sussex track.
He said: "It's been nice and dry. We've just had an inch of rain on Saturday which has put us right for the week."
The highlights of the opening day are the Peugeot Gordon Stakes, the Lennox Stakes and the Richmond Stakes.
Possible St Leger hopefuls put their credentials on the line in the mile-and-a-half Gordon Stakes, which was won by eventual St Leger third Bandari last year.
This year the Michael Stoute-trained Hawk Flyer looks likely to off favourite after winning a 12-furlong conditions race at Ascot last time.
Joe Mercer, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail, said: "He's a nice horse and we're hoping for a good run. This is his biggest step up yet tomorrow from a conditions race to Group Three and it does look to be a very, very competitive race."
The son of Silver Hawk has progressed for each of his three previous runs this season and he holds entries in the Daily Telegraph Great Voltigeur Stakes and the St Leger as well as the Tote Ebor Handicap, for which he is the current 9 to 1 favourite with Coral.
"He's entered for everything. You've got to enter them as races close so early and otherwise you would have to supplement them," Mercer explained.
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