Fahal to do it this time

FAHAL can make it third time lucky at Goodwood this afternoon in the Listed Festival Stakes. Hamdan Al Maktoum's colt ran a game race on his reappearance in the Predominate Stakes at the Sussex track a year ago only to lose out in a three way photo finish to the race fit Pentire and Istidaad.

And he met trouble in running when returned to Goodwood for the Select Stakes in September by the time he found a clear passage the winner Triarius was gone beyond recall.

In between, Fahal had shown himself a very smart performer when fourth to Lammtarra in the Derby, looking the likely winners at Tattenham Corner but run out of the places in the final furlong.

And he proved he is capable of winning good races when he landed a Group Three event. at Haydock in August quickening to lead a quarter mile from home and never threatened thereafter.

Today's field contains no rival of Lammtarra's calibre or even Triarius and trainer David Morley has been aiming Fahal at it for some time. The four year old appears best at this mile and a quarter trip and can make a successful reappearance en route to another tilt at bigger prizes.

Fighting Times looks worth a bet to land the first win of his, career in the Pullman Food Stakes (Handicap). His lack of success does not reflect a lack of ability he put up a useful performance when beaten just a neck under 9st 10lb at Leicester in April, in a race which has worked out particularly well.

Rather, he needs holding up and requires perfect judgment of pace from his jockey to time his run to perfection Dean McKeown appeared to give him too much to do and met all kinds of trouble in running at Doncaster last time.

Jimmy Quinn excels in his handling of similar types and looks the ideal replacement today when the gelding's weight of 7st 13lb is below McKeown's minimum.

Fighting Times remains open to plenty of improvement after just seven career starts and is weighted to break his duck in a race less competitive than its £10,000 in added prize money might suggest.

Hula Prince created a vary favourable impression with a winning debut at Red car last week and looks set to follow up in the Cramlington Conditions Stakes at Newcastle.