Tom Queally eyes opening day Goodwood glory

TOM Queally is optimistic a recent win at Chester will have done Lord Shanakill the power of good ahead of his run in the Betfair Cup today.

Tom Queally is optimistic a recent win at Chester will have done Lord Shanakill the power of good ahead of his run in the Betfair Cup today.

The four-year-old failed to find the target on his first three outings since joining Henry Cecil, but scored a shade cosily in a Listed heat on the Roodee earlier this month. He returns to Pattern company on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood and Queally is hoping for a bold show.

The jockey said: "He'd been running in Group One races so we dropped him in class at Chester, when he won pretty comfortably in a performance that will hopefully have given him a real confidence boost. This trip is ideal for him and it looks the perfect spot. Air Chief Marshal looks the one to beat, but I am going there pretty hopeful."

Clive Cox has a strong hand as he saddles last year's runner-up Balthazaar's Gift as well as Dunelight, placed in this race 2008 and 2007. "We're delighted to get Balthazaar's back to seven furlongs. He's run creditably over six furlongs and ran very well in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot, but seven furlongs is his ideal trip," said the trainer. "He ran a super race here last year and I'm very happy that he's in good nick.

"The ground will be on the fast side but that should be fine for him.

"He goes there as a proven Group Two winner and likes the track, so I'm very confident of a good performance."

"Dunelight loves it round here and has run some blinding races. He wasn't beaten far by Paco Boy in this race a couple of years ago and is a Listed winner this season, so we thought we'd have a go on one of his favourite tracks."

Riggins has run well in a couple of hot handicaps since joining Andrew Balding this season and the trainer is looking forward to seeing how he fares on his first start in Pattern company. "It's a big step up in class for him and a drop back in distance, so it is a little bit of a punt but the horse seems in great form," said Balding. "He won at Goodwood when he was trained by Luca (Cumani) and he won over seven furlongs when he was with Luca, so we thought it was worth giving it a go. He's rated 105 now so handicaps are out of the question and we'll see how he gets on. If he could get a place we'd be delighted."

Dalghar drops down in grade after running a creditable fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Georges Rimaud, racing manager for his owner the Aga Khan, said: "He was beaten at Ascot but he ran a good race and certainly ran well enough to come down to a Group Two, so we're hoping he goes well. Seven furlongs is not a problem for him and we think it might suit him better than the mile.

"The horse is in good form and the fast ground should not be a problem for him."

Forgotten Voice tackles seven furlongs for the first time since making a maiden debut as a two-year-old.

"He appears in good order. The visor definitely sharpened him up and he possibly ran a little free in the early stages of his last start at Ascot," said trainer Jeremy Noseda. "Hopefully back at seven furlongs with a suitably strong pace we shall see a bold showing from him."

The Barry Hills-trained Red Jazz aims to regain the winning thread having filled the runner-up spot on three successive occasions.

Hills' son and assistant Charlie said: "He's in good form and his form from this year looks pretty good.

"He ran a good second to Premio Loco at Newmarket last time and he has come out and won again since.

"We've been happy with our horse and seven furlongs seems to be his ideal trip.

"It's a competitive race as you'd expect, but he should have a nice chance."

Meanwhile, at Perth tonight, Be Bapalupa spearheads the predictably strong Gordon Elliott raiding party in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Maiden Hurdle.