'He's top of my shortlist' - top tipster Paul Kealy answers your questions

Mark and Charlie Johnston make no secret of targeting Glorious Goodwood. Is there a specific profile of a Johnston runner – age, distance, running style – that you look out for?Jon Franklin
The yard has a brilliant record in the opening handicap, but they can win any race if they have the ammunition as it is a meeting they target. The question is how much ammunition they have this year. They are around 40 winners behind where they were at this time last year and 70 back from the last pre-Covid year. They won't be the only ones struggling to attract or keep owners given current levels of prize-money, but the fewer horses you have the less likely you'll have one good enough to win at Goodwood. That said, it will be a surprise if they don't hit the board at least a couple of times.

Are there any two-year-olds you fancy?William Abey
I'll be looking forward to seeing what Noble Style can do in the Richmond after missing Royal Ascot.

How do you go about picking your fancies seeing that Goodwood can be full of hard-luck stories?David Edwards
I don't worry about it. You know there are going to be some hard-luck stories, but some will go against you and others won't. It's amazing how many last-minute gambles are landed there, so plenty of punters bet with confidence at the track.

Do you have an each-way steal for the meeting?William Simpson
As long as the ground hasn't had too much water thrown on it Bell Rock could be the one in the opener with Harry Davies taking off 5lb.

What sort of running style suits Goodwood? Horses who like to be held up or race up with the pace?Daniel Phillips
Like at all tracks, it really depends on how fast they go. If you can get an easy lead there you can be hard to catch, but it's fair to say sometimes they go too quick on the sharp courses, which is why you see plenty come from off the pace.

How do you think the draw affects races over seven furlongs?Alan Watson
You generally want a low draw over seven furlongs and a mile but it's not as important as people think on the first few days. However, once they have moved the rail for the Friday and Saturday, the bend becomes really tight, and that's when a low draw is a big advantage. I have never understood why the Golden Mile hasn't been moved to earlier in the week.

What do you think of Sacred in the Lennox? To me, the opposition looks pretty weak.David Pimm
There's no doubt she has a cracking chance as that Platinum Jubilee fifth was an excellent effort and the extra furlong here is very much in her favour. She does tend to be held up out the back, though, and she is in stall nine of 11, so be prepared for a painful watch!

Do you think Kinross is the perfect horse for seven furlongs and the Lennox?Andrew Lee
He is, as he showed when winning the race last year, although that was on his favoured soft ground. However, he ran a cracker when not beaten far in the Platinum Jubilee on a rattling surface so he's far from one-dimensional. He's the danger to Sacred in my book and at the prices I do prefer him.

Kinross: could be the main danger to Sacred in the Lennox StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Do you think that Stradivarius can turn around the form with Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup?Michael Eason
Never say never with Strad, but I thought Kyprios was the winner on merit at Royal Ascot and he could still have more to come, whereas Stradivarius is not quite as good as he was. Don't rule out Trueshan if he gets the green light, while Coltrane is seemingly improving fast.

Have you played yet in the Stewards' Cup? I have taken a chance on Whenthedealinsdone at 33-1 – what's your view?Rob Torrie
You've certainly got the value there. I haven't played yet and will probably wait until the declaration stage and back one on each side. Popmaster would be at the top of my shortlist for now.

In the big handicaps, is it worth looking at the old saying 'horses for courses'?Allan Morton
It's always a plus when you know a horse acts on the track, but they need to have at least some of the other obvious factors in their favour too (ground, trip, handicap mark, etc). Two of the last three Stewards' Cup winners were having their first look at the track so a lack of course form is not a reason to throw anything out.

Have you got an outsider you fancy for the Stewards' Cup?David Ladd
I can't say I've got a real bee in my bonnet about one, but Chil Chil could be interesting near the top of the weights if she runs. She was far too free on her return in the Hackwood at Newbury but shaped like the ability is still there and she would relish a strongly-run race. She does have an entry in a conditions event at Salisbury on Thursday, though, so I wouldn't be in a rush to back her yet.

Given the record of low-drawn horses in Friday's Golden Mile, is it advisable to ignore totally any horse with a double-figure draw?Jim Anderson

Those with high draws do win every now and again but it's not that often. Those who get the low draws will get squeezed in the market, though, and I'd imagine Noble Dynasty will be a very warm favourite if he gets berthed in any of the lowest five stalls.

What's your best handicap bet of the week and your lay of the week?Daniel Nogher
I think Night On Earth has a huge chance in the sprint on Tuesday (4.10), and I'll probably end up laying Nashwa in the Nassau. The three-year-old form has taken some knocks and she only scrambled home in the Diane.

Nashwa: lay of the week at Goodwood?Credit: APRH/Clementine Veret

Goodwood is a tricky track to ride and I always thought Richard Hughes was brilliant there. Who would you jock up of today's riders if you had a runner there?Martin Mc
William Buick has the best recent strike-rate of 20 per cent over the last five years, but you have to balance that against the class of horse he gets to ride, and like most jockeys there, backing him blind would not have made you any cash. It was never Kieren Fallon's favourite place, but son Cieren has hit the first two with more than a third of his rides at the track, so he clearly has no problems with it.

Could Rebel Territory, trained locally by Amanda Perrett, be the dark horse for the Golden Mile?Gerald Kay
Yes he could, provided he doesn't get berthed on the outside and the ground isn't too fast by Friday. He has been a ground-related non-runner a few times and wouldn't want it any faster than good. He has won three of his last four, though, and Jim Crowley rode him with lots of confidence last time, when he probably won a shade more cosily than it looked. I'd imagine connections are hoping for a bit of rain.

Would you give much of a chance to Dreamloper in the Nassau?Phil Walters
Most definitely. I wouldn't worry about her last run as the ground didn't suit, but on her two earlier runs this season she's better than ever. Nashwa might be a tough nut to crack, but are the three-year-olds really that good? There's mounting evidence to suggest otherwise.

Forget Goodwood, Paul, give us the Galway Plate and Hurdle double!David Brown
Blimey, as if Goodwood wasn't hard enough. It might be unoriginal, but I have a feeling Ash Tree Meadow is going to run them ragged in the Plate, while the same owners have serious chances in the Hurdle with My Mate Mozzie and Vina Ardanza. At the prices I'd just favour the latter, but split stakes just in case.

Read these next:

'He has the perfect profile' – why these horses can win at Goodwood or Galway

Fantastic four: assessing the key contenders for a heavyweight Goodwood Cup

Glorious Goodwood 2022 guide: the key races, horses and how to watch

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.