'He should have an excellent chance' - who is feeling confident for the Lennox?

Tuesday: 3.00 Goodwood
World Pool Lennox Stakes (Group 2) | 7f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

There is no open-age Group 1 over seven furlongs in Britain and, of the existing events staged over the distance, many would place the Lennox Stakes as the leading candidate for promotion. On the most up-to-date figures that view would be vindicated – if only just.

According to the measures used by the European Pattern Committee, the Lennox is the best seven-furlong race in Britain for older (3yo+) horses. The Goodwood race just shades it from the City of York Stakes, with the Hungerford at Newbury a close third. But none of them is really knocking on the door. If you were to list all 33 British Group 2s in order of how they perform, the Lennox would come 15th.

So the Lennox is not a neglected race and, by extension, you do not necessarily need a Group 1 horse in order to win it. Of recent winners, Space Blues was, Dutch Connection and Toormore were on the cusp, but a strike-rate of three from the last ten winners gives a solid hint to the standard required.

With that said, this looks an above-average running. On his winning performance 12 months ago Kinross is only joint-third on adjusted Racing Post Ratings this time. He is equal with St James's Palace second and Jean Prat third Lusail, and behind Sacred and Pogo.

It is a little surprising to see Pogo, who is close to the dictionary definition of not-quite-a-Group-1-horse, come out top on the figures in a warm Group 2. He has already won two of the better Group 3s over this trip this season, and his two-length victory in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last time was difficult to interpret as anything other than a career-best at the age of six. That is consistent with the career-best season his trainer Charlie Hills is enjoying in his 12th year with a licence.

Pogo is also the likeliest to take them along, although at Goodwood such tactics have a moderate success rate. Sacred and Lusail are more interesting, as they are felt to have a bit more progress stored up.

Sacred won last year's Hungerford and has run only once since, when a staying-on fifth in the Platinum Jubilee. Top-level sprints seem a little sharp for her and these conditions, with added race-fitness, appeal as being just right.

Lusail ran Coroebus to a head at Ascot and led inside the final furlong in the Jean Prat. He will be suited by taking a lead for longer, and those are the sort of tactics that pay off at Goodwood. Tactics should also set up fairly well for Laneqash, who was just denied by Pogo in the John of Gaunt and got back on track at Chester last time.

With that sort of depth in the field, it would be a surprise if less-capable Goodwood specialists, like Happy Power and dual winner Sir Dancealot, were up to winning this year's Lennox, which might be the best seven-furlong race run in Britain for a few years.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Hills confident as Pogo bids for hat-trick

Despite being joint-second oldest in this Group 2, the Charlie Hills-trained Pogo is only beginning to hit top stride.

The six-year-old has made a flawless start to the season with two Group 3 victories, the most recent coming when earning a career-best Racing Post Rating in the Criterion Stakes when beating the reopposing Ever Given and Laneqash.

"He's been great this year and is in such good form," said Hills. "It's been the aim to come here. It's quite a big field, but he's got a nice draw and we'll take our chance as seven furlongs is his ideal trip."

Pogo: seeks a third Group success this season under Kieran ShoemarkCredit: Pool

Pogo makes his first start at Goodwood since placing in the Celebration Mile in August but his flying form has come as a slight surprise to his trainer following a busy winter racing in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

"I don't know why he's running so well this year," added Hills. "He had quite a hard winter as well and went to a few different countries, but he just seems to have grown up a good bit and maybe that experience has stood him in good stead."

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Lord Of The Lodge
We're punching way above our weight and it's his first run back after a little break. I'm sure he'll need it and he has a poor draw [11] to overcome, but we'll let him take his chance.

William Haggas, trainer of Sacred
She ran very well at Royal Ascot over a trip that was too short, so this should be better. She runs well fresh but is in good order and has had 38 days between runs, so we have to get on with it.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Ever Given
He's seen to better effect on a turning track and did very well at Epsom. It'll be the same in that respect at Goodwood, albeit it goes the other way round. So long as the ground remains good, which seems likely, I'm hoping he'll go well. He's got to step forward and produce a career best.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Gubbass and Lusail
I was very pleased with Lusail's run in France last time and in the St James's Palace before that. He's drawn well in two and although it's a nice race and he's taking on older horses, he should have an excellent chance. Gubbass is in a much better place mentally than he was in the first half of this year. He seems a lot sweeter in himself and I'm just hoping he can run back to somewhere near his old form.

David Probert, rider of Sandrine
She's in great form and gets a lot weight from her rivals. She's working well at home but we've just been bumping into some good milers and a step back to seven furlongs will hopefully help. She's fairly versatile on ground and is well balanced, so the track will suit. She deserves to get her head in front on the big stage.
Reporting by Catherine Macrae

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