Is anyone capable of stopping Godolphin hotpot's bid for a four-timer?

Wednesday: 1.50 Goodwood
Coral Beaten-By-A-Length Free Bet Handicap (Class 2) | 1m4f | 3yo (0-105) | ITV/RTV

The Sussex Stakes has parallels with Royal Ascot's Queen Anne and this 1m4f three-year-old handicap is Goodwood's equivalent of the royal meeting's King George V Stakes.

There are no bulletproof reasons why King George V also-rans Teumessias Fox (sixth), Surrey Mist (seventh), Inverness (tenth) and Mandobi (14th) will reverse the form with winner Secret State, who attempts the double this year.

The Charlie Appleby-trained runner rightly dominates the market off a 7lb higher mark and his head defeat of subsequent Bahrain Trophy winner Deauville Legend reads excellently. The second was receiving 4lb at Royal Ascot and would meet Secret State on 12lb worse terms if the pair clashed in a handicap now.

Appleby pinpointed the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York as a target, and it is no surprise this Godolphin colt is still entered in the St Leger later in the season as he boasts an outstanding pedigree and is unexposed after only four runs.

It is worth noting the only horse to have defeated Secret State is the Arc-entered Francesco Clemente, who produced an eye-popping Racing Post Rating of 114 when hacking up by nine lengths in a Newmarket handicap last weekend.

If the favourite defies top weight here, he can be classified as a true Classic candidate. Curiously there is one other runner entered in the Doncaster spectacular in September and that is the 86-rated Mugader.

Mugader scored in authoritative fashion off a mark of 79 over the Leger course and distance last month and looked well ahead of his mark there.

The third won next time and although Mugader has two and a half furlongs fewer to hit top gear this time, there is little doubt the early odds underestimate this progressive colt. Richard Hannon won this two years ago with Mambo Nights and could savour more Goodwood joy.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Leger hope Secret State seeks four-timer

It has been seven years since a favourite last won this handicap but Charlie Appleby will be aiming to buck the trend after a narrow defeat last year.

The Godolphin trainer came under a length away from winning this contest in 2021, when favourite Siskany fell short of the Roger Varian-trained Nagano, but Appleby could make amends with the progressive Secret State, who is on the hunt for a four-timer under William Buick.

Should Secret State triumph on Wednesday, he could set himself up for a crack at the St Leger in September.

Secret State: seeking to follow up Royal Ascot success at GoodwoodCredit: Mark Cranham

"He's gone up 7lb in the handicap for his solid win in the King George V and that form was given a boost when the second Deauville Legend came out and won the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on his next start," Appleby said.

"He's had a nice break between Ascot and Goodwood and his prep for this has gone well. I am expecting him to run well again."

What they say

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Maksud
He's been highly tried since his maiden and it's always difficult to go to the next step, you have to aim high. He's performed well but is just off the edge of Listed class. He's still quite green but learnt a lot at Ascot. We always thought he'd get at least a mile and a half and he'd appreciate a true-run race.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Box To Box
He's done so well the last twice but he's won small-runner handicaps at Chester, so this is a very different test. He's improved for going up in trip and if the ground were to dry out it would be ideal. Every time we've stepped him up he's improved but he'll need to again.

George Baker, trainer of Surrey Mist
I've been delighted with Surrey Mist this whole year. Things haven't quite dropped right for him in the last couple of runs but with the step up to a mile and a half and Hollie Doyle on board for the first time, we're hopeful for a big run.

David Probert, rider of Zain Nights
He's been consistent and was a ready winner last time. He saw the trip out really well and seems progressive. It's competitive but he looks like he can improve and run well at the weights.

Michael Bell, trainer of Adjuvant
He won nicely at the July meeting and has been in good form since. This is a much deeper race but he's in great order. He was a decent two-year-old and has progressed nicely this season, but this is a hot contest.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Mugader
He's a horse who has progressed all year and it'd be great if he ran well. We'll find out if he's the gears for this, but he's got more gears than he's shown. He's very lazy.
Reporting by Catherine Macrae

Wednesday previews:

2.25 Goodwood: 'This is a good opening to win her first Group race' - who is feeling confident?

3.00 Goodwood: Who has the right pedigree to excel in a Molecomb test of raw speed?

3.35 Goodwood: World at his feet: Baaeed bidding to cement his number-one spot on global stage

6.10 Galway: Kennedy opts for Return To Base as emphatic Punchestown winner goes handicapping

6.40 Galway: 'He's still unexposed' - who fancies their chances of winning the Galway Plate?

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