Which horse has leading trainer Charlie Appleby 'always held in high regard'?

Thursday: 3.00 Goodwood
John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (Group 3) | 1m4f | 3yo | ITV/RTV

Calling the Gordon Stakes a St Leger trial is something of a misnomer. Plenty of horses have done the double over the last century or so, but none since Conduit in 2008.

But that is no reason to do the race down. That Conduit's trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, is the most successful trainer in the race's history (ten wins) drops a heavy hint at the real purpose it serves.

This is a race for horses who found the Derby coming a little too soon in their development, but who still have Group 1 potential.

Since 2015, five of the seven winners have gone on to take a Group 1 and one of the exceptions, Nayef Road, made a career out of chasing Stradivarius home in top-level races.

Those who like the look of this year's winner, whoever it turns out to be, should be thinking beyond Doncaster for their big payday.

However, like many Leger winners, many of these runners have been burned by Epsom. Hoo Ya Mal was second to Desert Crown, albeit connections would have been delighted with the performance of their 150-1 shot, while Masekela was fourth, Grand Alliance and West Wind Blows were down the field and New London did not even make it after he was turned over by Changingoftheguard in what was expected to be his trial at Chester.

Quite a few of those have already had redemption of sorts. Grand Alliance might have won the King Edward VII but for hanging, but those who have since dropped in grade look more persuasive.

New London won a heritage handicap at Newmarket by three lengths off a mark of 99 last time. West Wind Blows was even more impressive, winning by more than seven lengths at Listed level.

That was in the Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton. Given that race also has subsequent Group 1 winners such as Postponed, Defoe and Subjectivist on its recent roll of honour, there is a case for regarding it as Scotland's Gordon Stakes.

West Wind Blows, who went into the Derby straight from novices, needs to be taken seriously for the real Gordon.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

St Leger dream for Grand Alliance team

A testing season for Charlie Fellowes became considerably better on Tuesday when Marbaan landed the Group 2 Vintage Stakes, and the Newmarket trainer is hoping the quirky but talented Grand Alliance can continue the stable's momentum.

A Royal Ascot winner in all but name having thrown away victory in the King Edward VII Stakes by veering badly to his left in the closing stages, Grand Alliance comes with a health warning, but Fellowes is hoping he will be on his best behaviour.

"We've had some horrendous injuries to some nice horses and a few horses got moved, so it's just been a really trying year, and Grand Alliance doing what he did at Royal Ascot summed up the year perfectly," said Fellowes.

Reliving Grand Alliance's wayward antics at Ascot, the trainer added: "It wasn't easy viewing. He's a very talented horse but has got his own ideas about the game.

"Interestingly, the physio after Royal Ascot found him to be very sore through his back and he's been training a lot better since being treated."

Grand Alliance is owned by Paul and Susan Roy, already St Leger winners with Sixties Icon, and the Doncaster Classic on September 10 is the dream for the son of Churchill.

Fellowes added: "The visor should help him concentrate and we've got a nice inside draw, which I think could help as well. There's lots of potential positives but it's up to him really.

"The St Leger has been the target for a while. I know his owners would love to win that race again, but we'll see how this goes first."

What they say

James Ferguson, trainer of Deauville Legend
We’ve been really happy with him since the Bahrain Trophy and feel he’s progressing with every run. He’s carrying a 3lb penalty but we feel he’s good enough to go there and take his chance. He’s certainly fit enough and feels great.

Karl Burke, trainer of Al Qareem
He ran a great race in the Bahrain Trophy last time and we felt he was an unlucky loser as the winner slightly impeded us, then took us back across the track close home. This is a different challenge but he stays really well and is a tough horse.

George Boughey, trainer of Hoo Ya Mal
He hasn’t done a huge amount since he arrived but he’s fit and ready to go. He’s a straightforward horse and he handled Epsom well, so there’s no reason to suggest he couldn’t handle Goodwood. New London has the form in the book to top the market, but Hoo Ya Mal goes there with a solid chance.

Oliver Cole, joint-trainer of Jack Darcy
He demolished the field at Salisbury, coming from last to first, to win first time, then gave weight to Special Envoy at Newbury, which was pretty impressive. We're in at the deep end, but we think he's a very good horse and he'll put up a really good account.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of New London
He’s a horse we have always held in high regard. I was delighted with his last performance and he has come out of that in great order. I’m confident he will move comfortably back into Pattern races and make his presence felt.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Sussex
He's been training away well over the past few weeks and we're very happy with what we've seen from him. He won nicely at Navan the last day and we're hoping that he could run a nice race.

Ed Crisford, joint-trainer of West Wind Blows
He's improving mentally with each run and turning into a man now and we're looking forward to getting him back into Group company. He's an exciting horse to have on our hands and, if he runs well, he's certainly a horse we'd be thinking about for the St Leger.
Reporting by Lewis Porteous

Thursday previews:

1.50 Goodwood: 'He looks very progressive' - Can Migdam break Johnston handicap stranglehold?

2.25 Goodwood: Hot Royal Ascot form on show as Royal Scotsman bids for Richmond glory

2.45 Galway: 'It was always the plan to come to Galway' - a quality novice chase in store

3.35 Goodwood: Can she improve again? Nashwa all the rage for Nassau, but this is no tap-in

5.05 Galway: 'This has been on my mind for a while' - Galway Hurdle insight and quotes

Follow your favourites with our amazing Horse Tracker feature. Add up to 1,000 horses to your stable, filter them and keep up to date with automatic email alerts. Join Members' Club Ultimate now and never miss a winner again!