Glorious Goodwood

I would wager that the person responsible for attaching the prefix "Glorious" to the race meeting now known as Glorious Goodwood did so without accusation of overstating just how magnificent a place Goodwood really is.

Basking in wonderful sunshine at the height of the summer months, racegoers are treated to one of the best-looking racecourses, best race schedules, and a buzzing social aspect that sees them don Panama hats and down jugs of Pimms as part of almost standard attendee procedure.

Five days of high-quality racing pitched into the racing calendar at the back end of July/start of August, Goodwood really is a glorious treat for those in attendance. Boasting a racing schedule that includes 11 groups races and a host of premier handicaps of which the Group 1 Sussex and Nassau Stakes rank as the pinnacle races, racegoers will not be disappointed with the quality of racing as they make their way for the exit gates at the end of a hectic week.

Ramonti Rules

Hailing from the powerful Godolphin stable, Ramonti will be a warm favourite to repeat his 2007 success in the Group 1 Sussex and Nassau Stakes, a one-mile race for colts and fillies of 3 years and up. It is often the first time we see the current Guineas winner tackle older opposition. Rated by many as the best miler in training, Ramonti has been a major force for the Sheikh Mohammed-controlled operation since he bought the horse for what was rumoured to be a considerable seven-figure sum.

To complement his victory in this race last year, Ramonti also claimed three other Group 1 races in 2007, including Queen Anne Stakes (Ascot), Queen Elizabeth II (Ascot), and the Hong Kong Cup (Sha Tin). Based on what we have seen to date, I would not be advising that anyone back against this mighty impressive horse.

Opposition in the race looks certain to be provided by the very talented French filly Darjina, who was one of the only horses to defeat Ramonti in 2007 when she claimed his scalp in Longchamps Prix Du Moulin. The improving pair of Tariq and Phoenix Tower, and quite possibly the dual Guineas winner Henrythenavigator, also may take up alternative engagements.

Ladies Long Shot

Later in the week, the Nassau Stakes sees the fairer sex battle it out for their very own crown of the best all-age filly in training. In the past, this race has seen titanic battles between such great fillies as Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun. Last year's renewal saw the 3-year-old filly Peeping Fawn continue her ascendancy to the top of her game as she beat French filly Mandesha and Oaks winner Light Shift.

This year, Peeping Fawn will return in a bid for repeat victory, and again she will face the younger generation Oaks heroine Look Here, who, despite proving something of a shocking winner of this year's Oaks, looks very much like a filly full of ability, and being lightly raced, looks certain to continue to improve. The Jim Bolger-trained filly Lush Lashes, who ran respectably without placing in both the 1,000 Guineas and Espom Oaks, is a likely type to appreciate the intermediate distance of 10 furlongs and may be one to consider at a generous price.

Apart from the Group 1 races for the older generation, Glorious Goodwood also hosts some very classy 2-year-old races in which we will hopefully get some glimpses of brilliance of the following year's classic generation.

Up on the Outside

The seven-furlong, Group 2 Vintage Stakes is often the 2-year-old race that provides the greatest clue to those in search of classic pointers. Last year, we saw the classy Rio De La Plata land the spoils for Godolphin, whilst previous winners include classic victors Sir Percy and Shamardal, and if one looks further back through the archives, top-class animals such as Alhaarth, Dr. Devious, Mister Baileys, and Naheef all rank amongst previous winners.

To a lesser extent, the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs and the Group 2 Richmond Stakes over six furlongs also prove good pointers for the future, with such stellar performers as Enticing, Strike Up the Band, Bachir, and Daggers Drawn having landed the spoils in previous renewals. With this in mind, it may be prudent to chalk this year's victors into the notebook.

The Group 2 Goodwood Cup over two miles should see the all-conquering Yeats from the Aidan O'Brien Ballydoyle stable land yet another staying championship race. On the evidence of what we have seen to date, this should prove no more than a formality to a horse of his caliber.

The handicaps at Goodwood always prove to be interesting affairs, as plot horses become apparent and hard-luck stories from Royal Ascot make their way to Goodwood, intent on setting the record straight. The opening race of the meeting is the Heritage Handicap over 10 furlongs, and the Godolphin-trained Emirates Skyline will be well-fancied to improve on last year's performance in this race.

The BGC Stakes handicap over one mile and four furlongs is restricted to 3-year-olds, and always proves to be an interesting race, as those late-maturing types that didn't quite measure up to classic standard battle it out for a considerable purse. Victory last year went to the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Regal Flush, and with such a powerful stable of 3-year-olds, one could not go far wrong to follow his stable this year also. And it does look like an ideal race for the once-raced Dancer In Demand to arrive on the scene. Of course, this is contingent on acquiring a handicap mark in the interim, but I would suspect that this race is the medium-term target before possibly setting his sight on the bigger task of the St. Leger.

Galway for the Common Folk

While Goodwood has the glitz and glamour, Irish racing fans will be treated to grassroots racing, Guinness, and great craic at the annual Galway racing festival, which runs concurrently on the racing calendar with Glorious Goodwood.

The highlight of the week is the magnificent social scene that enraptures Galway for the weeklong festival; if you are incapable of enjoying yourself in Galway during race week, it's time to find yourself a new hobby.

Apart from the buzzing atmosphere, Galway also boasts key races such as the Galway Hurdle, the Galway Plate, and a cracking one-mile flat handicap that was formerly run under the guise of the McDonagh Handicap but is now better known as the Tote Galway Mile.

A recurring feature of the Galway festival is the dominance of the Dermot Weld stable, which has walked away with the leading trainer title so many times in recent years that this writer has run out of fingers and toes on which to count. Bearing this in mind, it is best advised to strongly consider this stable's representatives throughout the festival.

This year's renewal of the Galway Plate looks likely to contain a plot horse in the shape of the Noel Meade-trained Whataboutya. The opposition looks likely to come from the Christy Roche-trained Cool Runnings. Placed in this event last year, Roche also likes to send a strong team of horses to this meeting, and in the colours of his main patron JP McManus, he will be particularly keen to land the spoils in this race.

Whether you are in Goodwood or Galway this summer, sipping Pimms or downing pints of Guinness, you are guaranteed a wonderful time, with quality flat racing from West Sussex or quality socialising from the west of Ireland, and good times will be had by all.