2010 SUSSEX STAKES AT GLORIOUS GOODWOOD TIPS AND SELECTIONS

We’ve got a first-class Group 1 race set to go today and it boasts the intriguing notion of some of this year’s top three year-olds taking on some steely veterans in the Sussex Stakes. This one is very intriguing, especially with the distance at just a mile, and I think that there are a few interesting permutations here and I’m confident that Canford Cliffs (Tagula) remains the one to beat- the bookmakers seem to agree.

The multiple Group 1 winner has been setting the flat world alight since he scored in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh back in May and then followed it up with an emphatic score in the St James Palace Stakes at the Royal Ascot Festival. His recent fractions look great and, even at an odds-on price, I reckon he should be able to pull this one off if he gets the right type of trip and I don’t think he’ll stay at the back this time. I think a ground-saving trip in mid-position is probably what he’s looking for here. He’s a pro at the mile and looks like he can match up against the best. Ladbrokes has him at 1.66.
Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) has been getting spanked by female horses in his past two outings and AP O’Brien’s bay colt didn’t look right when surrendering after 7f in the Queen Anne against Goldikova (Anabaa). He was sent off as the 2/1 favourite in the 2009 Breeders Cup only to be annihilated by the legendary mare Zenyatta (Street Cry). He needs to show real improvement to have a shot and, if Canford Cliffs wasn’t in the picture, I would have more confidence. A clear second favourite at 3.5 and I think he has far too much to do for a price that short, although it should be acknowledged that he has a course/distance victory as he conquered the 2009 edition of this race.
Premio Loco scored in the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes at the Royal Ascot meet and the Group 3 Sunley Criterion Stakes when sent off at 25/1. He boasts a course and distance track record that gives me plenty of confidence in his ability to stay on, but he may be outdone by some fresher contenders here. He’s more heavily-raced than some of his counterparts but his 9.0 price isn’t too bad in my opinion. I think he’s a much more tempting forecast selection than Rip Van Winkle.
Dream Eater (Night Shift) has been a there-or-thereabouts type this season running third place in all of his three races this year. He ran third to Premio Loco and a third to Goldikova so I don’t think he has much of a chance of pulling this off (barring any errors from the other contenders) but I think he’s a great shout for your forecast or tricast tickets based on his hefty 21.0 listing.
I’ll be going along with the punters on this one and playing Canford Cliffs x Premio Loco x Dream Eater.