Totesport Celebration Mile at Goodwood Tips

George Washington makes his long awaited return to action in the Group 2 totesport Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Sunday, for which he is an 11/10 chance with bet365 at the time of writing. There can be little doubt that, if in the same sort of form which saw him produce a scintillating display to land the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, he will prove an extremely tough nut to crack. However, much has to be taken on trust with regard to his ability to reproduce his best following an injury-induced absence of three months, and my advice is to opt for the value and proven wellbeing of Godolphin's Iffraaj, who is far more appealing betting proposition at 3/1 with bet365. Course form counts for an awful lot at Goodwood, and Iffraaj looked well at home on the Sussex track when producing an impressive display to land the Group 2 Betfair cup by four lengths at the Glorious meeting at the start of the month. Interestingly, the son of Zafonic has never raced over a mile before, so Sunday's race will take him into unchartered waters. However, he showed no signs of stopping at the end of the seven-furlong Betfair Cup and, with the going predicted to be on the quick side on Sunday, he could prove the answer in a fascinating race, especially given the red-hot form of the stable at present. If Soviet Song takes her chance she looks sure to be thereabouts. James Fanshawe's evergreen mare bounced back from a below-par display in the Falmouth Stakes when chasing home Court Masterpiece in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over course and distance earlier this month. She hasn't finished out of the first two in the last three renewals of the Sussex Stakes and she clearly retains plenty of dash, despite being a six-year-old. But, although you can never write her off, I can't help thinking that she looks vulnerable to a progressive type like Iffraaj and a classy member of the Classic generation like George Washington. It's hard to envisage anything outside of this trio getting involved. One of two of Godolphin's other entries in the race, Caradak, disappointed when failing to land the odds in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury recently. He looked a tad one-paced in what was essentially a weak Group 2, and I couldn't be backing him after that display. Nayyir is an admirable campaigner who has plenty of course form, but, despite meeting with trouble in running, he was essentially readily held by Iffraaj when finishing fourth in the Betfair Cup and I see no reason whatsoever why he should now reverse the placings. Sir Michael Stoute has won this race five times in the last decade, including for the last two years with Chic, and it's hard to ignore such a record. However, despite running a fine race in defeat when third in the Sussex Stakes, I don't think his sole entry, Rob Roy, will be good enough. Verdict - 2pts Iffraaj @ 3/1 (bet365)