Hollie Doyle: Opera Ballo could prove hard to peg back in the Sussex | Racing News

Our ambassador gives her verdict on a stellar renewal of the Sussex Stakes on Day Two of the Glorious Goodwood Festival and provides her thoughts on the rest of the card.

Hard to oppose impeccable Echo in Sussex

It’s difficult to make a cast-iron case against Bow Echo as he puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4.10) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday.

George Boughey’s colt was a brilliant winner of the Guineas before following up in the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month and has been delighting connections in his homework since.

He takes on the older horses for the first time but a handy draw in stall four as well as that eight-pound weight-for-age allowance strengthens his case to become the fifth three-year-old winner of this Group One in the last decade.

Front running Ballo could be hard to peg back

If there’s one rival who could spoil the party in the Sussex Stakes it’s Godolphin’s Opera Ballo who ran a game race in the Queen Anne and could prove hard to peg back on a track that is better suited to front runners like him.

Charlie Appleby’s colt has been building a serious profile with wins in the Group One Jebel Hatta in Dubai and a smooth success over Field Of Gold and subsequent Summer Mile winner Zeus Olympios at Sandown.

Aidan O’Brien’s admirable Gstaad, who was second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting, is such a street fighter but lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo possesses at that will probably be his undoing on the Downs.

Hannon filly sets standard in Molecomb

Richard Hannon and Sean Levey hold some strong chances at Goodwood this week but none more appealing than Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3.35) on Wednesday.

This daughter of Persian Force is already a course and distance winner, landing a novice in May before running a big race in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She was little more than two lengths behind Victorious that day, finishing second in her group, and that form entitles her to plenty of respect in this field.

I’d love to see Rebecca Menzies win a big race like this with her unbeaten Adonius who has been kept fresh since extending his unbeaten record in the Lily Agnes at Chester and has speed to burn. It would also be nice to see Archie Watson’s Flight Signal get back to the promise he showed on debut after struggling in the Norfolk Stakes.

Fabulous Flora the one to beat in Oak Tree

Flora Of Bermuda put her Royal Ascot disappointment firmly behind her in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York this month and can follow up in the Rolls-Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood.

Andrew Balding’s course winner can take the step up to seven-furlong in her stride with a good low draw in her favour in this Group Three and can confirm this season’s Newmarket form with market rival Sayidah Dariyan. She wasn’t beaten far in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but whether she will see out seven-furlongs as well as Flora Of Bermuda is open to question.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos does have top class form at this distance having won the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last year but she needs to bounce back from her flop in the Commonwealth Cup with a tongue tie on for the first time.

Longer trip looks ideal for Infraad

I’m hoping my husband Tom (Marquand) can make a winning start on Wednesday in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1.50) when he partners William Haggas’s smart Ghaiyyath colt Infraad.

A Pontefract novice winner, he looks ready for this step up to a mile and a half after making a promising handicap debut against more seasoned opposition at Chester a few weeks ago.

The handicapper has left him on the same mark of 90 which can give him the edge over a competitive field including Harry Eustace’s Nottingham scorer Bay Royale – a taking son of New Bay who may just find more in a first-time tongue tie.

Moore booking catches my eye in finale

The closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5.40) is wide open but the booking of Ryan Moore for Crimson Spirit can prove decisive.

Dan and Claire Kubler’s five-year-old – a good second at Newmarket last time – doesn’t have the best draw in stall 10 but won a big field handicap over course and distance back in May and remains fairly treated off his higher rating.

Likely favourite Bobby Bennu represents top trainer Roger Varain but hasn’t won on turf for a long time and has produced his best recent form on an artificial surface. A three-pound rise makes this a tougher task so I’m happy to seek out some value with Crimson Spirit.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.