September 02 / 16.08 Goodwood

16.08

Soft

Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £12885
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 0-2305 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Perhaps handicapped about right but was bang there in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes (good to firm) when last seen in June and today's softer surface will be welcomed; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(5)

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 2

16:03 Pontefract

Divine Comedy

9st 1lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Harry Eustace

0-6 this year but has often run really well, finishing second at Goodwood (2m, heavy) last month and fourth of 22 in the Cesarewitch (2m2f, good to firm) nine days ago; she's a leading candidate today.

2/5

2

(4)

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Divine Comedy

9st 5lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Harry Eustace

No win this year but she's run with credit every time except for in the Chester Cup; serious traffic problems when fifth of 20 off today's mark at Royal Ascot (2m4f, good to firm) on penultimate start; each-way player.

12/1

1

(2)

2nd Sep 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:08 Goodwood

Divine Comedy

10st 2lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Harry Eustace

Perhaps handicapped about right but was bang there in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes (good to firm) when last seen in June and today's softer surface will be welcomed; good chance.

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: 2-2100 CD

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Progressive in 2023 and 2024, nearly winning last season's Cesarewitch on soft ground; fast ground and a dodgy draw were feasible excuses for his last two defeats; C&D winner and still on a competitive mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(1)

2nd Sep 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:08 Goodwood

Manxman

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Progressive in 2023 and 2024, nearly winning last season's Cesarewitch on soft ground; fast ground and a dodgy draw were feasible excuses for his last two defeats; C&D winner and still on a competitive mark.

5/1

17th

8

(20)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Manxman

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

His march through the staying ranks included going mighty close in the Cesarewitch (2m2f) last October and winning at Goodwood (2m) last month; perhaps good to firm ground helps to explain a lesser show at Royal Ascot (2m4f) 11 days ago; acts on Tapeta but drawn widest and needs to resume progress.

16/1

Form: 5-2508

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Has the form to feature and won't mind the ground; however, while there were excuses in the Northumberland Plate, Yarmouth last time was thoroughly underwhelming and now goes in a visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

4

(17)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Whos Glen

9st 10lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Donald McCain

9-1 when fifth in the Chester Cup last year for Andrew Balding, which is as good as he's ever been on Flat; 7lb lower today, having been right off the boil for that yard later in 2025; recent hurdle efforts for new stable aren't enough to persuade, especially given such a wide draw.

33/1

2nd

5

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

16:10 Sedgefield

Whos Glen

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

A useful winning stayer on the Flat for Andrew Balding; yet to match that form in this sphere but he posted his best effort when third of ten in 2m4f handicap at Musselburgh 12 days ago; not out of things on this stiffer track.

5/2

3rd

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 2

15:55 Musselburgh

Whos Glen

10st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

He could do with settling better than when tailed off in Doncaster maiden (2m3f, soft) last month; however, he was very talented on the Flat in his prime and showed some promise on his first two hurdle starts (2m4f/2m1f, good to soft); not discounted now tackling his first handicap hurdle.

16/1

Form: -43153 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won this three years ago and was third in 2023; added another course win on soft this June (4lb lower) and his latest effort on ground quick enough wasn't too shoddy; solid candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(3)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Aggagio

9st 9lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well held over hurdles in last three runs but he's won plenty under both codes including three over C&D; still 3lb higher than for his win here last June but he needs watching in market back on the Flat; effective on good/good to firm but most of his wins have come on slow ground.

8/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Aggagio

11st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won plenty under both codes, including over C&D, and has slid to an attractive mark; this is less competitive than the races he's been contesting of late and he's one of the likelier winners back up in trip.

3/1

7th

8

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Warwick

Aggagio

11st 7lb

J: Ben Pollard

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five-time hurdle winner who returned to form with clear second at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) in December; only seventh of 12 at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) but didn't run badly and he's not discounted.

10/1

Form: 363-02 BF

Last run: 123 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Dual winner in Ireland and nearly added a third career success on second run for this yard when nosed out over 1m6f (good) here in early May; absent since but fitness is unlikely to be an issue; effective on soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(3)

2nd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 5

19:02 Doncaster

Sixpack

9st 9lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Inconsistent ex-Irish gelding who's never run on ground faster than good; didn't take to hurdles in one try last autumn but solid comeback off this mark three weeks ago and this does seem to be his time of year; no surprise to see him take this.

7/4

3rd

6

(10)

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 4

17:45 Musselburgh

Sixpack

9st 4lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Beaten a nose at Goodwood (1m6f, good; 2lb lower today) last May but that's far and away the best of his six runs for James Owen, who won this race in 2024 and 2025; beaten 24l when evens for hurdling debut in October when last seen; needs a major revival.

9/1

Form: -62247

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Eight-race maiden who has been threatening and ran well at the big meeting here over 1m4f; only 5-1 for the recent 1m6f Melrose at York and didn't disgrace himself; the only 3yo in today's field and stepping up to 2m could suit; handles all ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(1)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Novelista

9st 10lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Warren Greatrex

Acts on good and heavy ground; won off 2lb lower over C&D for Charlie Johnston last autumn and he ran well over hurdles last month, on his second run for current yard; seems tactically versatile and he's in the mix off a workable mark back on the Flat.

9/2

2nd

7

1st Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Southwell

Novelista

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Useful on the Flat for Charlie Johnston, proving reliable and winning 2m handicap at Goodwood (heavy) last autumn (sold for 165,000gns soon after); 9-2, weakened to finish a well-held sixth of ten in Ascot juvenile (2m, soft) on hurdle debut in January; should be capable of a lot better in this sphere.

2/1

6th

8

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 157y

Class 3

12:25 Ascot

Novelista

11st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Not far off useful on the Flat for Charlie Johnston, proving reliable and winning 2m handicap at Goodwood (heavy) last autumn; changed hands for 165,000gns in October; likely to be suited by longer distances in due course but he commands respect on his hurdling debut even so.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.90
Straight Forecast £15.19
Trifecta £37.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Manxman

Telegraph:

Divine Comedy

TOPSPEED:

Aggagio

The Times:

Novelista

The Sun:

Sixpack

RP RATINGS:

Who's Glen

The Guardian:

Novelista

NEWMARKET:

Manxman

The Star:

Manxman

Daily Record:

Sixpack

D Express:

Divine Comedy

Daily Mirror:

Divine Comedy

POSTDATA:

Aggagio

Daily Mail:

Aggagio