September 05 / 15.20 Goodwood

15.20

Soft

Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap

  • Prize money: £15702
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Royal Sussex Regiment Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.40

Form: -11272 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Solid record in handicaps includes three wins; ran well at Newbury (2m, good) most recently, beating all bar the progressive Sweet William who has franked the form since; acts on soft; major contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

6th Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

15:15 Kempton (AW)

Novel Legend

10st 0lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Ended last term with heavy defeats in the Irish Cesarewitch and Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak; up to that he'd had a cracking campaign in handicaps, in which the first of three wins came over C&D first time out (his last AW run), and he still looks on a highly competitive mark if reappearing at the top of his game.

11/2

4th

1

(5)

6th Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 2

15:15 Kempton (AW)

Novel Legend

10st 0lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Ended last term with heavy defeats in the Irish Cesarewitch and Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak; up to that he'd had a cracking campaign in handicaps, in which the first of three wins came over C&D first time out (his last AW run), and he still looks on a highly competitive mark if reappearing at the top of his game.

11/2

15th

4

(32)

24th Sep 2023

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 165y

16:10 Curragh

Novel Legend

10st 0lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: James Fanshawe

in touch with leaders

14/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 331132 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 2lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Seems versatile ground-wise; unexposed stayer who has largely progressive RPRs and ran well in Newmarket handicap (1m6f) most recently; 1-1 over 2m, namely a win at Doncaster where she beat Temporize before that rival made the switch to Syd Hosie; interesting back at this distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(7)

3rd Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

18:58 Kempton (AW)

Grand Providence

9st 6lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Won 1m3f novice here in 2023 and the Cesarewitch Trial (2m2f) later that year; lightly raced since and she wasn't beaten far in the Chester Cup last May but needs to be at her peak to win this after over a year off.

11/1

8th

12

(14)

29th Jun 2024

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:10 Newcastle (AW)

Grand Providence

8st 6lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Won last year's 2m2f Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket and good fifth when ridden more prominently than usual in the Chester Cup (good to firm) this May; her three AW races were on Polytrack at start of career, winning on third occasion; assuming she's fully effective on this surface, she could still have more to offer.

7/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 5-2562 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Respectable record at Goodwood includes four wins, notably this contest in 2022 (soft); outstayed over 2m4f when behind Temporize at the Glorious festival then ran creditably back at 2m here later in August; solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

28th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

19:33 Fontwell

Aggagio

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last month's down-the-field finish in a valuable Flat marathon is easily overlooked and he reverts to hurdling on an attractive mark but he's on the downgrade and has become inconsistent; soundly beaten twice in cheekpieces last season and now tries blinkers; hard to predict.

7/1

11th

16

(1)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 137y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Aggagio

8st 2lb

J: Molly Gunn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

All British Flat wins (five of them) have been at Goodwood but the last four were on soft ground, latest in June 2025; sixth in this race in 2023 and fifth last year, both on soft; last August saw his only run on good to firm in the last three years and he wasn't discredited, but he needs to step up on this year's efforts, particularly as he's 4lb out of the handicap.

20/1

6th

6

(3)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Sandown

Aggagio

9st 9lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Ran creditably in sole Sandown attempt (four years ago) but is still seeking a first British Flat success away from Goodwood; modest third there last time in a race he'd won in 2022.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-8090 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Won well off just 2lb lower over C&D (good to soft) in August 2022 then finished second in the Cesarewitch; soft ground may explain his substandard turf form this year; interesting granted a suitable surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 97y

Class 2

13:20 Goodwood

Vino Victrix

8st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Hughie Morrison

No win since 2022 but has a pretty solid record over 2m here, most recently when beaten just under 3l on penultimate start; second in the 2022 Cesarewitch over 2m2f but he came 11th in the last two renewals of this race; worse than good to soft ground looks against him.

16/1

8

(2)

1st Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Vino Victrix

9st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Hughie Morrison

Useful on his day; no win since 2022 but has shaped encouragingly at Chelmsford (1m6f) and Goodwood (2m) this term, staying on both times; can't be dismissed off current mark.

10/1

7

(3)

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

14:40 Goodwood

Vino Victrix

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Hughie Morrison

Finished fourth in this race last year, then second here next time; ran encouragingly in AW event on reappearance; capable of being involved but is badly out of the winning habit, with losing spell going back to 2022.

8/1

Form: 646433

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
In decent form, having been placed over 1m6f the last twice, and remains 6lb lower than when winning the 2021 Mallard at Doncaster (14.5f, good to firm); acts on soft; possibilities if he stays the new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(8)

5th Jun 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Nottingham

Rhythmic Intent

9st 9lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Stuart Williams

The lack of any win since 2021 sees him down to his lowest mark since handicap debut in 2019; stacks of form from 2023 gives him a big chance in theory and he wasn't far away in February three starts ago; while hard to dismiss, it's also hard to make him the percentage call.

7/1

5th

11

(1)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

13:30 Ascot

Rhythmic Intent

9st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Stuart Williams

Now a stone below last winning mark; however, he's far from solid on 2024 AW form and losing spell goes back to 2021; by no means certain to take advantage of the drop in weights.

25/1

Form: 7-3418 D

Last run: 151 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner over jumps and on AW; failed to show his form in last two appearances (Flat/hurdle); close second off 2lb higher in this race last year and has a fighting chance if back in the same form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(7)

30th Sep 2023

Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

14:05 Chester

Earlofthecotswolds

9st 6lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Multiple winner over jumps and on AW; respectable sixth of eight in 2m Goodwood handicap (good) 25 days ago but it underlines he needs more from his mark.

20/1

6th

1

(2)

5th Sep 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Goodwood

Earlofthecotswolds

10st 2lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Multiple winner over jumps and on AW; failed to show his form in last two appearances (Flat/hurdle); close second off 2lb higher in this race last year and has a fighting chance if back in the same form.

14/1

2

9th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 2

14:50 Market Rasen

Earlofthecotswolds

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Hasn't been seen over hurdles since Boxing Day 2021 but has since developed into a smart Flat performer, gaining a fourth success (all on AW) at Wolverhampton in March (RPR 105); fascinating contender.

6/1

Form: 522145 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Productive 2022 campaign included four wins; has a poorer strike-rate this season but won over C&D (good to firm; off 2lb lower) in June and can't be dismissed back here; ran well on soft in the spring.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(13)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:25 Down Royal

Pons Aelius

9st 9lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner at up to 2m in Britain but yet to hit any sort of form for current yard; career-low mark and tongue-tie tried so don't rule out.

12/1

11th

7

(16)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Pons Aelius

9st 11lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: H D McGuigan

Donegal yard likes to pick up horses with back-form, often from Britain, and try to rejuvenate them; six-time winner at up to 2m but hasn't been finishing out his races in Ireland and been off a while.

18/1

8th

9

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Pons Aelius

9st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner for Charlie Johnston and best form over this trip; poor on first two runs for this yard at big prices; better than bare result when beaten over 5l at Gowran last May; yard's first runner of the year won on Tuesday; no surprise were he to go well after a break with leading claimer aboard.

20/1

Form: 53/46-

Last run: 472 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Listed winner on Flat in France; 0-12 in Britain, mostly over hurdles (well held off modest marks the last twice); well treated on best form in this sphere but is by no means guaranteed to reproduce it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

18th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Bath

Merveillo

9st 8lb

J: Shane Kelly

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Won 1m4f Listed race (very soft) in France during 2021; wasn't beaten far in a better race than this over 2m at Haydock last spring but he's generally struggled under both codes since and was tailed off back at Haydock (1m7f, heavy) 18 days ago; lots to prove.

40/1

5th

3

(2)

30th Sep 2023

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Haydock

Merveillo

10st 1lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Won 1m4f Listed race in France during 2021; wasn't beaten far in a better race than this over 2m (good) on this track in May 2022 but all at sea over hurdles since and that mark is now lower than his Flat one; no joy at Goodwood recently and has it to prove at present.

20/1

8th

6

(3)

5th Sep 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:20 Goodwood

Merveillo

9st 5lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Listed winner on Flat in France; 0-12 in Britain, mostly over hurdles (well held off modest marks the last twice); well treated on best form in this sphere but is by no means guaranteed to reproduce it.

16/1

Non-runners

Temporize

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.90
Straight Forecast £9.53
Tricast £26.03
Trifecta £38.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Novel Legend

SPOTLIGHT:

Grand Providence

TOPSPEED:

Aggagio

WEST COUNTRY:

Temporize

D Express:

Pons Aelius

RP RATINGS:

Rhythmic Intent

The Times:

Grand Providence

The Guardian:

Grand Providence

Daily Record:

Temporize

NEWMARKET:

Novel Legend

Telegraph:

Novel Legend

Daily Mirror:

Novel Legend

The Sun:

Novel Legend

Daily Mail:

Aggagio

The Star:

Aggagio