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

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

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