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
View Course
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

1st

1

(5)

8th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:50 Goodwood

Manxman

9st 13lb

J: William Buick

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Largely consistent; ran respectably in 2m contest at the York Ebor festival on belated reappearance; creditable effort (off 1lb higher) in this race last year took his Goodwood record to 2313; solid chance.

15/8

5th

8

(12)

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Manxman

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Progressive in 2023, 2024 and 2025; that included getting pipped in the 2024 Cesarewitch (2m2f, soft) and two big runs last year at Goodwood; runner-up in his 2024 and 2025 reappearances, though not in such good races as this one; would have a lot more to prove on good to firm ground than good or softer, but this 2026 return is off a competitive mark.

18/1

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

8th

9

25th Sep 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Worcester

Whos Glen

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Off the mark over hurdles at seventh attempt, keeping on well in first-time cheekpieces at Bangor (2m3f, good) this month; moves up from Class 5 today, though, and others have more compelling form.

16/1

1st

1

8th Sep 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

18:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Whos Glen

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Fairly useful 1m6f Flat winner for Andrew Balding; in good form for new yard over hurdles in the spring but came in a remote fourth in 2m4f Southwell novice in June; more is needed in first-time cheekpieces after a break.

9/1

4th

6

9th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:00 Southwell

Whos Glen

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Useful Flat racer who made the frame on four of his five hurdling starts for Donald McCain last season, most notably when third in valuable series final at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in March; well beaten in good-quality Flat handicap last month but ought to play a significant role in this.

5/2

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

3

3rd Oct 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:00 Fontwell

Aggagio

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dual-purpose performer who was a fading fourth when returned to hurdling here (2m1f, good) in August; continues to drop down the weights but he's not easy to predict these days and his last win was 16 months ago; blinkers worn last time are removed.

8/1

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

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

22nd Sep 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:05 Warwick

Sixpack

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Didn't jump well when a disappointing favourite at Fakenham (2m, good) last October on sole previous hurdle start; however, he's shown useful form when winning three times on the Flat this year and will be a serious force if able to transfer that ability to this code; trainer won this last year.

15/8

3rd

2

(4)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:29 Newmarket (July)

Sixpack

9st 8lb

J: George Wood

T: James Owen

Three wins this season (1m4f-1m6f); bounced back from poor AW run when close second to Arqoob here (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago and might still have a bigger performance in him over this longer trip; respected.

7/2

2nd

3

(3)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:58 Newmarket (July)

Sixpack

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

Has done well over 1m4f-1m6f on turf this term, winning three times from six starts; latest win came easily at this track (1m6f, good to firm) in June and he's 7lb higher today; tailing off so badly at Southwell four weeks ago may be offputting but he came last in 2025 in his only other AW race, so perhaps can spring back to life with today's return to turf.

6/1

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

2nd

5

6th Sep 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:55 Fontwell

Novelista

11st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Useful stayer on the Flat for Charlie Johnston; made low-key stable/hurdle debut on soft ground in January but ran well from the front when clear second to useful rival at Southwell (2m, good) in April; ran poorly on the Flat the following month but ought to be suited by this step up in trip and can make his presence felt if back in good nick.

3/1

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

+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