Crowley calls it: “Battaash should be very hard to beat”

1.50 Goodwood – Scotland

He’s a grand old horse dropping back in trip. He ran in the Ascot Gold Cup and has been running very well this year. He was third in a Group 3 last time and stays really well. He’s an outsider but it wouldn’t be a shock if he was placed. I can’t really see him beating Mirage Dancer. 

Hopefully he will just run a nice race. He’ll have to step up on what he’s done so far to win this.

3.00 Goodwood – Master The World 

This is a really good ride to pick up but not an easy ride. He’s a hold up horse and in this race you need a lot of luck in running. He’s won it before and he’s been second in it. David Elsworth’s horses are in good order.

He’s got a great chance and is more than capable of winning this race again. He’s only 3lbs higher than when he won it before. 

3.35 Goodwood – Battaash

I’ve been looking forward to this all week. He should really be hard to beat. It will be interesting to see how the race pans out and whether he jumps the way he did at Ascot. If he does we may end up in front, but if he doesn’t I’ll be happy to take a lead on him. He’s one of these horses that you can’t pull around. The more you fight him the worse he is. Tactically he’ll be forward anyway and hopefully we’ll see the best of him.

I don’t think he was at his very best at Ascot. Charlie’s weren’t running that well at that time.

He takes the pre-race a bit better than he used to but he’s still a ticking time bomb. I just sit quiet as a mouse on him, go down last on him and do everything very calmly. He’s in the same draw as last year and so is the horse drawn next to him – Take Cover.

If Take Cover wants to jump out and lead then brilliant and there’s a few other front runners in the race too.  I think Havana Grey is the one to beat but Battaash should be up to the task.