Crowley Calls It: “I’m really looking forward to riding this one, I think he’s a massive price”

Goodwood 2.25

My ride in the Group Two Qatar Vintage Stakes, Watheer, won last time out on the all-weather.  He’s a nice horse but he’s going to have to step up a lot here, it’s a solid race as you’d expect and he’s in at the deep end, taking on the likes of Seahenge and Expert Eye.  I hope he’s one for the future but he will need to step up to take a hand in the finish here.

Goodwood 3.00

I have a lovely ride in the Qatar Lennox Stakes, on a horse I know well, Dutch Connection.   He’s a smashing horse who gave me a Royal Ascot win a couple of years ago, and he won this race last year, but he wouldn’t want the ground to get much slower, on good to soft or softer he may not even take his chance as he’s a proper good ground horse.  Limato is in the same boat as us and won’t want any more rain, while the likes of Librisa Breeze and Home Of The Brave won’t mind it so much.

It is a track that does dry out quickly, so with a breeze and a dry 24 hours, hopefully he’ll take his chance and do himself justice.

Goodwood 3.35

In the Qatar Goodwood Cup, which is now a Group One, I have my first ride for Willie Mullins, something I never managed when I was riding over jumps!   Wicklow Brave is another lovely ride to pick up, a high-class hurdler who has also run some big races on the flat, including an Irish St Leger win over Order Of St George, and that horse would be favourite or close to it if he was running here, so I do think my fella is overpriced.

It’s a very good race, as it should be, and Big Orange is clearly the one to beat, but after him it’s wide open and I’m really looking forward to riding this one, I think he’s a massive price.

Goodwood 4.10

I didn’t ride Alrahaal, my ride in the maiden, when he was second at Goodwood on his first run, but he looks a nice type of horse, and Marcus Tregoning’s two-year-olds are running well.  These Glorious Goodwood maidens are always competitive, but he’s got a lovely pedigree and having had that all-important experience of the track I’m hoping he can step up.

Goodwood 5.15

My final ride of the opening day is Ghadaayer for Sheikh Hamdan.  She was a winner at Newmarket last time, and although it’s another tough looking race, Sir Michael Stoute has her going the right way and she could well improve again out of a decent looking draw in 5.

Looking ahead to later in the week, I’m really looking forward to riding Battaash in the Qatar King George Stakes, and I’ve also picked up a terrific ride on Queen’s Trust in Thursday’s Qatar Nassau Stakes.