A total of seven entries has been revealed for the Listed Casco Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on Friday, won last year by Masked Marvel.
Derby hopefuls line up on Sussex Downs
A total of seven entries has been revealed for the Casco Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood's May Festival on Friday.
Re-opened at the initial entry stage, a maximum of just seven runners could go to post for the one mile three furlong Listed contest which has sometimes served as an Investec Derby Trial.
Originally known as the Predominate Stakes, Troy won both races in 1979 but the contest on the Sussex Downs had lost some of its relevance as a Classic Trial.
However, the race's profile has received a significant boost in recent years with Rewilding going on to finish third to Workforce in 2010 while last year's winner, Masked Marvel, may only have finished in midfield at Epsom but did go on to claim the St Leger, the season's final Classic.
Masked Marvel's colours could be carried this year by Michelangelo - who made a promising debut behind Noble Mission in a Listed race earlier this month - while his trainer John Gosden has also entered impressive Newbury maiden winner Jungle Beat.
Back-To-Back
Marcus Tregoning won back-to-back renewals at the start of the century and could be represented by Lingfield Derby Trial third Cavaleiro.
Tregoning commented: "Cavaleiro might head to Goodwood, although he also has the option of going to Epsom for the Derby. He will work tomorrow (Tuesday) morning before we make a decision and he won't run in both races.
"I thought that he ran really, really well at Lingfield as he was possibly a little short of work going into the race. He has come out of that run really well and I think that he will come on a ton.
"He certainly looks in good form and my horses are running very well at the moment."
One colt who looks set to take his chance is Perennial and Charlie Hills is hoping for an improved display from his well-regarded colt who failed to land a blow on his reappearance at Newmarket.
Hills revealed: "Perennial is a likely runner at Goodwood on Friday. We have been happy with him since Newmarket, when he didn't run his race. He was too keen in the Feilden Stakes and the ground was a little bit loose on top, so it wasn't his true running.
"We gave him a bit of time after that and he worked nicely last week. The form of last year's Autumn Stakes looks pretty solid and the step up to a mile and three furlongs will suit him well.
"He has been left in the Derby at the moment and would obviously have to win impressively to be considered for Epsom, but we wanted to keep our options open."
Expense Claim, an impressive winner of the London Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday, Polydamos and Stencive complete the field.
May Festival
The May Festival gets underway with a six race card on Thursday, when the fillies could enhance their Oaks claims in the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes, and comes to a close on Saturday where a pair of Listed contests have attracted the likes of Sea Moon, Beaten Up, Dandino and Fiorente.
The going at Goodwood is currently good, good to soft in places with Clerk of the Course Seamus Buckley commenting: "The course is drying out and is currently good, with good to soft in one or two places.
"The weather is set fair and I anticipate the we will start the May Festival on some very nice ground."
