Cap fits for Fahey as developing Garswood earns Glorious win

Trainer Richard Fahey will tread carefully with his nascent talent, who had dashed his hopes of a first British Classic but excelled at seven furlongs by passing the high-class Caspar Netscher in the bet365 Lennox Stakes.

Garswood could not improve upon a smooth victory in the Free Handicap when only seventh in the 2000 Guineas, although a more encouraging fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot led to the Dutch Art colt occupying the position of 9-4 favourite for this Group Two event.

Carrying the colours of David Armstrong, the supplier of Fahey’s July Cup winner Mayson, he was tucked in behind the leaders by Ryan Moore and challenged down the outside with great conviction to finish a neck ahead.

A downpour all morning led Fahey to reluctantly part with £48 for a new tweed cap, but wetter conditions were at least in favour of his runner.

“We’ve always felt he was a very nice horse,” said Fahey.

“He’s not the finished article yet, he’s growing all the time. He’s still a big schoolboy at the moment.

“We haven’t got stuck into him yet as he’ll be in training next year, and that takes the pressure off a bit.

“We were disappointed in the Guineas, but he’s been showing so much speed at home and we were trying to stretch him to a mile. He’s a lot more relaxed now and you can switch him off.

“The race I’ve always had at the back of my mind for him is the Prix de la Foret on Arc day at Longchamp, but we’ll see what we do before then.”

Caspar Netscher, a solid Group performer with Alan McCabe, was making his first start in almost a year having returned from an unsuccessful stint at stud.

“I’m delighted as it was hard to know quite where we were with him,” said new trainer David Simcock.

“I can’t believe he won’t come on from it and he’s in the obvious races – the Hungerford Stakes and the Park Stakes – and he’ll have the Foret as an end-of-season target.”

If Dermot Weld is forever associated with this week’s Galway Festival, Richard Hannon is an obvious name to latch upon at Goodwood. Three times the champion trainer at the Glorious meeting, he won the first two races including a one-two in the bet365 Molecomb Stakes.

Brown Sugar (8-1), though, was ridden by Pat Dobbs rather than stable jockey Richard Hughes, who finished a neck in arrears after flashing late down the rail on the better-fancied Anticipated (7-2).

“I’m pleased the horses are running well,” said Hannon.

“Brown Sugar got it all wrong at Newmarket, he was very keen, but the second is a good horse too and in another couple of strides he’d have got there.”

Dobbs got one day (August 13) for careless riding.

Hughes and Hannon had earlier made the perfect start in the bet365.com Handicap via 16-1 shot Viewpoint.

“He didn’t like fast ground the other day at Ascot,” said Hannon, who ruled the winner out of Friday’s Betfred Mile.

Harris Tweed (14-1), on a losing run stretching to last year’s John Porter Stakes, punished the handicapper as well as his rivals as he poured on the pace from the front under George Baker in the bet365 Summer Stakes.

Trainer William Haggas said: “He’s been impossible to place, but the handicapper has given him a chance today.

“This ground has helped and I think the cheekpieces have helped as well. He’ll probably never win again, but he’s such a genuine horse.

“He’s in the Ebor, he’d keep a few out and we might end up running four horses in it.”

Moore rode his 100th Goodwood winner after persuading trainer Clive Brittain to keep Brazos (3-1) in the Casino At bet365 EBF Maiden Stakes rather than contesting Thursday’s Richmond Stakes.

“He has an entry in the Royal Lodge Stakes but maybe his next start will be a Listed race at seven furlongs,” said owner Saeed Manana’s racing manager, Bruce Raymond.

Ascription (7-1 joint-favourite) gave Hugo Palmer a spectacularly easy first Goodwood success in the Poker At bet365 Handicap.

“It’s been a long road to get to this, but he has been gelded now. He could take up an entry at Chester or Thirsk this weekend,” said Palmer.

Raul Da Silva punched the air as 25-1 Tidal’s Baby stormed through in the Mobile At bet365 Handicap.

Colm Murray, one of Ireland’s best-known racing broadcasters, has died at the age of 61. The RTE presenter passed away after a three-year battle against motor neurone disease. He was diagnosed with the fatal neurological disorder in April 2010.