Nick Luck: Lantern to flaw Flare in Sussex

Another brilliant day of Flat racing action is in store on day two of Glorious Goodwood with the Group 1 Sussex Stakes the feature. 

Check out which horses Nick Luck fancies below.

Goodwood

SISKANY has to go close in the opener at Goodwood on Wednesday (1.50pm). Very impressive in a small field race at Sandown, he was then rather unlucky not to finish closer at Royal Ascot, when hampered quite significantly on ground that would have been plenty quick enough for him. He might have won that race but for those factors, yet has only been inched up a couple of pounds and – with useful early pace and a bit of cut in the ground – should be on the premises again at 5/1.

SACRED might be the answer at 13/2 to a really trappy running of the Oak Tree Stakes (2.25pm). She looked to have trained on nicely when winning the Nell Gwyn, beating the Guineas runner-up Saffron Beach. Oddly, connections then dispensed with the tongue tie when she ran just respectably in the Guineas herself (ground was plenty firm enough, too). Even that level of form should see her go close, however, and she has the tongue tie reapplied. In a 17-runner race, her inside draw should surely play in her favour.

FEARBY was a very impressive winner of the Dragon Stakes at Sandown and can follow up in the Molecomb Stakes (3.00pm) at 11/4. Although I can fashion a case for Kaboo finishing a fair bit closer, the margin of victory was so huge that it is hard to see the gap bridged fully. The pace should be hard here, courtesy of Boonie and others, and that will suit the selection, as will cut in the ground, which in turn will inconvenience chief market rival Chipotle.

SNOW LANTERN might just reward her connections’ boldness with victory in the Sussex (3.35pm) at 11/2. Regulars will know that I am a huge fan of this filly and believe she can make it 2-1 over her much respected and tough rival Alcohol Free. Clearly, Poetic Flare is a mighty tough nut to crack judged on his Ascot performance, but that was a clear standout effort and he’s unlikely to get the exact same ground and pace scenario here that enabled him to deliver so handsomely there. As such, I’m prepared to take a shot against him at odds-on.

ILLUSTRATING (5/1) is the most compelling proposition in the Alice Keppel (4.10pm). Quite a taking winner at Catterick on debut (handled the undulations well), she was quite strong in the market for the Queen Mary and ran pretty well considering she ripped off a shoe. She is a little less exposed than some of these, represents very good connections, and is bred to be better still (out of Group One winner Maids Causeway).

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