It’s a small, but select field for the 2024 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday, as six go to post for the meeting showpiece and it will see the sparkling triumvirate of Rosallion, Henry Longfellow and Notable Speech line up in what should be a stunning renewal. Our man Steve Chambers previews the event and picks out his best bet…
ROSALLION
(Sean Levey/Richard Hannon)
Since finishing second to Notable Speech in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Rosallion has gone on to be the dominant figure in the one mile division as having stormed to an impressive victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, Richard Hannon’s raider then edged out Henry Longfellow in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Showing a sparkling turn of foot in those two recent victories, the Blue Point colt is well fancied to make it three Group 1s on the bounce and if he can unleash that deadly speed in the closing stages of this event then he has to be the one to beat.
HENRY LONGFELLOW
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
Unbeaten as a juvenile, which included a Group 1 win in the National Stakes at the Curragh, Henry Longfellow has failed to get his head in front this season. A disappointing run in the French 2000 Guineas saw his copybook blotted, whilst he was touched off by Rosallion at Royal Ascot last month. Aidan O’Brien’s star is still a classy performer and he will be looking to take the sting out of Rosallion’s kick, but he arguably got the run of the race at Ascot and still came out second best, so it’s going to be tough.
Notable Speech
(William Buick/Charlie Appleby)
Three fine wins on the all-weather saw Notable Speech head to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas as an unlikely winner, but the Charlie Appleby-trained runner produced a superb performance to land Classic glory from Rosallion. However, he’s failed to replicate that display on the track since and ran no sort of race when seventh in the St James’s Palace Stakes last month. Well beaten from a long way out, the Godolphin charge will need to recapture his form from the first half of the year, and if he can then he has to be a huge runner.
THE FIELD
Second to Paddington in this race 12 months ago, Facteur Cheval put up a disappointing display when sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the French raider will have to give significant weight away to his younger rivals here. On his day he has the class to go close, but will find it tough against a trio of top notch three-year-olds. Well backed in the Queen Anne, Maljoom could only finish third for William Haggas and he looks one that could just find the highest level a bit tough, while dual Royal Hunt Cup runner-up Sonny Liston steps up to Group 1 company for the first time and has a real task on his hand to play a role at big odds.
VERDICT
A real battle between the top three in the betting this is set to be and if Richard Hannon’s ROSALLION can maintain a prominent position through the first part of the race then there’s no doubting he has the quickest turn of pace in the line-up. Ryan Moore is likely to try and wind it up early to try and pull clear on board Henry Longfellow, but he’s likely to get reeled in again like at Royal Ascot, while Notable Speech is a worry after his flop last time out, so he’s going to find it tough.
2024 Sussex Stakes Predicted 1-2-3
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