Our ambassador shares her assessment of a spectacular revival of the Sussex Stakes on the second day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting, and offers her perspective on the rest of the day's card. It is a tall order to argue against Bow Echo, who will be testing his unbeaten streak in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4:10) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday. George Boughey’s colt captured the Guineas in impressive fashion and then confirmed his class with a victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Since then he has continued to impress his connections in training, showing the speed and versatility that mark a top‑class miler.

This will be Bow Echo’s first encounter with older horses, but a favorable draw in stall four and an eight‑pound weight‑for‑age allowance give him a solid platform to become the fifth three‑year‑old to win this Group One in the past ten years. The combination of youthful vigor and a light weight makes him a genuine contender. If there is any horse capable of upsetting the balance, it is Godolphin’s Opera Ballo.

The colt ran a gutsy race in the Queen Anne and has demonstrated that he can handle a fast pace. On a track that tends to favor front‑runners, Opera Ballo could be difficult to settle and might prove a thorn in Bow Echo’s side.

Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo has been building an impressive résumé, with a Group One triumph in the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, a smooth victory over Field Of Gold, and a subsequent win in the Summer Mile against Zeus Olympios at Sandown. His proven ability at the highest level makes him a serious threat. Aidan O'Brien’s Gstaad, who finished second to Bow Echo at the Royal Meeting, is a tough, hard‑knocking horse. However, he lacks the turn of foot that Bow Echo possesses, and that deficiency could be decisive on the undulating Downhill course.

Richard Hannon and Sean Levey also have strong entries at Goodwood this week, but perhaps the most intriguing is Pershaada in the Group Three Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (3:35) on Wednesday. This daughter of Persian Force has already shown she can handle the course and distance, having won a novice race in May before stepping up to the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she finished a close second to Victorious.

Her form merits serious consideration. I would love to see Rebecca Menzies claim a major victory with her unbeaten colt Adonius, who has been kept fresh after extending his perfect record in the Lily Agnes at Chester.

He possesses a blistering turn of speed that could make a big impact. Likewise, Archie Watson’s Flight Signal, who showed promise on debut but was disappointing in the Norfolk Stakes, would be welcome back to form.

Flora Of Bermuda, after a lackluster Royal Ascot run, rebounded with a win in the Group Three Summer Stakes at York and now targets the Rolls‑Royce Oak Tree Stakes (3:00) at Goodwood. Trained by Andrew Balding, she should relish the step up to seven furlongs, especially with a low draw. Her recent form, including a respectable effort in the Group One Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, suggests she can handle the distance, though whether she will replicate Flora Of Bermuda’s stamina remains to be seen.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Zanthos has top‑class credentials at this trip, having captured the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last season. However, after a poor showing in the Commonwealth Cup, she will be fitted with a tongue tie for the first time, hoping to improve her focus and performance. Never miss a story – stay updated with the latest racing news, interviews, and features on your mobile device. On a personal note, I’m hoping my husband Tom (Marquand) can give us a winning start on Wednesday in the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (1:50) aboard William Haggas’s promising colt Infraad.

Infraad, a Pontefract novice winner, appears ready to step up to a mile and a half after a solid handicap debut at Chester against more experienced rivals. The handicapper has left him at a rating of 90, which could give him an edge over a competitive field that includes Harry Eustace’s Nottingham performer Bay Royale – a son of New Bay who may benefit from a first‑time tongue tie. For the latest horse racing updates, interviews, and features, tune into Sky Sports Racing.

The closing HKJC World Pool Handicap (5:40) looks wide open, but the booking of Ryan Moore on Crimson Spirit could prove decisive. Dan and Claire Kubler’s five‑year‑old, who placed well at Newmarket previously, draws stall 10, a less than ideal position, yet he won a sizable handicap over the same course and distance in May and remains fairly rated despite his higher official rating.

Bobby Bennu, the likely favourite, represents top trainer Roger Varian but has not won on turf for some time and has shown his best form on an artificial surface. A three‑pound rise in his weight makes the task tougher, so I am inclined to seek value in Crimson Spirit.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.