WE'RE HAPPY AND GLORIOUS ONCE AGAIN

Paul Jacobs is looking forward to revisiting the beautiful Sussex Downs for his annual summer racing fix

- Paul Jacobs

For some, the height of summer in racing parlance is Royal Ascot, for others, its Newmarket's July meeting. But for me it will always be Glorious Goodwood, much more informal than Ascot and with just as good a variety of racing. Of course the bonus is the outlook of the beautiful Sussex Downs which, for me, gives it a distinct edge.

At this stage, with the best part of seven weeks to go before we head down Midhurst way, it is hard to be very adamant about anything likely to run at Goodwood, especially with Royal Ascot just commencing on day one as I pen this piece. So you may feel that there is a bit of after timing about this as I send my copy to my esteemed editor about an hour before the St James's Palace Stakes is run.

I have just seen Inspiral beaten in the Queen Anne Stakes and whatever wins the three-year-old contest at Ascot will now start favourite for this event and I must say I prefer Paddington over Chaldean. You of course may well be laughing as you read that statement if the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas hero beats the Irish winner, but I just felt that the former was holding a wee bit back to himself and that there is plenty more to come from the Aidan O'Brien charge.