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Timeform look ahead to the weekend's racing with the highlight in Britain coming from Goodwood on Saturday as the Sussex track prepare to stage the Group 2 Betfair Celebration Mile, whilst over in Ireland on Sunday the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes goes ahead at the Curragh...
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Two of the last three winners of the Celebration Mile have gone on to land Group 1 prizes with 2008 winner Ravens Pass following up in both the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Classic so it is a race that often produces a high-quality winner.
Despite the late withdrawals of both Strong Suit and Zoffany, last year's winner Poet's Voice is still among the seven entries and will be difficult to beat if he can produce the same level of form he showed towards the tail end of last season. The Godolphin colt will be looking to get his season back on track having disappointed in Meydan in the Dubai World Cup back in March, where he finished last of fourteen. This race is by no means a penalty-kick for Poet's Voice, however, with both Beacon Lodge and Dubawi Gold in the line-up, the latter aiming to give Richard Hannon his first win in this race since Swing Low in 1993.
The other feature race on the Goodwood card is the Group 3 Prestige Stakes, run over seven furlongs and open to two-year-old fillies. Regal Realm is arguably the most interesting runner in what looks a very competitive renewal. The March Stakes also takes place during the afternoon and Kieren Fallon looks to hold a good chance with Drunken Sailor, winner of the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last time.
There are listed contests at both Newmarket and Beverley on Saturday with the Hopeful Stakes over six furlongs and the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes over the minimum trip the features on cards that are otherwise dominated by handicaps.
There is also pattern racing from Windsor on Saturday evening, with the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes over ten furlongs the feature race from that venue. Godolphin trio Prince Bishop, Simon de Montfort and Prince Siegfried are all currently entered. The 2010 Craven Stakes winner, Elusive Pimpernel, also heads to Windsor on Saturday night for the August Stakes, a listed contest over eleven furlongs.
Saturday's action is completed by a Jumps card during an afternoon at Cartmel and Flat racing during the evening at Redcar whilst over in Ireland there is a seven-race National Hunt Card from Galway.
The Group 3 Supreme Stakes is the highlight in Britain on Sunday with the likes of Libranno, Doncaster Rover and The Cheka currently heading the field. The weekend's racing is completed in this country with Flat action from both Beverley and Yarmouth on Sunday afternoon.
The Curragh is the venue for the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes over seven furlongs and will be of interest to those looking for clues in regards to next season's classics. Maybe currently heads the market for that contest and next year's 1000 Guineas but she will be opposed by La Collina, the surprise winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes on her latest start. Just the one contender remains from this side of the Irish Sea, with Mick Channon's Samitar the sole flag-bearer for Britain, but nevertheless this looks to be an above average renewal.
The Group 3 Tower Stakes, the Group 3 Dance Design Stakes and the Group 3 Flying Five Stakes will also feature on an action-packed card from the Curragh with Fire Lily, Bible Belt and Sole Power notable entrants for those respective contests but the Moyglare Stakes, taking place at 16:25 will serve as the highlight of the day and possibly the weekend as a whole.