86-Strong Entry For Goodwood´s totesport Mile

The #150,000 totesport Mile, run at Goodwood on Friday, August 4, the fourth day of the Glorious Goodwood Festival, has attracted a superb total of 86 horses, one more than in 2005.

First run in 1987, the competitive mile handicap for three-year-olds and upwards is the richest contest of its type in the racing calendar, with totesport increasing the total value of the race by 50 per cent since taking over sponsorship in 2005.

The Gerard Butler-trained Nayyir has been allotted top-weight of 9st 10lb. The eight-year-old has a fabulous record at Goodwood that includes back-to-back wins in the Group Two Betfair Cup in 2002 and 2003, and a close second to Soviet Song in the Group One Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes in 2004, a race in which he was also fourth a year later.

The strongest hands numerically are held by Barry Hills and Mick Channon, who are responsible for five entries each. Hills, trainer of 1988 scorer Strike Force, has entered Dabbers Ridge (8st 11lb), Paper Talk (8st 9lb), Giganticus (8st 1lb), Muzher (7st 8lb) and Jihaaz (7st 5lb), while Channon, yet to take the prize, has Upper Hand (8st 9lb), Capable Guest (8st 7lb), South Cape (7st 11lb) Guest Connections (7st 9lb) and Music Note (7st 6lb) entered.

Rookie trainer Andrew Haynes is hoping that his smart filly Little Miss Gracie (8st 12lb) can give him the biggest win of his career in the totesport Mile ahead of a possible tilt at the Norwegian Derby.

The four-year-old ran her best race of the season when the four-length fourth to Pout in the Group Two Ridgewood Pearl Stakes over a mile at the Curragh on May 27, and subsequently finished second to Squaw Dance over the same trip at Hamilton on June 29.

Haynes revealed: 'The plan is to go straight for the totesport Mile, that´s the aim, and she´s fine in herself after Hamilton.

'Her Irish form reads well. Royal Alchemist was only half a length in front of her at the Curragh, and I know she was used as a pacemaker in the Coral Eclipse, but she´s a good filly in her own right.'

The Marlborough handler continued: 'It´s only our second season training and we have a good young team here, so it would be a great boost to go and run a big race at Goodwood.

'She´s entered in the Norwegian Derby at the end of August. We´re not scared to go places with her. She´s been to France twice and Ireland once, so she´s a good traveller and the option is there. It´s something we´ll look at after Goodwood.'

Little Miss Gracie´s only previous visit to Goodwood saw her finish a creditable fourth in the Listed EBF Fillies´ and Mares´ Conqueror Stakes, under four lengths behind Nantyglo, on May 6.

Haynes, who worked for Richard Hannon and Paul Burgoyne before taking out a licence in 2004, is hoping the grey filly can clinch a big win before she goes through the ring at the end of the season.

He said: 'She could do with a little bit of cut in the ground ideally, but you´re limited to where you can run these horses that are just below top-class.

'All being well, at the end of the year she´ll go to Newmarket Sales and hopefully someone will buy her for breeding. She´s been wonderfully consistent - she´s run 17 times and 14 times been in the first four. She was my first ever winner and I only paid #9,000 for her, so she´s been a very good investment.'

Unshakable, trained by Bob Jones, made it third time lucky when defeating Crosspeace by a neck in last year´s renewal of totesport Mile, having finished no better than eighth in two previous attempts, and could bid for a repeat victory - something no horse has managed yet - having been allotted 8st 4lb.

Royal Hunt Cup winner Cesare (9st 2lb), the 4/1 favourite when a close third a year ago, is entered again along with stablemate and fellow Royal Ascot scorer Sir Gerard (8st 8lb), impressive when taking the Britannia Handicap. Both are trained by James Fanshawe, who landed the totesport Mile in 2000 with Persiano.

Godolphin, successful in 2004 with Ancient World, subsequently successful in the Group One Premio Vittorio di Capua at San Siro in Italy, has four entries, headed by Belenus with 9st 5lb, who has experience at Goodwood having finished third in the Listed Letheby & Christopher Predominate Stakes last season. Desert Destiny (9st 1lb), Desert Chief (8st 6lb) and Familiar Territory (8st 1lb) are other possible runners for the Maktoum family´s operation.

Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, who tasted success in 1997 with Fly To The Stars, later successful in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury for Godolphin, and 2001 with Riberac, could bid for a third win with Prince Of Light (9st 2lb), Royal Island (9st), Desert Realm (8st 2lb) and Joseph Henry (7st 10lb).

Hinterland, forth in the Royal Hunt Cup, then won the totescoop6 Handicap over a mile at Sandown on July 8 for trainer Michael Jarvis and has been allotted 9st 5lb. The trainer has also entered the useful St Andrews (9st 6lb), Notability (8st 13lb), and Minister Of State (7st 10lb).

Sir Michael Stoute has a trio of contenders this year, with one-time classic hope City Of Troy set to carry 8st 7lb alongside Rohaani (8st 13lb) and Regal Royale (8st 1lb). The Freemason Lodge handler is also looking for his third victory in the totesport Mile, having struck with Safawan (1989) and Lonesome Dude (1999).

Both Pride Of Nation (8st 10lb) and Minority Report (8st 6lb) disappointed for trainer Luca Cumani in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot behind Cesare but could bid for compensation along with Akona Matata (8st 8lb), Pinpoint (8st 8lb), Forgery (8st 7lb), Red Spell (8st 6lb), Langford (8st 10lb), Tucker (8st 12lb), Stagelight (9st 4lb), Prince Of Thebes (8st 8lb), El Coto (8st 6lb), Another Bottle (8st 12lb), Blythe Knight (8st 13lb) and Shot To Fame (8st 4lb).

The United Arab Emirates supplies the one overseas-based entry in the shape of Spirit Of France (8st 8lb). Now in the care of Christian Wroe, the four-year-old gelding was formerly trained by Mark Johnston.

Goodwood´s Managing Director, Rod Fabricius, said: 'The totesport Mile is a great spectacle and one of the highlights of the week at the Glorious Goodwood Festival.

'We are delighted at the number and quality of this year´s entry, which reflects the substantial boost in prize money on offer since totesport generously took over sponsorship last year.'

Damian Walker of sponsors totesport commented: 'With the fantastic prize money on offer, the totesport Mile is always a tremendously competitive and exciting contest, and one of the hottest betting races all week at Glorious Goodwood. 'This year´s renewal looks like developing into a fascinating affair with a host of big names entered and top trainers represented.'