Cliffs repels Rip tide at Goodwood Canford Cliffs added to his Group One tally when reeling in Rip Van Winkle in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Last year's winner Rip Van Winkle tracked his pacemaker Encompassing into the straight, and appeared to get first run on the 4-6 favourite. However, once Richard Hughes pressed the button, Canford Cliffs quickened up in scintillating style to win going away by a neck. With Beacon Lodge withdrawn on the morning of the race, only seven went to post - with three trained by Aidan O'Brien. Despite the eclipse of Derby winner Workforce at the weekend, the punters ploughed into Richard Hannon's three-year-old, but Hughes will have given them a few anxious moments as he gave his mount plenty to do. But with three lengths to make up on the Ryan Moore-ridden Rip Van Winkle inside the final furlong, he quickened up like only top-class animals can and added to his Irish Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes successes in great style. Hannon said: "He's the best horse I've ever trained. "I don't think the track suited him. If he comes home right I'd be very happy. "He's got a turn of foot, this horse, and you need to switch him off. "He was a bit too free early in the season but he's doing everything right now." Hughes added: "He's a superstar. He's improved by 10lb and he actually ran a bit rusty there, he never got into full flight. "I didn't want them to half-jump because we were downhill, so I missed the break completely because there were only seven of us and I could get him in behind. "We weren't going that fast - the pacemaker was, we weren't. Rip Van Winkle nicked a length out of me, but I know how good he is and my horse pricked his ears in the last 100 yards and was in command."
