Rock solid bet at Goodwood

Rock Of Gibraltar can cement his place as one of the three-year-olds of the season by taking the Sussex Stakes, the highlight of next week's Glorious Goodwood festival.

Aidan O'Brien's dual Guineas winner looks hard to oppose even though he will be meeting his elder rivals for the first time.

The son of Danehill has impeccable credentials, kicking off this season with a win in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas on his seasonal debut before following up in the Entenmanns' sponsored Irish equivalent at the Curragh.

His narrow win over Hawk Wing at Newmarket was undoubtedly more impressive than his subsequent win at the Curragh but his best performance came at Royal Ascot.

Rock Of Gibraltar chalked up the treble in style for his part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson in the St James's Palace Stakes and after that win Ferguson said: 'He was obviously travelling well all the way and what it shows is that he can do it on any ground, that is a very important thing, that and his determination.

'He has exceeded all of my expectations. Aidan thinks he is still improving and he is the best judge of that.'

If O'Brien is right, he is an even more formidable force for the rest of the season having easily accounted for French 2000 Guineas winner Landseer and Italian and German Guineas winner Dupont at Ascot.

O'Brien's colt is certainly the cream of the three-year-old milers and he can wrack up his sixth successive Group One victory here at the expense of Godolphin's Noverre.

The highlight of the first day's action is the Group Two Gerrard Investment Richmond Stakes over six furlongs for two-year-olds but the most interesting race on the card could be the Peugeot Gordon Stakes which may provide a few early pointers for the Rothmans Royals St Leger at Doncaster in September.

The mile and a half contest can see Mark Johnston's Vodafone Derby disappointment Bandari, who was supplemented for the Classic at a cost of #90,000, get back on the winning track.

The son of Alhaarth finished a distant eighth behind High Chaparral at Epsom after a superb performance when powering 13 lengths clear of a fair field in the Lingfield Derby Trial.

He has not been seen out since the blue riband event but the trainer's wife Deirdre reports him to be in fine fettle at present.

She told attheraces: 'We are looking for an option for him as he's absolutely bouncing out of his skin at the moment.'

After the speed of the milers on Wednesday, the staying contingent take centre stage on Thursday, the third day of the Festival, with the JP Morgan Private Bank Goodwood Cup over two miles.

Jeff Smith's old favourite Persian Punch brought the house down when taking this event last season and he can repeat that feat again this year.

Although he has yet to get on the scoresheet this season the veteran performer has been running creditably and the return to this track may see the best of the son of Persian Heights.

Trainer David Elsworth could step the gelding back down to two miles here and he will certainly appreciate the shorter trip because as brave as he is the longer trip does seem to stretch his stamina to the extreme.

He is a horse that is proven to act around the track and although there may be one or two younger contenders snapping at his heels, the old boy's heart and enduring ability can see him through.

The William Hill Mile on Friday is the first of the two handicap highlights and Calcutta can improve on his 16th place in the race last year.

Barry Hills' horse looks likely to tackle the event after taking the ladbrokes.com Handicap at Newbury last week.

Owner Catherine Corbett said: 'He will probably go to Goodwood. He ran last year but it poured with rain and he didn't want to know.'

Calcutta will carry a 5lb penalty for that win but with a dry spell of wetaher forecast he looks likely to get the faster surface that he requires.

'He is a bit of a law unto himself but he does like firm going,' Corbett added.

The annual cavalry charge that is the Vodafone Stewards Cup takes place on the Saturday and Roger Charlton can land the prize with Border Subject.

The five-year-old followed up impressive wins at Windsor and Newmarket by finishing runner-up to Capricho in the Wokingham Stakes, has been allotted 9st 5lb for a race that Charlton won in 1999 with Harmonic Way.

Charlton was concerned that the gelding could get even more weight if the three above him come out, and was also considering a Listed race at Newbury, but he had not run since Ascot and would seem to be heading for the big event.

'At this stage the intention is to run at Goodwood,' said Charlton, 'but if Border Subject picked up a penalty for winning in the interim then things could change.

'But big weights aren't necessarily a barrier, and the horse is in very good form.'

The other highlight of the Saturday card is the Group One Vodafone Nassau Stakes and Islington can provide her owner Lord Weinstock, who passed away earlier this week, with a posthumous success.

After a sterling performance in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York this Sadler's Wells filly disappointed when finishing well behind Kazzia in the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.

Despite having the pedigree to handle the rain soaked conditions that day she seemed to struggle to get a grip on either the softened ground or the mile and a half trip.

Sir Michael Stoute's charge steps back down to a mile and a quarter here and she can gain some consolation for her Epsom defeat.