After Royal Ascot and Newmarket July, Goodwood grasps the baton on Tuesday as the British summer Festival scene heads south. Barring any unwelcome sea frets that can at times envelop these picturesque Sussex Downs, this week's action at the Qatar-sponsored jamboree should make for some spectacle.Headlining the opening day's card on what is traditionally termed “Glorious Goodwood” is the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, now firmly established as a Group 1 and the natural sequel to the Ascot Gold Cup. Part of the old staying triple crown that includes the Doncaster Cup, it offers a speedier test than its Ascot counterpart but will probably and hopefully play host to another battle royal between Scandinavia (Justify) and Trawlerman (Golden Horn).Conjuring memories of Le Moss and Ardross and other spectacular clashes of great stayers last month, the Ballydoyle and Godolphin kingpins meet on a more level playing field in terms of match-readiness, ironically on a track that is as far from level as it is possible to get. That Scandinavia has won this already and handled the unique undulations gives him the advantage, but Trawlerman just does his thing every time regardless of conditions and race set-up and only the brave would bet against him with certainty.“It's obviously not easy running for the first time at Royal Ascot, let alone over two-and-a-half miles, but he ran a huge race in the Gold Cup giving weight to younger horses as well – maybe that made a difference, maybe it didn't,” said Thady Gosden.“He's come out of it very well and he's been in fantastic form since. It's a track he hasn't run at for a long time, since he was four when he won over one-mile-six, albeit in a handicap. He won at Ascot last year at the two miles, but it's slightly different to the two miles at Goodwood. He seems to have taken a step forward since Ascot and it's worked him up a little bit as well.”Also on Tuesday is the seven-furlong G2 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, where Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's high-class Lake Forest (No Nay Never) takes in the first of two runs in 24 hours, having also been confirmed for Wednesday's G1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes in an unprecedented move. Taking another step up this year since being gelded, the 2024 Golden Eagle winner is a warm order to carry off the first part of the double at least, although Qirat (Showcasing) is in here and also engaged in the Sussex that he was a shock winner of last year.Before the Goodwood Cup, Godolphin and Ballydoyle dominate the G2 Vintage Stakes, where the Superlative winner Al Hudaiba (Dark Angel) carries a three-pound penalty in first-time blinkers tackled by TDN Rising Star Haffner (Justify) from Rosegreen. Already regarded as a bit of an enigma, the quirky grey who upstaged Abraham Lincoln earlier this month looks to write his name onto a list that includes the operation's Shamardal, Rio De La Plata and Pinatubo.One of the key players in Charlie Appleby's very recent revival, it is a surprise that Al Hudaiba is back so soon after his July Festival exploits.“We thought about going straight on to the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, but Zavateri won the July and Vintage last season before winning in Ireland,” his trainer explained. “He has progressed since the Superlative and we are happy giving weight to the field. We are applying blinkers as we know he can be a bit wayward and he has worn them at home without any issue. The track at Goodwood should hopefully suit and he looks the one they all have to beat.”Wednesday's feature G1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes has attracted a field of 12, with Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) and Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) set to go head-to-head for the third time this season. First and second in both the 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, the George Boughey stable star and Ballydoyle heavyweight have fared well with the draw, with Bow Echo in four and his nemesis in one as they face their elders for the first time.Described as “thriving physically” when galloped at the July Festival earlier this month, Boughey's flawless sensation is in the right race taking on the older milers with this having gone to his age group 15 times this century.Chief among the older brigade is another from Godolphin's enviable cast this week in Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath), who also received a favourable stall in three having been third racing from the front into a headwind in the Queen Anne last month. Re-engaging with the winner of that Royal Ascot feature, Ten Bob Tony (Night Of Thunder), the four-year-old is widely expected to reverse that form at a more favourable track for his running style.“This looks the race of the meeting and we are delighted to be part of it,” said Appleby. “We know that it's a challenge giving weight away to Classic-winning colts at this time of year, but I felt Opera Ballo lost nothing in defeat at Ascot. We thought running over a straight mile was always going to be a slight concern and we are confident that he can be a major player back on a turning track.”The Sussex also sees the welcome return of one of those who lit up the 2025 Festival in Zavateri (Without Parole), but last year's Vintage, July and Vincent O'Brien National Stakes hero has stall 11 to contend with, while the stellar line-up also features Docklands (Massaat), Never So Brave (No Nay Never) and Ballydoyle's forgotten horse, Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett).Wednesday's big two-year-old race is the five-furlong G3 Molecomb Stakes, where Rebecca Menzies saddles Michael Hughes, Riverdee and West Paces' unbeaten gelding Adonius (Soldier's Call), who was last seen dazzling in the Lily Agnes at Chester's May Festival. Working back from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, it is no coincidence that he is in one of the three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races at the meeting, alongside the Sussex and Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes.The latter is set to feature another jewel of the Classic generation in Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica), who is favourite to bring a seventh renewal to Aidan O'Brien as he closes in on Sir Henry Cecil's record of eight. The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane heroine is taken on by a high-class Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old mare and, while Jeff Smith's See The Fire (Sea The Stars) isn't quite at Kalpana's level, she isn't far off. Narrowly denied by another Ballydoyle three-year-old in Opera Singer in this two years ago, the homebred from the in-form Kingsclere stable was bogged down in heavy ground when third to Whirl 12 months ago and will expose any chinks in the armour of the favourite.Adding intrigue to the 10-furlong feature is Nurlan Bizakov's supplemented Hoppings Stakes winner Botagoz (Mehmas), while also on the card on Thursday are the G2 Richmond Stakes and G3 Gordon Stakes, with the former pencilled in for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's unbeaten TDN Rising Star Flann Sunna (Blue Point). The latter is a St Leger pointer and Wathnan's Oaks third A La Prochaine (Lope De Vega) looks tailor-made for that kind of test as she takes on the boys for the first time here.On Friday, the focal point is the G2 King George Qatar Stakes for the true speed merchants, with the 2024 runner-up Asfoora (Flying Artie) looking to end a barren spell taking on last year's winner Jm Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle). The card's G3 HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes was used by connections of Baaeed and Lead Artist as they scaled the heights in recent times and could be the target for Godolphin's St James's Palace third Talk Of New York (Wootton Bassett). Saturday's finale is all about the big sprint handicap the Stewards' Cup, but for the purists there is the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, with last year's Prix de Royallieu heroine Consent (Lope De Vega) in the initial confirmations.Another key characteristic of this Festival are the two-year-old seven-furlong maidens, with Thursday's contest for the fillies won in the past by Rhododendron and Saturday's for the colts by Dee Ex Bee and The Foxes. Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies' Conditions Stakes is another to watch closely, with three of the last four winners being Spicy Marg, Flora Of Bermuda and The Platinum Queen. Wathnan's Royal Ascot disappointment Wild Blossom (Mehmas) is one of the key cast members this time.The post Gold Cup Rematch Kicks Off Glorious Week appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.