Jim Crowley: “Duhail could be another Here Comes When in the Sussex”

Coral ambassador previews his rides at Goodwood on Wednesday

Jim rides Lavender’s Blue in the 14:25 at Goodwood

Lavender’s Blue has been a little bit disappointing since winning her first start of the season, finishing eighth in the Falmouth Stakes on her last start.

She’s dropping down in distance and grade here, and I think seven furlongs will suit as she’s just not been seeing out the mile. There aren’t that many other options for her, as you wouldn’t run her in a Sussex or a Nassau.

However, the two negatives are the going, as she wouldn’t want it too testing, and the draw, as we’re drawn out wide in 15.

That said, she’s a good filly at her best, she just needs things to pan out for her to have a chance here.

Jim rides Duhail in the 15:35 at Goodwood

I have my first ever ride for Andre Fabre, on board Duhail in the Sussex Stakes, which is something to look forward to, as I don’t think Monsieur Fabre has sent this gelding over for the sake of it.

Although Poetic Flare is a worthy favourite, the presence of the fillies Alcohol Free and Snow Lantern in particular give this race plenty of depth.

While Duhail is a big price, this could be similar to the year I won on Here Comes When, very soft ground and an odds-on favourite – in that case Ribchester – to beat, and my fellow will go on this testing ground, which has to be a plus.

The trainer wanted a patient jockey for this hold up horse, so that’s how I’ll ride him, and I do think he can outrun his odds.

Jim rides Zhui Feng in the 17:20 at Goodwood

My final ride of the day is on old Zhui Feng, who I rode plenty of times when he was trained by Amanda [Perrett].

He’s now with Tom Ward, and my first ride for Tom was a winner at York a couple of weeks ago.

Zhui Feng has won here at Goodwood in the past, and a change of scenery can freshen these horses up, so if he’s got some of his old mojo back, he could run well at a big price.

Jim