New recruit Barnso makes his Barbury debut at Goodwood on Saturday

August 1

Daiquiri Bay rewarded our faithful each-way punters when battling on for fourth place in the opener on day four of Glorious Goodwood, and, like Kurakka, he looks an improving three-year-old who will be worth following in the second half of the season.

Being drawn wide in stall 17, David Egan’s priority was to be patient on Daiquiri Bay but to try and gradually weave his way through the pack and sit just behind the leaders.

Ideally, David would probably have preferred to launch his effort inside the final quarter-mile, but, having been forced to take the gaps when they came, Daiquiri Bay was swallowed up by three horses  who, being drawn low, were able to swoop from the rear.

Alan has also booked David Egan to ride Barnso in the Coral Handicap tomorrow. Barnso is a recent acquisition, having been transferred to Barbury after finishing an excellent three lengths fourth to the classy French Master in the Copper Horse Handicap at the Royal meeting.

Previously trained in Ireland by Natalia Lupini, Barnso had some decent form in the Emerald Isle, including when belying odds of 40-1 to finish a staying on fourth behind dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Kyprios in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakss at Navan in April.

Barnso bruised a foot after Ascot, which meant he was on the easy list for 10 days, but he looked in good shape when coming up the Sharpridge All-Weather gallop when I was there last week, and it will be interesting to see how this Ebor Handicap entry shapes in ehat looks another very competitive handicap.

Next up is debutant Atlas Mountain in the maiden, He is a Coulsty half-brother to five winners, who was bought for 85,000gns at Newmarket’s Breeze-Up Sales in May . Rossa Ryan will be donning the Apple Tree silks.

Finally, Westerton, again with Rossa Ryan in the saddle, drops down in trip for the nine-furlong finale to the five-day Festival. Westerton has been beaten 15 times since his one and only success at Sandown two years ago, when he provided Alan with his 2,000th winner under both codes.

Westerton, who has had three runs over hurdles, focussed between 10f-13f on the Flat these past two seasons. He ran creditably behind stablemate Insanity over the mile and five at Ayr in June, but he now takes a massive drop in distance.