Ten horses that caught the eye at the Qatar Goodwood Festival

The 2019 Qatar Goodwood Festival did not disappoint, and we saw some impressive performances over the five days at the West Sussex venue.

Pinatubo was extremely impressive in the Qatar Vintage Stakes and he is certainly the best two-year-old we have seen this season. He looks sure to take high rank and is an exciting prospect.

Khaadem also impressed when landing a gamble in the Unibet Stewards’ Cup in great style and looked a Group performer in a handicap. Charlie Hills aimed Magical Memory at the Sprint Cup at Haydock after winning this contest, so it would be no surpise if Khaadem follows suit.

Racing TV's Angus McNae and Martin Dixon analysed all the key races from last week in The Verdict and you can watch all the segments from the show here.

As ever, it often pays to look beyond the victors and here are ten who caught the eye in defeat.

This daughter of Dansili showed plenty of promise as a two-year-old and shaped encouragingly when third behind Maid For Life in this 1m handicap.

Ralph Beckett’s filly shaped as though she was in need of the run when fourth on her seasonal debut and clearly improved plenty for that outing as she looked unlucky not to finish closer and would have at least finished second in few more strides.

Held up towards the rear, she had to wait for a gap up the home straight and was forced to mount her challenge wide before powering home.

This was her first start over a mile, a trip that is clearly well within reach. Her last victory was off a rating of 89 and, although she has been raised a 1lb for this run to 98, she looks capable of winning a similar contest off this handicap mark.

True Destiny has been running consistently all season and ran another career best to finish a never-nearer third on his first start over this marathon trip.

The progressive stayer had landed an extended two-mile handicap at York on his previous start where he hung badly right entering the final furlong, but kept finding under pressure here and was probably suited by the slightly easier ground than he encountered on the Knavesmire.

He has been raised 3lb for this run and now finds himself on a career-high rating of 85.

However, he certainly relishes this sort of test and connections may aim him at the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on October 12. He will need to continue to creep up the handicap to get into that 2m2f contest, but he should do if he remains consistent.

A couple caught the eye in this contest, none more so than Alligator Alley who found plenty of trouble in running but still managed to finish second.

The winner, Liberty Beach, looks useful and Alligator Alley was travelling well behind John Quinn’s exciting two-year-old before he was hampered twice by a weakening rival when trying to make his challenge.

Once in the clear, the son of Kingman stayed on to finish runner-up and did well to finish as close as he did under the circumstances.

An easy winner of a maiden at Navan on his previous start, this was another step forward and he is clearly progressive.

A step up in trip is also likely to suit in time judged by his breeding and is one to keep on the right side of.

The other contender in this field that caught the eye was Show Me Show Me who flew home from an unpromising position having been outpaced to snatch third.

He will surely be seen over six furlongs next time out and is progressing nicely, so is also worth adding to your Racing TV tracker.

Probably one of the eyecatchers of the week, Moll Davis met all sorts of trouble in running in this fillies’ handicap, although somehow still managed to finish fifth under Hayley Turner.

The three-year-old was travelling noticeably well on the rail but could not find a gap from over two furlongs out, was hampered numerous times, and Turner was forced to pull her mount to the rear of the field before she came from the clouds to grab fifth on the line.

Moll Davis was well backed when recording her first career success at Hamilton in July - which she was raised 5lb for - and proved here she has progressed again in this more competitive heat as she would have surely at least finished in the frame had she endured a clear run.

She looks well handicapped on this performance having only been raised a 1lb and can gain compensation next time out.

Lyndon B stayed on best in this competitive handicap and, on this performance, is worth following closely in handicaps for the remainder of the season.

As with a number of contenders at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Lyndon B did not enjoy a clear passage and stayed on encouragingly to finish third plus he was also hampered round the bend.

Frankie Dettori reported George Scott’s youngster ran freely in the early part of the race, so is likely to improve even further when learning to settle better.

Lyndon B was raised 7lb after winning in good style on his handicap debut at Leicester -when wearing a visor for the first time - before this run and, although he has been raised another 1lb, he is likely to be ahead of the handicapper on his next start with further progress on the cards.

I backed Sinjaari who was well supported ahead of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot where he finished a disappointing eighth, but it was best to forgive him that run considering he raced wide and probably did not stay the extra two furlongs.

His third-place finish in this 1m2f contest was a much better performance as he fared best of those held up and made his challenge wide plus his rider momentarily lost his reins over a furlong out.

It is unlikely he would have beaten the winner, Forest Of Dean, had he raced closer to the pace, but it is reasonable to think he would have finished second.

This was only his sixth start, so it is unlikely he has finished improving, and should have a lot more to offer. The Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket on September 28 is a potential target, although that is over nine furlongs.

Almania, who was an eyecatcher at Royal Ascot, ran another promising race here and is one who is going to continue improving with age and experience.

Spanish Mission was narrowly denied his second victory at Group Three level when third in the Gordon Stakes behind Nayef Road.

Held up in the early stages, Jamie Spencer moved his mount closer to the pace just over halfway, whereas the winner, Nayef Road, who he had beaten by four lengths in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket on their previous outing, had the run of the race having been up with the pace throughout.

His owners are US-based, so he could be set for a trip overseas, although the St Leger at Doncaster on September 14 will also be under consideration.

This lightly-raced three-year-old ought to have a lot more to offer and may well prove to be Group One standard should he continue to progress.

He is yet to get off the mark in four starts, but it is surely only a matter of time before Sword Beach gets his head in front.

The two-year-old had just one rival behind him when turning for home but stayed on all the way up the straight to finish second on his handicap debut, and did not enjoy the smoothest run, nor did he have a favourable draw.

Improvement was required to go close in this contest off a rating of 79 so, under the circumstances, Eve Johnston Houghton’s charge has run with lots of credit.

He is sure to stay a mile further down the line and deserves to get off the mark on his next start.

This looked a useful race on paper, but that did not stop Jubiloso being sent off at evens, although favourite backers would have been tearing their hair out watching this contest.

Ryan Moore endured a nightmare passage on Sir Michael Stoute’s filly who got going too late, and the drop back to seven furlongs would have been against her.

The daughter of Shamardal finished third in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and has plenty of options for her next start, with the Coolmore Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14 a potential target should connections decide to step her back up to Group One level.

It is almost guaranteed we will see Jubiloso back over a mile next time out and she remains with an abundance of potential.

Celtic Art will have gone into plenty of notebooks after his run in this 7f maiden. Eleventh in a hot maiden at Newmarket on debut in July, the son of Mastercraftsman had clearly improved and learnt plenty from that run and was unlucky not to get off the mark here.

His rider, P J McDonald, who landed the top jockey award at Glorious Goodwood, spoke to Racing TV after riding Celtic Art and said:

“If I had got going a little bit earlier, I felt I would have probably won.”

Celtic Art clearly has lots of talent and it will be a surprise if he is not in the winners’ enclosure before the end of the season.