Fast going no worry for Wareed

Glorious Goodwood looks sure to live up to its name this week, with blazing sun ensuring plenty of water must be taken on board both on and off the track. Fast ground prevails, so an ability to handle that as well as Goodwood's pronounced downhill gradients are pre-requisites for your selections.

In the Peugeot Gordon Stakes, the highlight of tomorrow's opening-day card, we know Wareed scores on both counts. He raced here when a good second to Asian Heights in the Predominate Stakes. Fast ground had been a worry that day, as he had previously raced only on soft going in France, but he handled it well.

We never got to find out how good Asian Heights was as he was injured before the Derby, but it was certainly a striking performance. The runnerup was less experienced and, attempting to make the contest a good test of stamina, idled a little in front. He looked sure to improve for the run. Frankie Dettori's mount is one of six St Leger entries in this event and Godolphin always play a strong hand in that classic.

Third-placed Snowstorm upheld the form when no match for the finishing kick of Storming Home in Royal Ascot's King Edward VII Stakes next time out. That winner ran a cracker when just run out of it for third by Hightori in Saturday's King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, so the form looks solid. Snowstorm must go close, but Wareed can prove more progressive. Nayef, Perfect Sunday and Hill Country are the big dangers. The former was winter favourite for both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby, but disappointed when only third in the Craven. Yet his 2,000 Guineas eighth was an admirable effort, despite paling against the hype surrounding him, and this trip will be more suitable. He comes here fresh and has a big chance.

Hill Country has been similarly slow to come to hand this year, finishing out with the washing in the Predominate before taking a short break and returning with improved form at Newmarket earlier this month. There, he beat useful older rivals in Nooshman and Island Sound and is clearly talented. But this fast ground will be against him.

Derby sixth Perfect Sunday has the most proven form in the race, but also a 3lb penalty for his Lingfield Derby Trial success. He showed himself capable of racing downhill then but looked uncomfortable with Epsom's camber and gradients behind Galileo. But his second to Mirio in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is top-flight form and he stands a good chance of emulating Millenary's weight-carrying triumph of last year.