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13:50: Mountain Hunter 

The opening race on day one of the Goodwood Festival is a handicap over 1m2f, which has been a competitive affair in recent years.

Mark Johnston has saddled four of the last 10 winners at prices of 8/1, 14/1, 12/1 and 8/1 but I'm not fond of his two runners this year and won't be recommending them.

The horse that I like most is the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained five-year-old Mountain Hunter .

He is a course winner here and was victorious on his second-ever career start.

He has spent more time racing in Dubai than here in the UK, but his return at Royal Ascot was promising. He finished seventh in the Wolferton Stakes on his first run back from his race in Dubai Turf in March.

He is bound to come on for that run and the booking of the superb amateur Cieren Fallon, who is great value for his 5lbs claim, is eye-catching.

In a race where they’ll go frantic up front, the front runners will set up Mountain Hunter to come from behind on the long Goodwood straight.

17:15: Clara Peeters

The closing race on day one is a mile-long Fillies' Handicap and is a race that has been won by a three-year-old in each of its three renewals to date.

I fancy that trend to continue with the Gary Moore-trained Clara Peeters , who won convincingly at Newmarket at the end of June.

She looks to have been saved for this race following that victory and sneaks in on an attractive mark.

On her first run this season, she ran very well and finished second at Goodwood.

It’s interesting that Silvestre De Sousa, who has a 10 per cent strike rate at this course, has been booked for the ride.

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