Liberty Lane aiming for Listed honours at Goodwood

Last year’s Cambridgeshire victor Liberty Lane bids to return to winning ways in the Listed-class BetGoodwin Festival Stakes over 10 furlongs at Goodwood on Friday.

Karl Burke’s charge followed up that big handicap success by chasing home recent Lockinge hero Lead Artist in Group Three company at Newmarket and should now strip fitter for two outings this term.

After finishing fifth behind Dancing Gemini in the Doncaster Mile, the five-year-old was noted making late headway when third to The Foxes in the Group Two Huxley Stakes at Chester.

Burke said: “He came out of the race at Chester really well, any rain would be a bonus to him.

“He was a bit unlucky at Chester; he got a bit too far behind and you can’t get in behind there, as we know. I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t handle the track (at Goodwood) and see out the trip. I’m really looking forward to seeing him run – I think he can go close.”

The well-travelled Silver Knott has been a nice money-spinner for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, amassing more than £1.1million in prize-money thanks to victories in America and Dubai.

He had his first outing in Britain for just over two years when second to Bellum Justum in Newmarket’s Jockey Club Stakes at the start of the month.

William Buick was in the saddle that day and said: “He’s in good shape, he obviously ran very well at Newmarket where the race possibly wasn’t run to suit him, but equally, I thought there were reasons to suggest he would improve from that run.

“He carries a penalty on Friday, so gives a fair bit away to what looks a competitive field, but hopefully he can get back to winning ways.”

Exoplanet, who was second in the 2023 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot for Roger Varian, had been on the sidelines for 669 days prior to an all-weather second behind Military Order on his stable debut for Archie Watson.

The Lambourn-based handler said: “He ran very well at Kempton in the Magnolia on his first start for us in what was a very strong Listed race.

“That was his first start in almost two years, so he is entitled to come on for it and I have been very happy with him at home. This race has been the plan and I hope he can be running another very good race.”

David Simcock also expects Cash to step up on a Sandown sixth behind Dancing Gemini following seven months on the sidelines.

Simcock said: “Cash will have needed his first run back at Sandown – he has trained well since and we are hoping for a good run in what looks a competitive heat.”