Rain boosts Thunder’s Sussex chances

Richard Hannon feels the recent rain has “definitely increased” Night Of Thunder‘s chances in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Last year’s 2000 Guineas winner was purchased by Godolphin and James Doyle carried the royal blue silks to victory in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May.

However, the son of Dubawi disappointed on his only start since in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot where he finished fifth, almost five lengths behind winner Solow.

The four-year-old and the Freddy Head-trained Solow are set to clash again at Goodwood, with the French raider an odds-on favourite to confirm the Ascot form.

Goodwood saw a significant amount of rain last weekend and Night Of Thunder has form on soft after winning on his debut at the track, and he was also second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on heavy ground at the end of last season.

And, although Hannon admits Solow is the one to beat, he believes Night Of Thunder’s previous course form on soft ground will make the clash much more competitive this time around.

Hannon told his website: “Night Of Thunder’s chance has definitely increased by the weekend rain and that is why we have re-routed from the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, and, while Solow will probably also appreciate this easier ground, this is another day and another track. We won six lengths here first time out as a two-year-old on soft ground, and take the favourite out and we are the form horse.”

The Hannon-Doyle-Godolphin combination have already enjoyed success at Glorious Goodwood this year when Toormore, who was second to Night Of Thunder in the Lockinge, won Tuesday’s Lennox Stakes.