Glorious Goodwood: Echo Of Light has the pace to master Sussex rivals

Though the betting reflects their most recent endeavours, the standard in the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes today is not set by the colt seeking his third consecutive Group One success, but by a mare who finished sixth of seven last time.

Soviet Song was arguably lucky to win this race two years ago, and unlucky not to do so last year. Either way, this is very much home territory for her, and she has better prospects of thwarting Araafa than her recent performance at Newmarket might suggest. She was marooned at the rear when a slow pace quickened.

Araafa has flourished for positive tactics against his contemporaries, but meets older horses for the first time. Better value than either may be Echo Of Light (next best 3.15). Always thought to have prodigious potential, he finally seemed on the brink of fulfilment when trouncing a really strong field on his reappearance at Lingfield last month. A son of Dubai Millennium, he soon had the race sewn up, and this free-running colt's natural pace can be a big asset on the downhill run here.

Many in a fascinating field for the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes have infinite scope for improvement but Strategic Prince (2.40) is the one with the runs on the board after his stylish performance at Newmarket.

But the best bet of the afternoon may be NIHAL (nap 3.50), who reached a new peak when first stepped up to this distance at York last time.