Review of the rest of Wednesday’s action from Glorious Goodwood featuring Toro Strike

A round-up of the rest of the news from day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival where our columnists Richard Fahey and Oisin Murphy combined to winning effect.

Strike storms to victory in finale

Sporting Life columnists Richard Fahey and Oisin Murphy combined to great effect as Toro Strike landed the concluding Thei Fennell Handicap in brilliant fashion.

The three-year-old slotted into a nice position from stall nine and travelled stylishly in mid-pack before Murphy – who was claiming his first winner of the week – unleashed him with a furlong to travel.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite skipped clear of his rivals and won well from top weight Magical Wish, who stuck to his guns well at 20/1.

Deep Intrigue and Zhui Feng were third and fourth respectively, with Mottrib back in fifth.

Fahey said of the winner: “He’s in on Saturday and we’ll see how he is but he could run again.

“He’s a nice horse and I’m delighted he’s won here for the owner. It’s been the plan for some time.”

Poignant win for Mambo

Mambo Nights came out on top in a battle of the hat-trick seekers in the Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap.

The 9/1 winner and Value Bet selection A Star Above (13/2) had this between them inside the final furlong and the Richard Hannon trained winner showed great resolution to fend off his rival close home and score by a neck.

The winner was sporting the yellow and black silks of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum who sadly lost his flagbearer Defoe on Wednesday morning after he sustained an injury on the gallops.

Ger Lyons and Andrew Balding watch Mambo Nights come out on top

Retained rider Andrea Atzeni, who struck up such a formidable partnership with that gelding, was aboard Mambo Nights and said: “It was sad news this morning about Defoe passing away, a horse that everyone loved, and I’m sure the boss is watching this and proud that we’ve found this fellow.

“He’s a horse who’s going the right way. He had some very good form as a two-year-old and he’s improved this year. Just look at the size of him and he can only get better. He’s a big, raw horse and this track probably wouldn’t be ideal for him but his ability got him away with it. There are better days ahead.”

Hubert brings down the House

It took Just Hubert two miles three and a half furlongs to master Rochester House in the Unibet You’re On Goodwood Handicap but the 25/1 chance got on top close home to win the longest race of the Qatar Festival.

Tom Marquand gave the winner a fine ride and had to drive him out to the line as his front-running rival, sent off at 6/1, tried to rally.

Value Bet selection Smart Champion (13/2) came home well in third.

“I think could probably have done with leaving it a few strides later, we all know what it’s like trying to run down one of Mark Johnston’s you think you’re going to pick them up but you get there and they keep on running,” the winning rider mused.

“Luckily this lad was pretty brave inside the final furlong and kept going.”

Just Hubert overhauls Rochester House at Goodwood

Trainer William Muir said “It just takes three runs to get ready. When he ran last time at Newbury, Hollie Doyle came back and said he is just about getting there.

“This horse has got talent. If his head stays in the right place, the talent is there. Tom (Marquand) said he didn’t have to get serious with him, he just had to cajole him. He is just a character.

“We will enjoy today as we have had a winner at Glorious Goodwood, so it is lovely.”

Buick shines on Jingles

Miss Jingles (7/2) ensured William Buick came out on top in the battle of the Godolphin jockeys in the British Stallion Studs Alice Keppel EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

Sporting the royal blue silks of his retainer, the jockey was given a major scare when Doyle launched his charge aboard David O’Meara’s Country Carnival but his partner knuckled down well to score by a neck.

“She’s a really game filly. James came at us very quick but once you get this filly into a fight she loves it. She did it like at Sandown when she won her maiden and this race had her name written all over it,” Buick said.

“A sharp five furlongs on nice ground was ideal and she’s quick.”

No catching Chamade in opener

There was a surprise in the opening British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap as Chamade (22/1) made every yard of the running to strike for Ralph Beckett and Harry Bentley.

She was clear approaching the furlong marker and it soon became obvious the chasers, led by 13/8 favourite Waliyak, weren’t going to get to her.

At the line she was two-and-a-three-quarter lengths clear of the market leader with another closer, Dean Street Doll (14/1), a further length-and-a-half adrift in third.

Chamade bounds to victory at Goodwood

Beckett said: “She is what you call a slow-burner. She was actually in the Horses In Training sale last October and if she hadn’t won just before it she would have been sold for about five grand! She is a home-bred, has got her black type and now she has won a couple of races.

“I thought the ground would be too quick today. We will be heading back for some black type again in the autumn, but she might turn out in the Upavon at Salisbury in a fortnight’s time, although I would think it would be more likely we head for Europe in the autumn.”