GOODWOOD will be the centrepiece of racing this afternoon and a wide open Celebration Mile, a  group two event at 3.35, is the feature event.

Godolphin’s Benbatl will almost certainly start favourite, and on the best of his form he should be at the top of the market. However, he is now a seven-year-old and this will be his first start for a mighty 337 days.

That is not to say he can’t win, but at around the 2/1 mark there are definitely better each-way plays in the confirmed field of 10 runners despite him being 6lbs clear on official ratings to his nearest rival.

That rival is Happy Power, likely to be at the sharp end from flag fall, and a really good second in the Lennox Stakes at the glorious summer festival showcases his effectiveness on this track.

However, there is a good argument to suggest that seven furlongs is his trip, and the three-year-old CHINDIT along with course specialist Duke of Hazzard catch my eye.

The last named has been taken out of proposed races due to too much give in the ground, but this set-up should suit him perfectly.

The selection though remains with potential and the very best of his form in his classic year, running on fifths in both the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, makes him in my eyes the most likely winner in the entry.

There are some competitive handicaps elsewhere on the card, but the March Stakes (group three at 3.00) looks the most fascinating race despite there being just the five runners.

This was traditionally the last of the confirmed Leger trials, but in recent years that has become less and less so. That is exemplified by the fact that Nagano, a winner of a three-year-old handicap at the big meeting here, and rated 94 that day, is the even-money favourite.

With further improvement the son of Fastnet Rock should go close, but the value call has to be JUAN DE MONTALBAN who was a smart two-year-old, won a nice handicap on his three-year-old debut but then was transferred from Balding to an Italian yard, finishing second in the Italian Derby.

He has returned to these shores for his Italian owners and is now with David O’Meara. I think he will relish this step up in trip, which will help him possibly improve past the favourite.

Harking back to the handicaps on the card, the big seven-furlong event at 2.25 looks wide open, but the likelihood of fast ground and the progressive Aratus making the market at around 2/1 means there are plenty of each-way plays.

Of course, the Clive Cox three-year-old could have loads in hand off his current mark of 98, but I think that is a chance worth taking.

Offered at 8/1, AL RUFAA could be the one to turn him over. He ended last season on a low, beaten on soft ground at Sandown and then running poorly in the Cambridgeshire.

Absent since then, he has dropped 3lbs by the handicapper and would not have been kept in the training by Gosden unless he thought a few more big prizes were on their way.

SKY POWER can also defy an absence (274 days) and take the beating in the nine furlong handicap at 4.10, while ACED IT may carry top weight to victory in the staying handicap at 4.45.

It is the big day of the year at Beverley with the Bullet due off at 3.15 and old Judicial will get the vote of many to continue his remarkable career and land another course and distance win at the pear-shaped track.

But I fancy a big run from the 12/1 shot WISE WORDS (nb) trained by James Tate. The five-year-old mare has run some big races at Listed level this season when not getting the rub of the green, and a stiff minimum trip from a good draw could see her outrun her odds here.

The Listed Hopeful Stakes (2.45) at Newmarket could see SUMMERGHAND (nap) bounce back to winning form. The 2020 Stewards Cup winner has run well all season, with his stand-out performance coming with a fine fourth in the Duke of York Stakes, a track which simply doesn’t play to his strengths.

With plenty of early pace in this field, he will get a lovely tow into this contest and can supplement his success in the Abernant Stakes back in April on the Rowley Mile course.

The three-year-old PRINCE OF ABINTON can see off his elders in the sprint handicap at 5.35, while ATHEEB has finally been given a chance by the handicapped and should be hard to hold in the mile and a quarter handicap at 5.05.

Finally, have a look at the Windsor card this afternoon where PINK FLAMINGO can make the most of the weight she is set to receive from her six rivals at 4.20. But the best bet on the card could well be the old boy DESERT ENCOUNTER in the feature Listed August Stakes at 6.00.

All the veteran needs is a fast pace to run on quick ground, and he is still capable of giving the weight away to the likes of the two fillies Domino Darling and Teona.