The opening race on the card (2pm) is restricted to National Hunt jockeys and has become a popular feature since its inauguration in 1995, when it was staged at Goodwood's first Sunday fixture.

The contest, switched to October in 2003, is supported by the Marquesa de Moratalla and honours her two Grand Steeplechase de Paris heroes, Ucello II and Ubu III, who captured many top prizes in France for trainer Francois Doumen.

McCarthy is something of a regular in the race, having won it on Father Sky for trainer Oliver Sherwood in 1997 and finished fourth last year on Moonshine Beach.

This year he partners the Michael Blanshard-trained The Composer on whom he has finished second three times over hurdles.

The six-year-old gelding, successful on the Flat at Salisbury in July, was a length and three quarters fourth to Pseudonym over two miles, one furlong at Bath on September 29, having filled the runner-up berth at Kempton the time before.

McCarthy revealed: "The race is a novelty and I always enjoy riding at Goodwood. It's good to have a ride in the race and the people look after us very well down there, they always give us a nice bit of grub afterwards.

"The Composer would have to be in the shake up if you look at his last couple of runs. He won back in July and has been in good form recently. He was a good fourth last time so he would have a squeak if I can get tune out of him.

"I won on Father Sky as a prep run for the Mercedes Benz Chase at Chepstow and he went on to win that too. I've ridden in the race a few times and finishing fourth last year was the closest I've come to winning it again.

"The jumps lads enjoy the experience. Most of them do it for a bit of craic but at the same time it's a competitive race and we all treat it as such."

Timmy Murphy, subsequently successful in the John Smith's Grand National, took the spoils last year aboard Estate.

In 2000, top Flat jockey Richard Hughes, having previously ridden over hurdles, renewed his jumping licence to ride in the race and scored astride Samarardo.

The rider, second in this year's Flat jockey championship is set to have a mount again on the James Eustace-trained At The Money.

Other jockeys likely to participate in the contest this year include Timmy Murphy, Jason Maguire, Colin Bolger, Christian Williams, Paddy Brennan and Andrew Tinkler.

Maimoona was forced to settle for third on her last visit to Goodwood, but she could go two places better on her return to the track in the Idle Power Stakes.

William Haggas' filly showed her liking for some give in the ground when romping to a four-length victory at Ripon on her penultimate start.

She was then competitive off her revised mark over course and distance last time.

Possibly unfortunate to have bumped into the improving Perfect Flight and forced to race alone on that occasion, she is likely to fare much better this time around.

Priti Fabulous is two out of two on the all-weather and can notch another success on Polytrack in the Banqueting At Great Leighs Fillies' Handicap.

Haggas' charge has yet to open her account in five attempts on turf, but looks a different animal on an artificial surface - twice winning with plenty in hand at Kempton.

Though the inevitable climb up the weights has ensued, it may be her best is yet to come.

That's in the day's feature race (4.20pm), which pays tribute to the 10-year-old five-time Goodwood winner Idle Power, winner of the Stewards' Sprint Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in 2005, whose latest triumph at the course came in the Goodwood Aero Club Handicap on May 30. That race was Idle Power's 100th career start.

Trainer Peter Harris bought Idle Power for 33,000 guineas at Tattersalls in October, 1999. The Common Grounds gelding proceeded to win four races for the handler and his owners, The Dreamers, before again passing through the Park Paddocks auction ring in October, 2002.

His new owners, The Idle B's, comprising some of the original syndicate members, sent Idle Power to Epsom trainer Jim Boyle, who saddled him for an initial Goodwood victory in the Goodwood Aerodrome Handicap in May, 2004, a race he would win again this year.

With 13 victories in a 103-race career, yielding over £140,000 in prize money, Idle Power is a firm favourite with his proud owners, who rank Goodwood as their favourite racecourse and are thrilled to have a race honouring their horse.

The fascinating seven-race card on Sunday also includes the seven-furlong EBF RUK "Finale" Nursery Handicap (2.35pm), the nine-furlong European Breeders' Fund TurfTV Maiden Stakes (3.10pm), the Counters Gate Handicap (3.45pm) over a mile, the six-furlong TurfTV For Betting Shops Median Auction Maiden Stakes (4.55pm) and the concluding Valete Handicap (5.30pm) over a mile and a half.

OUR GOODWOOD TIPS
2.00 At The Money, 2.35 Campbeltown Trader, 3.10 Sixties Swinger, 3.45 Border Owl, 4.20 Maimoona, 4.55 Bennelong, 5.25 Lush.
ADMISSION PRICES
Richmond Enclosure - £27
Gordon Enclosure - £19 (£14 for over 65s, 50% discount for NUS card holders)
Gates open at 11.30am.