Delight in the deluge for Kirby and Cox at Goodwood

Steady rain throughout the afternoon and much of the evening itself didn’t deter thousands from attending - with plenty of them staying after racing to see a set by internationally-renowned DJ Mark Ronson.

A number of jockeys were held up getting to Goodwood from Royal Ascot, with low cloud meaning they couldn’t fly, and there was a high number of non-runners across the card as the ground softened up during the day.

Clerk of the course Seamus Buckley was not unduly worried by the rain, saying halfway through the evening: “The course is soft but safe. We’ve had no complaints.”

Headline grabbers on the track were jockey Adam Kirby and trainer Clive Cox, who teamed up for a back-to-back double in the meeting’s first two races.

Kirby guided My Solitaire (11/8) to victory in the Tanqueray Maiden Auction Stakes and followed up with another win on Pandorica (8/1) in the Wave FM Stakes, both for Berkshire-based handler Cox.

Next, William Buick further enhanced his growing reputation with a strong ride on the 2/7 favourite Rainbow Springs to take the Goodwood Hotel Maiden Fillies’ Stakes with plenty to spare.

Stand-in rider Liam Keniry was in the winner’s enclosure after riding Chiberta King home first in the Capital FM Stakes for trainer Andrew Balding.

Goodwood specialist Richard Hughes was one of those whose journey to Goodwood proved troublesome but he was glad he’d made the effort after steering 6/5 Hughie Morrison-trained favourite Valencha home in the Hardware Associates Fillies’ Stakes.

Last up was the Goodwood Farm Shop Stakes, won by Shane Kelly on the Walter Swinburn-trained 13/2 contender Da Ponte.

This was Goodwood’s final meeting before Glorious - which starts on July 26 and remains likely to stage the first meeting between the big two, Frankel and Canford Cliffs, in the Sussex Stakes.

STEVE BONE