Toormore & Safety Check Up For Lennox

Time/Date - 15.10hrs local time/Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Goodwood/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/7f

Toormore makes his Godolphin debut in the Group Two Qatar Lennox Stakes, with Safety Check also lining up for the seven-furlong contest at Goodwood, UK, on Tuesday, July 28.

Four-year-old Toormore (Richard Hannon/James Doyle), who was beaten a neck in this race 12 months ago, kept on to finish fourth over a mile in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 16.

He posted two other excellent efforts in Group One company over the same trip, coming home second to atable companion Night Of Thunder in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 16 and taking a close third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot in October.

Toormore was crowned European champion two-year-old in 2013 following an unbeaten campaign that included victories in the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh and the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Fellow four-year-old Safety Check (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) makes his first start since running on well for a length verdict in the Group Two Zabeel Mile Sponsored by Al Naboodah Construction Group on turf at Meydan, UAE, on February 26.

The son of Dubawi stormed to a four-length win in the seven-furlong Group Two Al Fahidi Fort Sponsored by Gulf News, also on turf at Meydan, on January 22 and scored over the same course and distance on his seasonal return in a handicap on January 8.

Safety Check has run well over seven furlongs on both his previous appearances at Goodwood, coming home fourth in a valuable handicap in August and winning a handicap at this meeting last year.

Richard Hannon said: "Toormore has been to Goodwood twice, winning the Vintage Stakes as a two-year-old and being beaten only a neck in this race last year, and previous experience of this track is always a help.

"The rain won't be a problem for him either as the ground was very testing when he bounced back to run a blinder in finishing third in last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

"I have been really pleased how well he has run in his two races this year, a close second in the Lockinge and another good effort in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting, where he was only beaten three and a quarter lengths by Solow.

"Dropping down a grade must give Toormore an excellent chance here, and it would be great if he could click first time up in the blue of Godolphin."

Charlie Appleby reported: "Safety Check is in great order and both the track and trip suit him well.

"He has a Group Two penalty and we fully respect the opposition. He would want a sound surface to be seen at his best and we are hoping that the ground dries out for him."

The Godolphin runners take on six rivals including Group One Prix Jean Prat runner-up Dutch Connection, dual Newmarket Listed winner Tupi and Group Three scorer Aeolus.

Godolphin has won the Lennox Stakes with Byron (2004) and Iffraaj (2006).