Fabulous Frankel The Highlight Of A Glorious Week

Glorious Goodwood is coming up and I can’t wait – especially now we’ve got something that resembles summer.

This is an amazing meeting. I like it because it’s slightly less formal than Ascot and there’s a different atmosphere, it’s a bit more fun.

There’s good racing and of course, that wonderful backdrop.

I’ll be there all week and I’m looking forward to seeing Frankel in action in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday – he’ll really pull in the crowds.

Last year we had the “Duel on the Downs” and he beat Canford Cliffs by five lengths – this year he’ll probably win by 10. I’ve certainly never seen a horse like Frankel and I doubt I ever will.

People doubted his temperament earlier in his career but now he just looks the complete article.

It doesn’t matter whether things go wrong in a race, or what is thrown at him, he still makes it look so easy. He never comes out of third gear, does he?

We’re not going to see him race many more times. They will have a crack at 10 furlongs with him at York in the Juddmonte International and then probably go to Ascot for Champions Day and that could be it – I don’t think they will take him to the Breeders’ Cup.

Also at Goodwood, for the second year running I’ll be taking part in the first race on Thursday, Ladies’ Day. It’s the Celebrity Ladies’ Charity Race in aid of two good causes, Spinal Research and Winston’s Wish.

Last year I think everyone on the racecourse backed my horse – I think I was the only person they’d heard of as having ridden in races before.

I never looked like winning. The supermodel Edie Campbell rode Harrodian Hotshot and it was never in doubt that she would win, with me three lengths back in second.

It did get quite competitive at the start, it’s a six-furlong race with a flag start and the trainer George Baker was down there and ran Edie’s horse in for the off…

She’s on the same horse this year but I don’t know what I’m going to be riding. Between Kevin Ryan and Richard Fahey I’m sure they’ll find something for me to ride, they’ve got enough sprinters between them!

The colours we’re wearing for the race are being designed by people like Kate Moss and Stella McCartney. I hear that Kate is producing something in shocking pink with thunderbolts. Literally anything goes.

It’s all good fun but the night before the race last year I was lying awake thinking: “Why am I doing this? This is nuts.” I don’t miss race-riding at all.

Enjoy your week and don’t forget, you can catch my daily racing preview in shops on Ladbrokes Live and get my selections for each day’s racing right here on my web page.

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