Red letter day for Dunlop junior as Qatar Goodwood Festival gets underway

He runs Dark Red at the course where legendary father John sent out around 200 winners from his neighbouring yard in Arundel.

The funeral took place last Friday of Dunlop senior, who died earlier this month aged 78 following a long fight against illness and surgery in Worthing Hospital.

Dunlop senior (below) used to be a Goodwood director. He trained his first winner at the track, Storm Bird, in 1967 and landed significant prizes with Hatta, Harlestone Brook and Posse in the Sussex Stakes in 1980.

He told The Argus Goodwood had been "very dear to my heart" when saddling his final runner at the course, Estebsaal, shortly before his retirement in 2012.

Dunlop's name lives on through sons Ed and Harry, both trainers.

Dark Red from Ed's Newmarket stables is a strong contender in the Class Two Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap, which opens five days of top class racing at the picturesque track set in the undulating West Sussex Downs.

The six-year-old has finished second or third in each of his last four outings, including most recently when beaten by a neck at Newcastle over a mile last month.

Dark Red has two furlongs extra to travel this time and has the assistance in the saddle of William Buick.

Dunlop Jr also has Fabulous Red (Wednesday), Global Giant (Thursday) and Red Verdon (Friday) entered at the Festival.

The latter, runner-up on his last three starts, has a good chance of finally getting his head in front in the Group Three Glorious Stakes.

Brighton's three-time champion jockey Ryan Moore has numerous rides booked for leading Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien over the course of the meeting, beginning with Van Beethoven in the Group Two Vintage Stakes, Spirit of Valor in another Group Two contest, the Lennox Stakes, and Idaho in today's feature race the Group One Goodwood Cup.

Ryan (below) takes the mount for Horsham-based father Gary on Kloud Gate in tomorrow's Matchbook Betting Podacast Handicap over a marathon two miles four furlongs.

Moore senior also has an each-way chance with Sing Out Loud in another typically competitive handicap to open proceedings on Ladies Day on Thursday.

Pulborough-based jockey Jim Crowley's best chance of the week is on jet-heeled sprinter and hot favourite Battaash in Friday's Group Two King George Stakes.

Crowley could fight out the finish tomorrow on the Hughie Morrison-trained Corgi with Moore, who rides Making Miracles for Goodwood specialist Mark Johnston.

Hollie Doyle, successor to Crowley as Goodwood's ambassador, could land today's penultimate race the Chelsea Barracks Handicap on five-times course winner Pettochside.

Crowley and Raul da Silva will be giving each other a wide berth in the weighing room.

Brazilian Da Silva was banned for 21 days for leaving Crowley with a split lip requiring stitches after a confrontation at Goodwood last month.

Da Silva has his first ride at Goodwood since the incident on the Paul Cole filly Zoraya in today's closing race.

The fighting was among spectators at Goodwood's first meeting of the season in May, when racing was marred by an ugly brawl.

Security has been stepped up since then and no problems are expected at the showpiece meeting on the calendar, the first Festival as clerk of the course for Ed Arkell after succeeding long-serving Seamus Buckley.

The official going was reported yesterday as good, good to firm in places following much-needed rain at the weekend.

Albion owner-chairman Tony Bloom's Flaming Spear is entered in Saturday's Stewards' Cup.

He will be on a retrieval mission if he takes his chance.

Flaming Spear finished 11th of 27 when 6-1 favourite for the Class Two Heritage Handicap at Ascot on Saturday.

Reluctant to enter the stalls, the Dean Ivory-trained charged started slowly before making late headway under Robert Winston.

Bloom's Northumberland Plate winner Withold, who initially held an entry for today's Goodwood Cup, is being aimed at the Ebor at York later this month.