Roll out the carpet

Patience is always a virtue, particularly in horse-racing, and supporters of Red Carpet can be rewarded with a first win for more than two years when he is rolled out in the Charlton Hunt Supreme Stakes at Goodwood tomorrow.

In-form Newmarket trainer Michael Bell has always held the son of Pivotal in high regard but the four-year-old‘s racing career has been blighted by repeated injury problems.

Beaten just four lengths when fifth to Golan in last year‘s Sagitta 2000 Guineas, a repeat of that level of form would surely be enough to see him take this Group Three prize.

Bell got Red Carpet ready early this season, and he turned in another excellent effort when chasing Warningford home at Leicester in April, going down by half a length at level weights.

But the injury jinx struck again and it was not until last month that Red Carpet returned to action, finding six furlongs too sharp at Goodwood.

He can be expected to strip a deal fitter for that outing and back over this more suitable seven-furlong trip, a solid run can be expected.

Goodwood plays host to the jump jockeys in their annual foray to the Flat in the Uccello II and Ubu III Trophy.

This year‘s contest sees something of a ringer among the line-up with Jamie Spencer taking advantage of his jumps licence - used before only so that he could ride and win at this year‘s Cheltenham Festival - to join in the fun.

But the jumping fraternity could have the last laugh as Master McGrath, trained by Martin Pipe, can take the spoils.

The selection was well-fancied to score at Ayr last week but went down a nice filly of John Dunlop‘s - no disgrace on his first start for more than a year.

Master McGrath will surely be campaigned over hurdles in time, just as Pipe did with useful stayer Far Cry - also owned by Nicky Chambers.

But in the meantime, this two-mile trip should cause no problems and provided he suffers no adverse reaction to making a quick return to the fray, he looks the one to be on.

Wizard of Noz should be a short price to take the St John Ambulance EBF Novice Stakes.

Highly-regarded by Jeremy Noseda, the colt was beaten less than two lengths into third behind ante-post 2000 Guineas favourite Almushahar on his latest run at Doncaster in the Champagne Stakes.

That was just a second run ever for Wizard of Noz and sure to have benefited from the experience, he should not be opposed to notch another victory.

Concubine is a few pounds ahead of the handicapper at present and looks one for each-way punters in the Renault Master Van Handicap.

Up at Pontefract, Vicious Warrior looks the best bet.

Richard Whitaker‘s improving three-year-old cost punters a few quid when getting up in the final stride to deny gambled-on Bandler Ching at Doncaster earlier this month.

And the handicapper looks to have been fair enough on the gelding, raising him by just 4lb for the success.

Improving all the time, Vicious Warrior can account for some more exposed and out-of-form rivals to land the Dalby Screw-Driver Rated Stakes.