Sennockian Star gets Goodwood off to Glorious start for Mark Johnston

Sennockian Star got this year's Glorious Goodwood meeting off to a flyer for Mark Johnston in a thrilling bet365.com Stakes.

Johnston has a tremendous record on the Sussex Downs and saddled three runners in the opening event of this year’s Festival.

As is often the case with runners from the yard, all three were ridden positively in the mile-and-a-quarter contest, with Sennockian Star tracking stable companions Salutation and Busatto in the hands of Joe Fanning.

Salutation and Busatto briefly looked to have shaken off the field when striking clear over a furlong out, but both Sennockian Star and the fast-finishing Ajman Bridge came from out of the pack to challenge.

Ajman Bridge looked sure to collect having being produced with a withering run by William Buick, but Sennockian Star refused to be beaten and stuck on determinedly close to finish to take the spoils by half a length.

Salutation and Busatto were third and fourth respectively in a great result for Johnston.

Johnston said: “Before the race I said to my son Angus that a winner in the first would be great.

“As we were watching it, he said ‘we might get a one-two-three’ and I thought he was going to be right. It’s fantastic. The horses are just buzzing up the gallops.

“I think two years ago we won the first as well and it’s a great relief to get one on the board.”

Red-hot favourite Beacon could manage only third place as Cotai Glory clinched the Molecomb Stakes for trainer Charlie Hills and jockey George Baker.

The Richard Hannon-trained Beacon was all the rage for the five-furlong Group Three having completed a hat-trick in Sandown’s Dragon Stakes at the start of the month, but Richard Hughes was having to bustle up the 10 to 11 market-leader from an early stage.

Cotai Glory, on the other hand, travelled within himself for a long way at the head of affairs and was still moving strongly passing the final furlong marker.

Fast Act was right on the premises and Beacon eventually found top gear once switched very wide, but 3 to 1 shot Cotai Glory found plenty for pressure and passed the post with half a length in hand.

Consistent sprinter Es Que Love earned a deserved return to the winner's enclosure with a stylish performance in the Lennox Stakes.

Since joining trainer Clive Cox from Johnston’s yard at the start of the season, Es Que Love has been placed in the Abernant at Newmarket, the Duke of York Stakes and most recently the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

Sent off at 7 to 1 stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time this year, Es Que Love travelled with real panache in the hands of Adam Kirby, who appeared at pains to ensure he did not hit the front too soon.

Last year’s champion juvenile Toormore, sent off the 5 to 6 favourite to bounce back from a couple of disappointing efforts in the 2000 Guineas and the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, was up with pace from the outset and was in front inside the final furlong.

However, he was unable to stop Es Que Love quickening by him close home and there was a neck in it at the line.

Toomore’s stable companion Anjaal finished off strongly to grab third, with last year’s winner Garswood only fourth.

The Andrew Balding-trained Van Percy got the better of a protracted duel with Havana Cooler to land the Summer Stakes.

Havana Cooler was the 5 to 2 favourite to complete a double for Kirby and he moved towards the front end a furlong out, but David Probert had the move covered aboard 8 to 1 shot Van Percy.

The two pulled clear to ensure it was a straight shootout in the closing stages and although Havana Cooler gave everything he had, Van Percy was a neck too strong.

Noble Silk was a little over two lengths back in third.

There was drama in the middle of the race as White Nile appeared to lose his footing and dumped jockey Paul Hanagan on the turf.

The horse galloped loose before eventually being caught, while Hanagan eventually got to his feet but was holding his arm as he climbed into the ambulance.