Edinburgh Knight: Lennox Stakes contender has conditions in his favour

PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos) , BY PAUL EACOTT5:57PM 29 JUL 2012

PAUL D’ARCY is hoping that William Buick will make it third time lucky when he rides Edinburgh Knight in the Group 2 bet365 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday

Buick rode Edinburgh Knight to go down by half a length to Libranno in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket and then last time out when beaten the same margin by Field Of Dream in the Betfair Summer Double International Heritage Handicap at Ascot.

D’Arcy thinks the most recent run was Edinburgh Knight’s best and considers him an unlucky loser.

He said: “Edinburgh Knight was hampered coming out of the stalls at Ascot and got stopped in his run over a furlong out but was only beaten by a fast-finishing horse on the other side of the course.

“He keeps hitting the crossbar, which is frustrating, but he is running well. I said to the owners early in his career that he would not be a proper racehorse until he was five.

“He has run before at Goodwood, in last year’s Stewards’ Cup over six furlongs. He used to go flat out in his races which is why he was sprinting but we worked with him and he now settles. He just gets a mile but is suited by seven furlongs.”

Edinburgh Knight has been installed a 7-1 chance with the sponsors for Tuesday’s race and D’Arcy, who gave hot jockey Buick his first ever win, added: ”My main worry on Tuesday is that it is going to be a bit of a tactical race, with little or no pace. It is now up to the jockey.”

Libranno will be among six rivals Edinburgh Knight faces in the feature race over 7f on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.

Racingpost.