Marathon task for Mourilyan

Mourilyan's connections are confident the Dubai stayer can give a good account of himself in today's marathon feature race, the Coutts Goodwood Cup.

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GOODWOOD // Mourilyan's connections are confident the Dubai stayer can give a good account of himself in today's marathon feature race, the Coutts Goodwood Cup. Yeats, winner of this race in 2006 and 2008, will not feature among the field of 10 but the two-mile contest has, nevertheless, attracted a crowd-pleaser of almost equal proportions in the 12-year-old campaigner, Caracciola.

It is Mourilyan's seasonal start in England and his trainer, Gary Moore, says he has thrived. "He's been working very well and we couldn't have asked for more," said the Sussex-based handler who has taken over Mourilyan's preparation from Dubai's Herman Brown. Connections of the son of Desert Prince have been given a boost by news that Moore's son, champion jockey Ryan Moore, will ride. "That's a bonus," said Moore. "Ryan knows the horse very well and he knows the track very well."

It was Ryan who piloted Mourilyan to second in the Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup at Nad Al Sheba in February. Moore says he will be keeping an eye on one of Godolphin's two charges in today's contest - Schiaparelli. Ascot specialist Caracciola, who won his last two starts including Royal Ascot's Queen Alexandra Stakes, is also a interesting prospect. "The danger is likely to come from Schiaparelli," said Moore. "And obviously you have to respect Caracciola. He's 12 years old and he's always given a good account of himself. I just hope he's not as good around Goodwood as he is around Ascot."

Judgethemoment is being given the chance to prove his Melbourne Cup credentials by Jane Chapple-Hyam after a a disappointing fourth in a listed two miles at Sandown spoiled a run of three wins. William Muir's Enroller, is stepping up in trip while Marcus Tregoning saddles Askar Tau. stregoning@thenational.ae