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Goodwood ready for day in memory of football legend
It's Alan Ball Memorial Race Day at Goodwood tomorrow (Wednesday).
The day commemorates the late England football captain and World Cup winner, who passed away in April last year.
A great fan of horse-racing, Alan Ball caught the racing bug from his old friend and teammate turned racehorse trainer Mick Channon, and as a football manager, the former Everton, Arsenal and Southampton hero was known to take his players to the races as a team building exercise.
Alan has strong connections to the south coast, having also managed this year's FA Cup winners Pompey, and Goodwood is keen to offer fans of all of the World Cup hero's former clubs a fantastic discounted deal on May 21.
Any supporter turning up with their season ticket or club membership card on Alan Ball Raceday will be able to buy two tickets for the Gordon Enclosure for only 24.
For every football fan taking up the ticket offer, Goodwood will give 2 to two charities that were close to Alan's heart, Help A Local Child and The Bobby Moore Fund, and will guarantee a minimum donation of 750.
The day has been organised by Goodwood managing director Rod Fabricius in conjunction with Alan's stepson Jimmy Ball, along with Everton fans Charlie McCann of Stan James and Talksport's Mike Parry.
The final race will be named Congratulations to Portsmouth FC in honour of Pompey's Cup win at the weekend.
City Leader can atone for a rather subdued display in the Craven Stakes when he lines up at Goodwood.
The Brian Meehan-trained colt was sixth behind Twice Over at Newmarket but should silence the sceptics in the David Wilson Homes Stakes.
Meehan's son of Fasliyev was reported to have returned home from the Craven with a bout of coughing, which was responsible for ducking the Dante to refuel. He should consequently be champing at the bit for his crack at this Listed heat.
Having found the one mile of the Craven too sharp, this longer trip should be absolutely perfect for an animal who achieved so much as a juvenile.
Already a Group Two winner at Ascot, City Leader's best performance to date was in defeat, when he finished a three-length second behind Ibn Khaldun in the Racing Post Trophy.
While that form has not yet been franked, Meehan's charge can confidently be expected to book his ticket for Royal Ascot with a good run here.
Really Ransom is an engaging entry in the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes.
The Red Ransom filly makes her debut for Pat Haslam, who looks to have inherited a really talented thoroughbred from John Oxx.
Really Ransom signed off her career in Ireland with a last-to-first success at Gowran, where she left the impression much more was to come.
Owned by Renata Jacobs, who has given her an entry in the Ribblesdale, she should be in her element over this longer trip and could prove well up to Group class.
OUR GOODWOOD TIPS FOR WEDNESDAY
GOODWOOD: 2.15 Legislation, 2.50 CITY LEADER (NAP), 3.25 Dove Cottage, 4.00 Really Ransom, 4.35 Kerrys Requiem, 5.10 Jennie Jerome, 5.45 Young Bertie
Admission prices: Richmond Enclosure 27; Gordon Enclosure 19 (50% discount for NUS card holders), 14 over 65s; Gordon Enclosure football fan discount - two for 24 (Alan Ball Memorial Raceday only - season ticket or club membership card required); FREE parking available; All children under 17 free.
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Weather for Chichester
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South west
