Persian Punch, the grand old man of Flat racing, could well be responsible for the roof being raised off the grandstand at Goodwood tomorrow.

Still going strong at the age of ten, the super-tough stayer lines-up for the £100,000 Lady O Goodwood Cup - a race he won back in 2001 - and is assured of a rousing reception from appreciative racegoers if he can win again.

Trained for Jeff Smith by David Elsworth, Persian Punch is one of those horses everyone loves, and on occasions, loves to hate. Dismiss him from calculations and he's sure to prove you wrong.

Despite being in the twilight of his career, this veteran campaigner still has plenty of heart for a battle, as he showed when getting the better of Cover Up in a thrilling duel in a Listed race at Sandown on his latest outing.

Previously a good second in the Ascot Gold Cup, Persian Punch, an habitual front-runner, is certainly a hard horse to get past.

Mark Johnston, whose Zindabad is a real danger to Persian Punch, can win the Future Hope Charity Rated Handicap with Suzuka.

Johnston, who was on the mark with Darasim on the Sussex course yesterday, produced Suzuka to win at Thirsk last Friday.

A 3lb penalty may not be enough to prevent this progressive stayer from following up.

Speed will be at a premium in the £50,000 King George Stakes, in which Bishops Court has strong claims on behalf of his Whitwell-on-the-Hill owner-breeder David Brotherton.

A tremendous servant down the years, Bishops Court returned to the winning trail at Chester on his latest outing.

Although near the end of his career, he might well be capable of winning what is not the toughest of Group 3 contests. Frankie Dettori takes the mount.

The highly-regared Dallaah, an impressive winner on her debut at Lingfield, promises to prove hard to beat in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes.

Marcus Tregoning has a potentially useful performer in Alkaadhem, who has strong claims of gaining his second win from three career outings by landing the De Boer Classified Stakes.

At Newcastle, Sharoura is napped to win the James Fletcher Marquees Handicap.

Richard Fahey's seven-year-old did us a good turn when justifying favouritism at Thirsk last Friday and looks capable of defying a 6lb penalty here.

The promising Paradise Isle (2.20) and the Tim Easterby-trained Grey Clouds (4.00), a good second at Beverley last time, are two others to consider on the Gosforth programme.

Goodwood's ground has eased following further rain at the Sussex track ahead.

A total of 8.5 millimetres of rain fell on the track after racing yesterday the going was officially described as "good to soft, soft in places in the straight" this morning.

Tomorrow's tips

Goodwood

2.05 Scotland The Brave, 2.40 Dallaah, 3.15 Persian Punch, 3.50 Bishops Court, 4.25 Sahool, 5.00 Alkaadhem, 5.35 Suzuka.

Newcastle

2.20 Paradise Isle, 2.50 Perfect Setting, 3.25 Sharoura (Nap), 4.00 Grey Clouds, 4.35 Lodger, 5.10 Horizon Hill.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Epsom (evening, Flat), Musselburgh (evening, Flat) and Stratford (afternoon, National Hunt).

Updated: 14:56 Wednesday, July 30, 2003