WELCOME TO SEASON FINALE Good afternoon and welcome to Goodwood for the Season Finale. Today’s programme begins with a contest unique in the Goodwood racing calendar. Named in tribute to the outstanding dual-purpose performer of the 1990s and with race conditions reflecting his versatility, the Alderbrook Handicap run over a distance of two miles may prove a test of stamina for the horses, but less so for their riders who are all professional National Hunt jockeys. We welcome them to Goodwood today. Foaled in 1989, the first of Alderbrook’s 11 victories on the Flat, which included a Group 2 in France, came in a modest handicap here at Goodwood at the age of three before an illustrious career over jumps highlighted by the defeat of 13 rivals in the Champion Hurdle at the 1995 Cheltenham Festival. Beyond the opener, this afternoon’s card comprises handicaps run over distances from six furlongs to a mile and three contests for novice two-yearolds. The first of them was won last year by Andrew Balding’s Al Shabab Storm who this year has carried Ahmad Al Shaikh’s colours to victory at Listed level at Chester and Group 3 success in Germany and holds an entry in next weekend’s Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot. My thanks are due to today’s race sponsors - our Trophy Supplier, Inkerman London, the European Breeders’ Fund and our Official Fixed Odds Betting Partner William Hill. I am grateful to them and to all our sponsors and partners this season for their generous and continued support of racing at Goodwood. I wish you an enjoyable afternoon as we bring the curtain down on another exciting and successful season and look forward to seeing you all when we reconvene on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 May for the 2025 Season Opener.
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, CBE DL Chairman, Goodwood Racecourse