The Duel on the Downs takes pride of place on day two of Glorious Goodwood tomorrow when the Group 1 Sussex Stakes sees the unbeaten Frankel take on Canford Cliffs, winner of seven of his ten races, in what promises to be one of the races of the season.

Only four runners will face the starter for this fascinating event, the outcome of which may come down to tactics.

While Canford Cliffs is an habitual hold-up horse, Frankel can do it from the front, as he proved in devastating fashion when running his rivals ragged in the 2,000 Guineas.

At Royal Ascot last month in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Tom Queally adopted different tactics on Frankel, taking a lead from his pacemaker until sweeping past him fully four furlongs out and going clear, only to come to the end of his tether inside the last when Henry Cecil’s brilliant colt held on.

At the same meeting, Canford Cliffs, trained by Richard Hannon, got the better of the great French mare Goldikova in the Queen Anne Stakes when Richard Hughes typically delivered him late to win on merit in the last half furlong.

While Rio De La Plata and Rajsaman make up the field tomorrow, all eyes will be on the big two.

Which will win? It’s tough to call. Canford Cliffs won last year, as a three-year-old against older rivals and, consequently, receiving a weight for age allowance, This time, Frankel is the three-year-old against the year-older Canford Cliffs.

For me, Frankel may have the edge, and may have the tactical speed to take the finishing kick out of Canford Cliffs. It promises to be close, to be thrilling and a race not to be missed.

It’s a big day at Goodwood for John Quinn, who saddles his star juvenile Red Duke in the Veuve Cliquot Vintage Stakes.

The talented Norton colt won a similar Group 2 race at Newmarket on his latest outing, after which Quinn said that an end of season target for Red Duke could be the Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile in the US on the first Saturday in November.

Kieren Fallon, on board Red Duke at Newmarket, takes the mount again.

Webbow, trained at Norton by Mark Campion, also has strong claims on the Goodwood card. The evergreen nine-year-old has been narrowly denied in his last two starts and deserves to get his head in front. Fallon will also be aboard.

Cosimo de Medici (2.00) and Four Nations (3.45), both previous course winners, are two others to note.

At Redcar, Great Habton trainer Lawrence Mullaney has good prospects with cheaply bought Irish recruit File And Paint in the latest qualifier for the John Smith’s Redcar Straight-Mile Handicap.

The three-year-old was narrowly beaten on this course recently on his first start for Mullaney and is napped to go one better.

Fenella Fudge (2.45), who is visored for the first time, and the in-form White Deer (3.20) are two others to bear in mind at the seaside course.

Racing selections

Goodwood

2.00 Cosimo de Medici, 2.35 Red Duke, 3.10 Frankel, 3.45 Four Nations, 4.20 My Queenie, 4.55 Webbow, 5.30 Ken’s Girl.

Redcar

1.40 Premier Choice, 2.10 Fenella Fudge, 2.45 White Deer, 3.20 File And Paint (NAP), 3.55 Persian Peril, 4.30 Master Leon, 5.05 Desert Vision, 5.40 Electioneer.

Tomorrow’s other meetings

Leicester, Perth and Sandown.

Today’s meetings

Beverley, Goodwood, Perth and Worcester.