SKIES DARKENING OVER BOOKIES' HEADS @Goodwood_Races

It is a perfect day for bookmakers, with high-class horseracing and a bright but breezy weather forecast that makes a beach trip or garden barbecue less appealing.

Punters have been homing in Glorious Goodwood in today's early-morning skirmishes, during which the Mark Johnston-trained Royal Skies has proved the horse-to-follow with several bookmakers. He runs in the RAC Handicap (2.40) under jockey Joe Fanning, and threatens dark clouds for the layers if the money is correct.

Coral has been forced to slash Royal Skies' price from 8/1 to 4/1, while Paddy Power has cut him to 5/1 from 7/1, and Sky Bet is down to 9/2 from 11/2.

In today's featured handicap, the Robins Farm Racing Stewards' Cup (3.50) there has been support for the Richard Hannon/Richard Hughes combination and their horse Ninjago, who is 11/1 from 14/1 with Paddy Power - a firm offering a pay out on the first five places - and 9/1 from 14/1 with Sky Bet. In this same race the pair of York Glory (10/1 from 11/1) and Humidor (20/1 from 25/1) have been cut by Betfred.

That same bookmaker reports War Spirit, an unraced colt ridden by Hughes for Hannon, has been the day's best-backed horse. Now 15/8 from 11/4, he runs in the NatWest Ahead For Business EBF Maiden (4.25).

The day's most valuable race, the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes, could reap another winner for Hughes and Hannon courtesy of Sky Lantern. Her price of 9/4 is holding steady with Paddy Power, but Hot Snap is proving tempting for punters, and she has been cut to 13/2 from 8/1 with Sky Bet, and to 7/1 from 8/1 with Paddy Power. The latter has also shortened Integral in this race, and now offers 7/1 from 8/1.

However, Coral punters reckon the final day of Glorious Goodwood could be a super Saturday for trainer Charlie Hills. Coral has been forced to trim the Hills-trained Just The Judge into 7/1 from 8/1, and has reduced the price of her stablemate, Shropshire, for the Robins Farm Racing Stewards' Cup. He is now 12/1 from 14/1.