Trainer John Gosden has claimed Too Darn Hot is in fine shape as he prepares to try and get revenge over Circus Maximus at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.

The duo will meet in the Qatar Sussex Stakes in what is expected to be a close battle, with Circus Maximus getting the better of him the last time they met at Ascot. Too Darn Hot, last year’s champion juvenile, has struggled for form this season, winning once just May.

That success did come in France last time out and Gosden believes he is in much better shape this time around. “Finally we are letting the horse do what he wants to do – run and show his speed and class,” he told reporters. “He is an extremely fast horse with bundles of natural speed, and we were stupidly trying to take that away from him.

“When you have got that speed it is a bit stupid fighting what a horse is. When you watch him, he is powerful, and Frankie said that his stride pattern is so quick.

“We went to France with a lot of confidence, because his work was brilliant going in. He just showed he had come back to himself, because he went through a hellish spring. “He handles any ground.”

Too Darn Hot remains the 2.10 favourite for Wednesday’s feature race, while Circus Maximus is 4.50 second favourite. Lord Glitter won impressively at Royal Ascot and punters can get odds of 6.50 for him to win for trainer David O’Meara. Phoenix of Spain, Zabeel Prince, I Can Fly, Accidental Agent and Happy Power complete the field.