WELCOME TO FLOODWOOD

Merchant goes down a storm

- by MELISSA JONES

MERCHANT (6-5f) carried Tom Marquand through the Goodwood storm for a hard-fought success in the HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes.

Track bosses were braced for a deluge via the Met Office's yellow weather warning for thunderstorms covering the entirety of the card.

And the inclement weather had some heading for the exits by the time Merchant and Marquand were heading to post for race three.

Only the hardiest racegoers were able to brave conditions as the pair settled down in rear, off a tempo set by outsider Too Soon.