Inspiral is expected to take on Paddington in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes on Wednesday of the Goodwood Festival.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly is a three-time Group 1 winner over a mile and returned to action with a neck defeat in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"Inspiral ran a great race on her return in the Queen Anne, when she was just beaten by a very good horse of Kevin Ryan's in Triple Time," said co-trainer John Gosden.

"She has come on for that and been in great form since. Last year she went to the Falmouth, which didn't quite go as planned. A lot of horses when they run at Ascot have a tough race and it can often take them a while to come back and, although they appear in good form, you sometimes have to take into account the bounce factor."

Although two of Inspiral's Group 1 victories came against her own sex, the filly defeated a useful field in the open Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last season including 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus. Paddington will represent her sternest test to date.

"Paddington is a horse who has made rapid progression. He is a horse with plenty of speed and plenty of ability. He won the St James's Palace and then went on to the Eclipse. That is quite an unusual route but it demonstrates how brilliant he is. It will be tough taking him on but a championship race like the Sussex Stakes is never going to be an easy race.

"Inspiral has a low action and plenty of speed. She is a very strong filly and hopefully the track will prove no problem to her at all. Emily Upjohn was taking on Paddington two furlongs below her optimum trip [in the Eclipse], whereas Inspiral will be taking him on at her ideal trip. Paddington is a three-year-old stepping into older miler company for the first time, which is always an interesting one."