The Goodwood Cup is the feature race on the opening day of the Glorious Goodwood festival and this year’s renewal of the Group 1 looks like a fascinating clash between the best stayers around. Check out our runner-by-runner guide to the contest, alongside Bet UK’s latest offer where new customers can claim £30 in free bets if they bet £10.
All odds are Bet UK – Prices correct at the time of publish
1. AWAY HE GOES (Ismail Mohammed, Jim Crowley) 29/1
6yo Farhh gelding who ran well in the Dubai Gold Cup last March when behind subsequent Gold Cup winner Subjectivist. Produced a career-best RPR when runner-up to Trueshan in this race 12 months ago, but he was only seventh in the Ebor next time out and in his only run this season he was beaten over 15l in the Hardwicke Stakes. Tough to fancy on the back of that showing.
2. COLTRANE (Andrew Balding, Rob Hornby) 15/2
Showed some promise in conditions/handicap races on the all-weather over the winter, but his form has taken a huge step forward since returning to the turf. Only beaten a neck in the Chester Cup (form franked) back in May and he’s won both starts since, building on his Ascot Stakes victory when bolting up in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown earlier this month. Looks like a Group winner in waiting on the back of that, but this is a tough test coming up against genuine cup horses.
3. ENEMY (Ian Williams, William Buick) 29/1
Showed promise early in his career for John Gosden, and in France last year, but he has really come good since joining these connections. Impressive Musselburgh handicap winner in April, and he followed that up with a half-length defeat to Princess Zoe in the Group 3 Sagaro; troubled run. Didn’t have the race run to suit in the Group 3 Henry II at Sandown last time (held up where the leaders didn’t come back), but even his very best form leaves him with something to find on these terms.
4. KYPRIOS (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore) 6/4
Beautifully-bred Galileo colt who had only made the track on four occasions prior to his 4yo campaign. Very impressive when landing a pair of 1m6f pattern races in Ireland earlier this season, and he confirmed himself the new staying superstar on the block when landing the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; Stradivarius third. Won’t be inconvenienced by dropping back to 2m and there’s every chance we haven’t seen the best of him yet; one to beat.
5. NATE THE GREAT (Andrew Balding, Tom Marquand) 40/1
Ultra-consistent on the all-weather over the winter and carried his form onto the turf with an impressive 7l victory at Newmarket in May. Followed that run up with an 18/1 second to Quickthorn (Group 2 winner since) in the Henry II at Sandown, but he absolutely bombed out when 15/2 for the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot last time. No obvious excuses for that showing and it may just be that his busy spell is beginning to catch up with him.
6. STRADIVARIUS (John & Thady Gosden, Andrea Atzeni) 5/2
King of the staying division whose four wins in this race make him the most successful horse in the history of the Goodwood Cup. Missed his engagement last year due to the soft ground, but his subsequent form figures read an impressive 112313, looking unfortunate in the Gold Cup last time when only seeing daylight late on. Regular pilot Frankie Dettori is now removed in favour of Andrea Atzeni (who is 3-3 when riding) and his record here at Goodwood has to make him of serious interest, for all that there is now a growing suspicion that his dominance is beginning to wane.
7. THUNDEROUS (Charlie & Mark Johnston, Franny Norton) 29/1
Hasn’t really kicked on from a 2020 Dante win, a weaker renewal than usual due to the Coronavirus pandemic (ran post-Derby). Record since then is 0-9, but he did go close in the Ormonde at Chester in May and gave Stradivarius a race in the Yorkshire Cup. Not at that level since though, failing to see out 2m in the Henry II before finishing lame when trailing home last of three in the Group 3 Silver Cup at York. Yard has a good record in this event, but it would be a huge shock if this lad was to play a major part in proceedings.
8. TRUESHAN (Alan King, Hollie Doyle) 5/2
Hardy stayer who took his winning sequence to five with an exceptional weight-carrying performance in the Northumberland Plate last month (carried 10st 8lb). Scythed through the mud to land this race 12 months ago, and twice got the better of Stradivarius at the backend of last season. Withdrawn on multiple occasions on account of quick ground, so the dry forecast would be an obvious concern, but if he takes his chance he would have to be considered a big player once again.
9. PRINCESS ZOE (Anthony Mullins, Joey Sheridan) 14/1
Talented mare who brought up a five-timer when landing the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in October 2020. Gained her first win since then when taking the Sagaro at Ascot in April, form which has been boosted by the runner-up Quickthorn since. Not quite at her best in the Gold Cup last time out, where the ground was possibly a little quick for her liking. Similar conditions are expected here, and she should, therefore, once again find at least a couple too good.
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Verdict
Stradivarius didn’t get much luck in running when third in the Gold Cup last time and given new rider Andrea Atzeni is 3-3 aboard, and Stradivarius is 4-4 at this track, there’s plenty in his favour. There is a niggling suspicion that he’s no longer the force of old in this division, however, and it’s the new kid on the block KYPRIOS who’s taken to land the spoils. This colt didn’t exactly have the smoothest passage himself at Ascot, but still managed to get the job done and this drop in trip looks, if anything, a plus for his chances. There’s obviously a concern as to how much that last race took out of him, but given it wasn’t the truest of tests at the trip and that he’s still fairly unexposed on the back of just seven starts, you’re clutching at straws for reasons to be firmly against him. Last year’s winner Trueshan may put it up most to the selection for all that ground quicker than good would put his participation in doubt. Coltrane is a very progressive sort who should ultimately be winning Group races, but this is by far his toughest test to date, and he may have to settle for minor money.
- KYPRIOS
- Trueshan
- Coltrane
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