The Coral Stewards’ Cup is the feature handicap on the fifth and final day of Glorious Goodwood and our trends expert has delved into the recent renewals to provide some pointers to help narrow down the field for this year’s race. Check this out below, along with an exclusive Kwiff offer, which is providing a £20 Surprise Bet to new customers when they bet £10.
STEWARDS’ CUP (15:00 Goodwood, Saturday, July 30th)
Last Ten Winners
2021 – Commanche Falls (Michael Dods, Connor Beasley) 10/1
2020 – Summerghand (David O’Meara, Daniel Tudhope) 22/1
2019 – Khaadem (Charles Hills, Jim Crowley) 4/1F
2018 – Gifted Master (Hugo Palmer, Jason Watson) 20/1
2017 – Lancelot Du Lac (Dean Ivory, Frankie Dettori) 25/1
2016 – Dancing Star (Andrew Balding, David Probert) 9/2F
2015 – Magical Memory (Charles Hills, Frankie Dettori) 6/1F
2014 – Intrinsic (Robert Cowell, Richard Hughes) 6/1
2013 – Rex Imperator (William Haggas, Neil Callan) 12/1
2012 – Hawkeyethenoo (Jim Goldie, Graham Lee) 9/1
Key Trends
Form: Top 7 Finish Last Time Out (8/10)
Eight of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners had finished in the top seven last time out, and both exceptions had finished down the field at Royal Ascot on their start prior. Four of the last ten winners of the Stewards’ Cup had won last time out, a plus for the likes of Inver Park and Mr Wagyu.
Rating: Officially Rated 101 or Higher (9/10)
Nine of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners held a triple-figure official rating at the time of their victories. The exception was 2014 winner Intrinsic, who was rated 95 at the time of his victory. Almost half of this year’s Stewards’ Cup field holds a double-figure official rating.
Runs: Had 11 or More Previous Runs (7/10)
Experience often comes to the fore in the Stewards’ Cup, as seven of the last ten winners had run 11 or more times previously. Two of the three exceptions to this trend were 3yos.
Class: Previous Class 2 Winner (10/10)
All of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners had won at Class 2 level previously. This is a negative trend for the well-fancied Whenthedealinsdone, who is yet to win above Class 3 level.
Draw: Drawn in Top 10 or Bottom 10 Stalls (8/10)
The draw hasn’t played a huge part in Stewards’ Cups, with winners coming from both sides of the track, but the middle of the pack often isn’t the place to be. Eight of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners were berthed in either the top ten or bottom ten stalls.
Betting: Priced at 20/1 or Shorter (8/10)
The Stewards’ Cup is considered one of the biggest betting races of the season, yet it is a race that punters haven’t faired too badly in, in recent years. Eight of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners were priced at 20/1 or shorter, and the two exceptions were priced 22/1 and 25/1, so anything bigger than that in the market should be avoided.
Last Run: Had Raced in the Last 50 Days (9/10)
Nine of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners had raced in the last 50 days, with the exception being 2014 winner Intrinsic, who hadn’t been seen since scoring at Goodwood in mid-May. Coachello and Typhoon Ten both haven’t been seen since last year.
Headgear: Wore Headgear (5/10)
No firm conclusions can be drawn by headgear with an even 50/50 split between horses that did, and didn’t, wear headgear in the last ten years.
Age: Aged No Older Than 5yo (7/10)
Horses aged 5yo and younger have won seven of the last ten renewals of the Stewards’ Cup, and there’s been only one 7yo winner (Lancelot Du Lac, 2017) during that time.
Trends Outcome
Backing horses officially rated 101 or higher and that had previously won at Class 2 level narrows the Stewards’ Cup field down from 28 to 15.
Eight of the last ten Stewards’ Cup winners had finished in the top seven on their last start, and using that trend a further six runners are removed. Removing horses that were bigger than 20/1, and no older than 5yo, leaves us with a field of just three; Regional, Great Ambassador and POPMASTER.
Regional has only raced ten times previously (7/10 had 11 or more runs) and Great Ambassador is berthed in stall 12 (8/10 drawn in the top ten or bottom ten stalls), so the perfect trends fit for this year’s Stewards’ Cup is POPMASTER.
Ed Walker’s charge comes into this on the back of a fine second in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot, and his last win came at Class 2 level. He’s now 6lb above that winning mark, but these big-field handicaps suit and he’s drawn low in stall 3.