Aidan O’Brien’s Kyprios is a red-hot favourite for the Goodwood Cup and the Ballydoyle raider is the one to beat in Tuesday’s feature race on day one of Glorious Goodwood. Our in-house tipster previews the event here and picks out his 1-2-3 for the Group 1m marathon…
KYPRIOS
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
Undoubtedly the best staying performer in training, Kyprios showed his brilliance when battling to victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last month. Aidan O’Brien’s six-year-old was a winner of this event back in 2022 and with three wins out of three this season he has shown that he is the dominant figure. He was made to work in the Gold Cup last month when beating Trawlerman by a length, but he was always doing enough and if he can turn up with his A game then it’s hard to not see him prevail. A warm order in the betting for this event, Kyprios is the one they all have to beat.
COLTRANE
(Oisin Murphy/Andrew Balding)
A hugely consistent performer that was a winner of the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot two starts ago, but Andrew Balding’s Coltrane was outclassed when fifth in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, where he was well beaten by Kyprios. This will be his third run in this contest and he’s failed to get his head in front yet, but he is sure to run a solid race and will be many punters’ idea of a solid each-way play, however, may lack the class to land the spoils.
GREGORY
(James Doyle/John & Thady Gosden)
Burst on to the scene when winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in 2022, but Gregory has failed to taste victory since and has been a little disappointing for John & Thady Gosden. Well down the field in seventh in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but the four-year-old is much better than that and if he can recapture his best form then he has to be potentially the toughest challenger to Kyprios. He could enjoy the step back in trip for this event, as the Gold Cup distance maybe beyond him, but he’s certainly not the most reliable in the field.
SWEET WILLIAM
(Rab Havlin/John & Thady Gosden)
Runner-up in the Ebor Handicap last season, Sweet William kicked off this season with a fine win in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park. He continued to blossom over marathon events when a career best third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and John & Thady Gosden’s charge is entitled to take a his place here. He is certainly not in the same league as hot favourite Kyprios, but could be another that is a decent each-way play in what will be a real battle for second place.
THE FIELD
Alan King’s Trueshan is proven at the very highest level in the staying division and he won the Coral Marathon at Sandown last time out, but the Barbury Castle inmate will only take his chance if the rain comes, so don’t expect him to run. Second at York last time out, Al Qareem will struggle to make the step up to Group company for this event and looks to be up against it, while Tashkhan completes the line-up and is another that is a big price in this contest.
VERDICT
It’s hard to look beyond KYPRIOS, who has proven to be the best stayer in training and providing he turns up in great form then he will land victory in this event. The race for second place is a fascinating one and if Gregory can recapture his three-year-old form then he has to grab the silver medal, while the hugely consistent Coltrane can bring up the 1-2-3.
2024 Goodwood Cup Predicted 1-2-3
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