There are few handicaps as difficult to work out as the Stewards’ Cup, but as 28 runners prepare to descend down Goodwood’s straight, Joe Napier attempts to find the top three.
In heavy going that was in sharp contrast to the likely conditions this year, Aberama Gold sluiced through the mud to claim a second success in four years for trainer David O’Meara.
DARK TROOPER
(Alban De Mieulle/James Doyle)
A switch to Alban De Mieulle’s operation in Qatar did not look to have worked after three below par efforts in the Middle East over the winter and early spring. However, since the French-born trainer sent this four-year-old back to Europe, he has begun to reap rewards, winning easily at Saint-Cloud before going down by just half a length in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
He flew home that day, with the winning post coming just too soon, and a 3lb rise is more than manageable. The question marks arise when it comes to the suitability of this test, which will be quicker for a horse who gets 7f and only stayed on late over Ascot’s far stiffer test. Nevertheless, he is very likely to be involved if not getting behind.
ALBASHEER
(Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle)
Since finishing eighth in this last year on unsuitable ground, Archie Watson deserves a lot of credit for the success of Albasheer in handicap company. From a mark of 95, his form figures in handicaps alone reads 1845117021. Breaking that down equals four wins in ten starts, two more each-way results, while the 0 represents his entirely luckless 18th of 25 in the Wokingham when getting no run.
Hollie Doyle has since had much more success delivering him late over 5f, resulting in a win at Ascot last weekend. That has given him a 5lb penalty here, officially making him 2lb wrong given a narrow margin of victory, but this 6f trip, particularly at this venue, should be ideal on good-to-firm ground. He arrives in form with a good chance.
PUROSANGUE
(Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy)
Very speedily bred, Purosangue will attempt to be the first three-year-old winner since 2019. That said, the broad weight of history is against him, with only four of his age group winning since 1984, even though three of those have arrived since 2015.
Form wise, there are reasons to be hopeful, with the son of Aclaim having run in Group races on all four starts this term. He was a very respectable ninth of 17 in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and was beaten less than a length in a Sandown Group 3 latest. Both of those were over 5f though, and while this is a quick 6f, he is no guarantee to prove well-treated even though he is 4lb well-in at the weights. Softer ground may be his preferred choice too.
LETHAL LEVI
(Karl Burke/Clifford Lee)
As is often the case with sprint handicappers a little below Pattern quality, Lethal Levi can be difficult to predict. This season, he has been impressive after a slow start, with heavy defeats at Newmarket and York swiftly put behind him with victory at Newbury, fourth in the Wokingham and second at the July meeting.
Those three runs have put him up 7lb to a mark of 98, and he has never won above a rating of 92 before. However, once he gets in form, he is usually consistent, so while he is an unlikely winner in terms of belying his loftier handicapping status, he could give his running if Goodwood’s track is not inconvenient – he was an odds-on failure on his only prior start at the course.
THE FIELD
Where do you start?
Summerghand won this four years ago and is still cracking on aged ten. This race usually gave him too much to do even when he possessed younger legs though; Mr Wagyu could prove a more viable veteran to follow, though at least a couple should prove better treated than him too.
Apollo One had a case of seconditis when runner-up in this a year ago and remains 2lb above that mark. He could well go close again without winning, while Billyjoh is another often finding at least one too good, as was the case over 7f on Wednesday.
All of Dream Composer, Fivethousandtoone and Rumstar are course and distance winners. Of those, the last-named has the best chance of doing so again. Of the outsiders, look out for Dare To Hope under top Hong Kong jockey Vincent Ho, who has run three really good races over 6f on turf this term compared to one flop, and may still have room to improve off a mark of 90. Get It and Glenfinnan may also go well.
The ones to focus on down the market may be the Gosden pair, however. Cover Up was in great form on the all-weather before returning to turf in the Wokingham, in which the tactics ensured he wasted too much energy trying to make ground. This course promises to suit, though the more interesting one is Mostabshir, who has run some very high class races on his day, and has shaped on his last two starts that dropping back to this shorter trip than ever could prove of benefit.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Goodwood Tips – Weekend Value in Four Tips for Saturday
Saturday heralds the final day of Glorious Goodwood 2024. Matty Sutcliffe aims to end the week on a high with four best bets. 1:50 Goodwood – Coral Glorious Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Lion’s Pride 11/2 1.5pt WIN LION’S PRIDE has always been held in high regard by the team at Clarehaven, and…
Thu 01 Aug 2024VERDICT
Though this race can sometimes prove a lottery in-running, Dark Trooper and Albasheer can be expected to go close, the former having run so well at Royal Ascot, and the latter in great form more generally. Neither provide great betting value given the size of field and pace in the race though, and it is worth a gamble on MOSTABSHIR, who has looked very classy at his best, but has shaped like he may be a sprinter despite earlier success at 1m. His fourth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting has worked out very well and he was much closer a furlong out. Plenty of others have credible claims, but Dare To Hope possesses the fanciest price for each-way backers, though Apollo One, Rumstar and Cover Up have factors going for them too.
- Mostabshir
- Dare To Hope
- Dark Trooper
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