July 26 / 15.35 Goodwood

15.35 Goodwood

Good

Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Prize money: £283550
2m 0f 0y
Class 1
9 runners

ITV

View Course

Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

1 (6)

Away He Goes

J: Jim Crowley

T: Ismail Mohammed

Form: 3527-6

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Well beaten in the Hardwicke (1m4f) at Royal Ascot on last month's reappearance and he's hard to fancy on the vast majority of his form; however, he may have needed that last run and his two attempts at 2m have yielded a third in the Dubai Gold Cup last March (good ground) and a 33-1 second in this race 12 months ago (soft; about 4l behind Trueshan); an each-way possible.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
12th 1 (7)	4th Mar 2023 Good 1m 4f 11y	12:05 Meydan Away He Goes 9st 0lb J: Bernardo Pinheiro T: Ismail Mohammed	slowly into stride, never near to challenge	16/1
5th 2 (2)	17th Feb 2023 Good 1m 6f 11y	16:20 Meydan Away He Goes 9st 0lb J: Mickael Barzalona T: Ismail Mohammed	tracked leaders, ran on same pace final furlong	12/1
2nd 4 (1)	20th Jan 2023 Good 1m 6f 11y	16:55 Meydan Away He Goes 9st 0lb J: Mickael Barzalona T: Ismail Mohammed	near rear, ran on very well final 2f, nearest finish	7/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

12th

(7)

4th Mar 2023

Good

1m 4f 11y

9st 0lb

slowly into stride, never near to challenge

16/1

5th

(2)

17th Feb 2023

Good

1m 6f 11y

9st 0lb

tracked leaders, ran on same pace final furlong

12/1

2nd

(1)

20th Jan 2023

Good

1m 6f 11y

9st 0lb

near rear, ran on very well final 2f, nearest finish

7/1

2 (3)

Coltrane

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Form: -42211 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict

Won the Melrose Handicap at York in 2020 and, having missed nearly all of last year, things have really clicked of late with wins in the Ascot Stakes (2m4f, good to firm) and at Sandown (2m, good; Listed); faces much tougher opposition here but he bolted up by 10l last time and it was a performance that suggests this highly progressive stayer could be a force in Cup races.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 1 (6)	11th Sep 2022 Good To Soft 2m 1f 197y Class 1	14:45 Doncaster Coltrane 9st 7lb J: David Probert T: Andrew Balding	in touch with leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and disputing second over 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on	6/1
2nd 1 (5)	19th Aug 2022 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 1	14:25 York Coltrane 9st 5lb J: Rob Hornby T: Andrew Balding	in touch with leaders, prominent in chasing group after 3f, chased clear leader halfway, pushed along home turn, ridden and no chance with winner from over 3f out, kept on and just held second	3/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

(6)

11th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

9st 7lb

in touch with leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and disputing second over 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on

6/1

2nd

(5)

19th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

9st 5lb

in touch with leaders, prominent in chasing group after 3f, chased clear leader halfway, pushed along home turn, ridden and no chance with winner from over 3f out, kept on and just held second

3/1

3 (1)

Enemy

J: William Buick

T: Ian Williams

Form: -94135

Last run: 61 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Others have stronger form but he's been better than ever this season for his new yard, and was denied a clear run when a very close third to Princess Zoe in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) in April; on the wrong end of a pace bias at Sandown subsequently and not ruled out each-way.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
8th 3 (7)	25th Mar 2023 Good 2m 0f 0y	12:40 Meydan Enemy 9st 1lb J: Richard Kingscote T: Ian Williams	never near to challenge	9/1
1st 1 (13)	6th Jan 2023 Good 1m 4f 11y	14:35 Meydan Enemy 9st 11lb J: Richard Kingscote T: Ian Williams	slowly into stride, settled in rear, smooth progress 2 1/2f out, led final furlong	16/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

8th

(7)

25th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

9st 1lb

never near to challenge

9/1

1st

(13)

6th Jan 2023

Good

1m 4f 11y

9st 11lb

slowly into stride, settled in rear, smooth progress 2 1/2f out, led final furlong

16/1

4 (8)

Kyprios

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 14-111

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 119

Form & Verdict

Lightly raced 4yo who is 3-3 this season and has shown much-improved form, winning twice over 1m6f in Ireland (Listed/Group 3) before landing the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (2m4f, good to firm) last month; the close third Stradivarius was denied a clear run at Royal Ascot but this fellow defied his own disadvantage having been wide on the turn for home; should have no problem with the drop back in trip and this rising staying star holds leading claims.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 4 (6)	11th Sep 2022 Good To Yielding 1m 6f 0y	16:10 Curragh Kyprios 9st 11lb J: Ryan Moore T: A P O’Brien	pushed along and prominent early, headway and went second over 3f out, pushed along to lead over 2f out, soon ridden and 2 lengths ahead, ridden out final 110yds, reduced lead towards finish	4/7

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

(6)

11th Sep 2022

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

9st 11lb

pushed along and prominent early, headway and went second over 3f out, pushed along to lead over 2f out, soon ridden and 2 lengths ahead, ridden out final 110yds, reduced lead towards finish

4/7

5 (9)

Nate The Great

J: Tom Marquand

T: Andrew Balding

Form: 314120 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict

Prominent-racer who has shown career-best form this season, easily winning a handicap at Newmarket (1m6f, good) before a creditable second in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown (2m, good); may not have stayed 2m5f at Royal Ascot but has something to find here even if bouncing back.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 2 (2)	19th Aug 2022 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 1	14:25 York Nate The Great 9st 5lb J: William Buick T: Andrew Balding	tracked leader, prominent in chasing group after 3f, lost second halfway, ridden and dropped to last home turn, weakened over 3f out	33/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

(2)

19th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

9st 5lb

tracked leader, prominent in chasing group after 3f, lost second halfway, ridden and dropped to last home turn, weakened over 3f out

33/1

OUR TIP

6 (7)

Stradivarius

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: John & Thady Gosden

Form: 123-13 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 11lb

8 yo Horse

OR: 118

Form & Verdict

Won this race four times in a row, including under Andrea Atzeni (in 2017 and 2018) who replaces regular partner Frankie Dettori; missed last year's renewal due to unsuitable soft ground; he doesn't have the same aura of invincibility as in the past but his form is still high class and he was denied a clear run when third (beaten about 1l) to Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup last month; should be bang there.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5 (6)	19th Aug 2022 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 1	14:25 York Stradivarius 9st 5lb J: Andrea Atzeni T: John & Thady Gosden	Effervescent and seemingly ever-present at or near the top of the staying division; that includes wins in this race in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and he's also won three Yorkshire Cups, which makes him unbeaten in his six races at York; while not quite the force of old these days, he still gave Gold Cup winner Kyprios a big fright in the Goodwood Cup last month, just ahead of Trueshan, and looks set to throw down another powerful late challenge.	11/8

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

(6)

19th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Stradivarius

9st 5lb

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: John & Thady Gosden

Effervescent and seemingly ever-present at or near the top of the staying division; that includes wins in this race in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and he's also won three Yorkshire Cups, which makes him unbeaten in his six races at York; while not quite the force of old these days, he still gave Gold Cup winner Kyprios a big fright in the Goodwood Cup last month, just ahead of Trueshan, and looks set to throw down another powerful late challenge.

11/8

7 (5)

Thunderous

J: Franny Norton

T: Charlie & Mark Johnston

Form: -62243

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Gave Stradivarius a race when a front-running second in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, good) in May and respectable fourth in Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown (2m, good) 13 days later; found to be lame when well beaten at York 17 days ago; very much up against it here even if back on song.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 1 (13)	17th Aug 2022 Good To Firm 2m 0f 56y Class 2	16:10 York Thunderous 9st 12lb J: Ryan Moore T: Charlie & Mark Johnston	prominent, pressed leader 8f out, pushed along from over 3f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, lost position from under 2f out, weakened inside final furlong	10/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

(13)

17th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Thunderous

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Charlie & Mark Johnston

prominent, pressed leader 8f out, pushed along from over 3f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, lost position from under 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

10/1

8 (4)

Trueshan

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Form: 111-11 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict

Two Group 1 wins last year (2m/2m4f, slow ground), clearcut in this race, and he was hugely impressive when defying a mammoth mark in last month's Northumberland Plate (2m, AW); very tough to beat if getting his preferred slow going, which looks unlikely, and fast ground would almost certainly mean he'd be a non-runner; good ground is a grey area in terms of both participation and performance (2-3 on such a surface with the last encounter in 2020).

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 6 (5)	11th Sep 2022 Good To Soft 2m 1f 197y Class 1	14:45 Doncaster Trueshan 9st 7lb J: Hollie Doyle T: Alan King	raced freely, held up in last, held up in behind leaders over 5f out, pushed along and headway on outer over 3f out, hard ridden and disputing second over 2f out, wandered around over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong	1/3
7 (3)	19th Aug 2022 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 1	14:25 York Trueshan 9st 5lb J: Hollie Doyle T: Alan King	Eighth in the 2020 Ebor on his only run at York; emerged as a top stayer immediately after that, added two Group 1 wins last year and produced an almighty performance in a handicap to take the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (AW) this June; repeatedly withdrawn on good to firm and his third in the Goodwood Cup last month (just over 1l behind Stradivarius) suggests he is vulnerable on good, but he will be very tough to beat if the ground is softer.	5/6

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

(5)

11th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

9st 7lb

raced freely, held up in last, held up in behind leaders over 5f out, pushed along and headway on outer over 3f out, hard ridden and disputing second over 2f out, wandered around over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong

1/3

(3)

19th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

9st 5lb

Eighth in the 2020 Ebor on his only run at York; emerged as a top stayer immediately after that, added two Group 1 wins last year and produced an almighty performance in a handicap to take the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (AW) this June; repeatedly withdrawn on good to firm and his third in the Goodwood Cup last month (just over 1l behind Stradivarius) suggests he is vulnerable on good, but he will be very tough to beat if the ground is softer.

5/6

9 (2)

Princess Zoe

J: J M Sheridan

T: Anthony Mullins

Form: 25-016 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict

Won the Group 1 Prix du Cadran (2m4f, heavy) in October 2020 and 5l runner-up in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (2m4f, good to firm) last year; landed the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) in April but only sixth in the Ascot Gold Cup last month and looks vulnerable once more.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 16	16th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 0f 179y Class 1	16:50 Cheltenham Princess Zoe 11st 2lb J: Danny Mullins T: Anthony Mullins	High-class Flat stayer with Group 1 honours on the board and the recent rain is a blessing; however, has left it late to go hurdling and will need to jump with greater conviction than at Punchestown (2m4f, soft) where joined on the line by Ladybank; drop to 2m is a further cause for concern.	16/1
1st 6	30th Jan 2023 Soft 2m 4f 70y	13:57 Punchestown Princess Zoe 11st 7lb J: Danny Mullins T: Anthony Mullins	raced freely, prominent, disputed lead after 1st, led 3rd, not fluent 5th, went clear home turn, reduced lead last, ridden and faced strong challenge run-in, kept on but joined post	5/4
6th 8 (9)	11th Sep 2022 Good To Yielding 1m 6f 0y	16:10 Curragh Princess Zoe 9st 8lb J: J M Sheridan T: Anthony Mullins	towards rear of midfield, pushed along under 4f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out	20/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

16th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

11st 2lb

High-class Flat stayer with Group 1 honours on the board and the recent rain is a blessing; however, has left it late to go hurdling and will need to jump with greater conviction than at Punchestown (2m4f, soft) where joined on the line by Ladybank; drop to 2m is a further cause for concern.

16/1

1st

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 70y

11st 7lb

raced freely, prominent, disputed lead after 1st, led 3rd, not fluent 5th, went clear home turn, reduced lead last, ridden and faced strong challenge run-in, kept on but joined post

5/4

6th

(9)

11th Sep 2022

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

9st 8lb

towards rear of midfield, pushed along under 4f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out

20/1

Betting Forcast

33/1 Away He Goes, 7/1 Coltrane, 50/1 Enemy, 13/8 Kyprios, 66/1 Nate The Great, 11/4 Stradivarius, 66/1 Thunderous, 5/2 Trueshan, 20/1 Princess Zoe

Verdict

Stradivarius is 4-4 in this race (missed last year due to soft ground) and was denied a clear run when third in last month's Ascot Gold Cup. He is taken to turn the tables on the Ascot winner Kyprios, who is having his first run here, although the Ballydoyle 4yo was wide on the home turn at the Royal meeting so deserves extra credit for his performance and is entitled to considerable respect. However, there is another possible new staying star on the block in COLTRANE, who was extremely impressive in a Listed race at Sandown last time and can take this rise in grade in his stride. Last year's winner Trueshan is unlikely to have his favoured slow ground and has always been a non-runner on a fast surface, but it will be intriguing to see if he participates - and how he performs - if good going prevails.[Ben Hutton]