15.05
GoodAl Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)
- Prize money: £283550
- 2m 0f 0y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
5/2 (Won)
- Win: £5.30
- Place: £1.90
Form: 27-151
Last run: 19 days
W: 8st 12lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (1) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 6f 0y |
9st 10lb |
Won four of his five races at three; improved with cheekpieces after Queen's Vase fifth, won a 1m5f Group 3 at Newmarket by almost 9l and mastering older stablemate Illinois in the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); dug deep to hold off Rahiebb on soft ground in the St Leger; readily coped with Dallas Star at Navan last month and now continues on the Kyprios route to the Gold Cup. |
2/9 |
|
1st 2 (4) |
25th Apr 2026 Yielding 1m 6f 0y |
9st 10lb |
Won four of his five races at three, the exception when a close-up fifth behind Carmers in the 1m6f Queen's Vase; improved with cheekpieces, winning a five-runner 1m5f Group 3 at Newmarket by almost 9l and mastering older stablemate Illinois in the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); dug deep to hold off Rahieb on soft ground in the St Leger (Carmers fifth); top-class stayer. |
4/5 |
|
1st 5 (7) |
13th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 1m 6f 115y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Plenty went wrong for him racing wide in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot but he rallied strongly for a close fifth, just behind three of today's rivals; much better with cheekpieces since, winning a five-runner Group 3 at Newmarket (1m5f) by nearly 9l and outgunning his older stablemate Illinois in their duel for the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); that makes him look the strongest stayer in this field and gives him almost the best form. |
6/4 |
6/4
- Place: £1.20
Form: 221-12
Last run: 40 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 (6) |
7th May 2026 Good 1m 5f 84y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Ran as if something was amiss in the Irish St Leger on last appearance; very consistent otherwise and justified favouritism in this contest (good) 12 months ago, prior to second-place finishes in two Cup races; beaten only a neck by stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger; respected in rematch with that rival. |
3/1 |
|
7th 5 (7) |
14th Sep 2025 Good To Yielding 1m 6f 0y |
9st 10lb |
Very consistent high-class stayer; narrowly beaten in last year's St Leger at Doncaster and beat Al Qareem on seasonal return in Ormonde Stakes (Chester) before second placings in both Ascot Gold Cup and when outstayed by stablemate Scandinavia in 2m Goodwood Cup, having made the running; cheekpieces now tried and big player. |
15/8 |
|
2nd 3 (8) |
29th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Sometimes hangs under pressure but he's a resolute galloper who races prominently and can make the running if necessary; superbly reliable since last May and although he's not yet won a Group 1, he's been second in three of them, including last year's St Leger and last month's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; another leading role looks assured. |
6/4 |
9/1
- Place: £1.55
Form: 212-34 C
Last run: 40 days
W: 9st 12lb
6 yo Colt
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 (4) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty. |
Evs |
|
1st 2 (9) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player. |
2/1 |
|
2 (4) |
18th Oct 2025 Good 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and was third and second in the last two runnings of this race; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last month when winning his second Doncaster Cup and while he had the edge over third-placed Trawlerman in this 12 months ago, he's found that rival too tough to crack in their two clashes this season. |
5/1 |
12/1
Form: 30-354
Last run: 38 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 (5) |
1st May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Peak efforts were as a 3yo but reappearance at Meydan this January saw his first win since 2023; nearly won another 1m6f Group 3 there next time, before a headstrong display (set up big lead) saw him tail off in 2m Dubai Gold Cup five weeks ago; the latter was in blinkers (first time since September) which are unsurprisingly left off today; thereabouts if bouncing back. |
8/1 |
|
4 (8) |
12th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 2m 1f 197y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
No win since Group 1 as 2yo; good third, however, in the 14.5f St Leger here one year ago and only half a length behind Sweet William when trying 2m in the Goodwood Cup on penultimate outing; hampered at 1m4f latest; into new territory over this trip but Goodwood Cup suggests he is a serious player. |
5/1 |
|
4th 5 (4) |
29th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Probably okay on any going; runner-up in last season's Irish Derby and third in the St Leger; those are the clear highlights in form terms but his always-prominent fourth of 12 in Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last month in first-time blinkers was much more like it again; this is a new trip but he's stuck to his task well on those best efforts over 1m4f/14.5f. |
12/1 |
5/1
Form: 11-211 C
Last run: 42 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 (4) |
16th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Won two 1m6f handicaps last term, latterly in taking style from off the pace at Royal Ascot (good to firm) when wearing headgear first time; gelded and back to that sort of form when third of six in Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f) 15 days ago, albeit not getting to grips with the leaders; no headgear that day (he has also tried a visor) but he's now fitted with first-time cheekpieces; bit to find if others are on their game. |
6/1 |
|
3rd 3 (1) |
1st May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Won two 1m6f handicaps last term, latterly in taking style from off the pace at Royal Ascot (good to firm) when blinkered first time; slowly away on both subsequent starts, looking as if he was stretched by 2m in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup on first occasion (creditable) but tailed-off second favourite in the Ebor last time (visored; raced wide and made most); back to 1m4f, with headgear removed and needs overall improvement but the gelding operation may have helped. |
13/2 |
|
21th 1 (22) |
23rd Aug 2025 Good To Firm 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Won 1m6f handicaps this term at Goodwood (good) and Royal Ascot (good to firm), in the latter blinkered first time and passing 11 of 15 rivals in the last 2f for a clearcut success, for which he's 8lb higher today; slow-starting fifth of eight in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup but that was creditable, particularly as it looked as if he was stretched by 2m; resumption of progress from this lightly raced 4yo in first-time visor may be possible. |
10/1 |
25/1
Form: 4/1193 D
Last run: 40 days
W: 9st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 (7) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Won Group 3 (1m6f, good) and Group 2 (2m, good) races at Meydan early last year and he's very much of interest on that form; however, not at the same level subsequently and he was a soundly beaten fourth behind Sweet William in the Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot (2m, good to firm) recently. |
20/1 |
|
4th 6 (5) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Has delivered smart efforts almost every season since 2020 (missed 2024) and last year's win in the 2m Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan was one of his best; that campaign went the wrong way and he did not perk up when returning for Dubai Gold Cup (20-1) five weeks ago, but holds a cracking chance if returning to his best. |
16/1 |
|
6th 4 (3) |
22nd Aug 2025 Good To Firm 2m 0f 56y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in a steadily run race; held up in rear with a hood added when he emerged in a well-beaten third to Trawlerman in the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, which was well short of his best form, as was his his sixth of eight in the 2m Goodwood Cup; today's stamina test is also likely to ask him too big a question. |
25/1 |
20/1
Form: 21-272
Last run: 51 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 (4) |
2nd May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 2 |
9st 10lb |
AW Listed winner for the Gosdens in November 2024 but he hasn't been near that form since a Listed second last June; second and third places early this year came in small fields and other options look more solid. |
20/1 |
|
5th 3 (4) |
6th Apr 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 1f 219y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Latest win came in a Listed race over 1m4f here for the Gosdens in November 2024 but he hasn't been at his best in five starts for this yard; needs a major revival. |
12/1 |
|
12th 1 (5) |
28th Mar 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 2f 219y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Ex-Gosden 5yo; something of a revival with his second and third in small fields at Lingfield (1m2f) on last two outings for current yard, the latter a Group 3; bit more to prove back in the different scenario of this handicap but, with 7lb claimer recruited, he's not entirely dismissed. |
12/1 |
40/1
Form: 4223-4 CD
Last run: 65 days
W: 9st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 (7) |
29th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Needs good ground or softer; grand stayer who has been first, third and fourth on his three appearances in the Goodwood Cup; not disgraced on return in France this May and he got seriously involved every time last season after his first run, but he's a 9yo now and it would be rolling back the years to see him top of the pile today. |
40/1 |
|
2nd 5 (2) |
13th Sep 2024 Good 2m 1f 197y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
Tricky to settle; beaten a neck by Coltrane in this race in 2022 but he went one better against Sweet William in it in 2023; as in those races, he's usually been kept to ground softer than good, but he was allowed to take his chance on good going on last two starts, hammering his rivals in a Listed race at Sandown but finishing just over 4l adrift of Sweet William and Gregory in the Goodwood Cup last time; a staying star of previous campaigns but on this season's evidence he needs a bit extra. |
4/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £17.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £10.98 |
| Tricast | £28.17 |
| Trifecta | £52.90 |
Selections
Daily Record:
French Master