July 29 / 15.05 Goodwood

15.05

Good

Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)

  • Prize money: £283550
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
ITV
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Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)

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

Form & Verdict
Plenty went wrong for him racing wide in the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot but he rallied strongly for a close fifth; built on that with first-time cheekpieces in five-runner Group 3 at Newmarket (1m5f, again good to firm) 19 days ago, going on over 3f out and galloping nearly 9l clear, which suggests he can be a leading candidate for this big 2m prize.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(3)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Scandinavia

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Plenty went wrong for him in the Queen's Vase here one year ago (still a close fifth) but unbeaten with cheekpieces added for his five starts since; that includes the St Leger at Doncaster (by a neck from Rahiebb) in September and two 1m6f events this spring (familiar route to this race for his stable) but also, and perhaps most tellingly, the 2m Goodwood Cup last July in which he asserted late on from last year's Gold Cup second; high class and there's plenty in those 1m6f/2m performances which suggests he will be a thorough stayer.

7/4

1st

1

(1)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

19:22 Leopardstown

Scandinavia

9st 10lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

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

15:05 Navan

Scandinavia

9st 10lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

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

OUR TIP

6/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 221-12

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(2)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 4y

16:25 Curragh

Illinois

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

2024 Queen's Vase winner; second in last year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (good to firm) and runner-up again in the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); flopped when favourite for the Irish St Leger won by Al Riffa; satisfactory return in Ormonde at Chester before a dismal Coronation Cup run; bounced back from that when landing the Queen Alexandra.

2/1

1st

8

(13)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Illinois

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Finished runner-up in last year's Gold Cup here (good to firm) and second again in the Goodwood version (2m, good), only narrowly failing to concede 14lb to Scandinavia; crystal clear claims on these favourable terms if returning to that level of form but he wasn't at his best when bidding for a second Ormonde at Chester and ran abysmally in the recent Coronation Cup when under the pump from a worryingly early stage (unwise to blame the rain-hit ground when he has soft-ground form); hard to dismiss but in equal measure he's hard to trust.

3/1

6th

4

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Illinois

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up in two Cup races last term; only a neck behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger but was beaten about 5l by that opponent last month when bidding for a second success in the Ormonde at Chester, doing nothing to close their current ratings differential; perhaps in here to set the pace and ensure a proper test.

40/1

9/1

  • Place: £1.55

Form: 212-34 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but took well to the visor last season and nearly always gives his running; one exception was last month's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, in which he was ridden much closer to the pace than usual; likely to bounce back from that and taking second in this race last year, as well as winning the 2m2f Doncaster Cup in good style, helps to show he's well capable of finishing on the premises.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(9)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Third and fourth in the last two renewals of this race and his 19l defeat last year was the only time in his career that he's finished out of the top three; being ridden closer to the pace that day seemingly backfired, as he's usually smuggled into each-way contention in the closing stages; beat Caballo De Mar (who gave 2lb) in one tight finish this year and not quite able to reel in Dubai Future in another; probably as good as ever but winning the Gold Cup may again prove a bit beyond him.

16/1

2nd

1

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

14:35 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

12/1

Form: 30-354

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
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.
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

15:30 Newmarket

Sunway

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: David Menuisier

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

15:00 Doncaster

Sunway

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

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

15:05 Goodwood

Sunway

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

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

Form: 11-211 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Overcame trouble in running to snatch a handicap here (1m6f, good) in May; blinkered first time when continuing his relentless rise in a handicap at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm), passing 11 of his 15 rivals in the last 2f for a clearcut success; style of his wins offers clear scope for better still over 2m and, although further improvement is needed, it will be no shock if this lightly raced 4yo can mix it at this level today or very soon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(6)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

French Master

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

First-time blinkers when he was a very taking winner of last year's Copper Horse Stakes (1m6f, good to firm) at this meeting in which he came from well behind to win going away; gelded and, in no headgear, returned to that level of form when third in Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f) on reappearance, only to then finish last of the five in new cheekpieces (retained) in the Group 3 Aston Park at Newbury; however, the first two home at Newbury were Group 1 horses, and on reflection it wasn't that bad a run; the burning question is whether he'll stay.

5/1

5th

3

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

French Master

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

15:30 Newmarket

French Master

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: John & Thady Gosden

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

Form: 4/1193 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
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; heavy defeat in France in May next time but, held up in rear with a hood added, he then emerged in a well-beaten third in the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot; while that was well short of his best form and he finished 7l behind Illinois, this shorter trip boosts his chance of narrowing the gap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(5)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Dubai Future

9st 4lb

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

10yo who has generally fared much better in the Middle East than in Britain but showed far too much toe for the others when stealing a march on Sweet William in 2m Group 3 at Sandown on latest start (hung on by a neck); never remotely near the principals when 14l third in this last year and he's probably not the out-and-out stayer that's required to win it.

50/1

1st

3

(7)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Dubai Future

9st 4lb

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

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

14:35 Ascot

Dubai Future

9st 4lb

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

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

Form: 21-272

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Made a big splash with three wins from four starts last term, notably with a 1m4f Listed success on AW; cheekpieces have gone on this season, with two solid seconds either side of a modest show in Bahrain; going down by a neck in Listed race here last time was easily his best turf form, over 1m4f on soft, so today's trip and likely ground pose major questions, but his form is not far behind that of today's principals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(7)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Military Academy

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

1m4f AW Listed winner for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW last winter but reverted to lesser efforts on his four outings this spring.

66/1

7th

3

(11)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 2

17:20 Epsom

Military Academy

9st 8lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

1m4f AW Listed winner (also acts on good to soft and softer) for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW this winter but he's been below par on his last three starts; soft ground would enhance his cause but others are more solid.

33/1

5th

3

(4)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Military Academy

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

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

40/1

Form: 4223-4 CD

Last run: 65 days

W: 9st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
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.
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

15:05 Goodwood

Trueshan

9st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

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

15:35 Doncaster

Trueshan

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

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

POSTDATA:

French Master

SPOTLIGHT:

Scandinavia

D Express:

Military Academy

RP RATINGS:

Illinois

The Guardian:

Sunway

TOPSPEED:

Trueshan

Daily Mail:

Scandinavia

Daily Mirror:

Scandinavia

The Star:

Scandinavia

The Times:

French Master

Telegraph:

French Master

The Sun:

French Master

Daily Record:

French Master