15.35
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: Sunny
Form: 124-66 C
Last run: 38 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 (12) |
20th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Unraced on ground slower than good to yielding; disappointing favourite in the Yorkshire Cup on reappearance but that's his only blip in an otherwise progressive career; justified favouritism in the King Edward VII Stakes over C&D at this meeting (good to firm) 12 months ago, taking record at that time to 5-5, then ran well in the Irish St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf; possibilities, provided his upward trajectory is resumed. |
16/1 |
|
6th 2 (2) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Seven races and improved with each one; raised to Group 1 last autumn for his only defeats, when second in the 1m6f Irish St Leger and fourth in the 1m4f Breeders' Cup Turf; one of the top two on form and should have a big shout. |
6/4 |
Form: 50-352 C
Last run: 38 days
W: 9st 12lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 108
| 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 |
9st 4lb |
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 |
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 |
Form: 7-3615
Last run: 9 days
W: 9st 12lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 109
| 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 |
9st 11lb |
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 |
9st 4lb |
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 |
Form: 223-31 D
Last run: 25 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 (1) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Runner-up in the Derby at Epsom last June and kept on well for third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (also 1m4f on good) next time; showed he retains plenty of ability when a 2l third in C&D Group 3 in May (ahead of three of today's rivals), leaving the impression a stronger gallop would have suited; should come on for that first start in 11 months and looks the one to beat. |
4/7 |
|
3rd 8 (2) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Runner-up in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, good) last June and kept on well for third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good) later that month; absent since but this lightly raced 4yo could be suited by the step up in trip and he's a major player if ready to rumble after his absence. |
7/2 |
Form: 342-18
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 9 (10) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Two clashes with Scandinavia last term (Royal Ascot and the St Leger) indicated there was little between them at about 1m6f; progress from 3yo to 4yo has delighted his trainer, backed up with an authoritative win from Al Nayyir in the Yorkshire Cup at York, again over 1m6f; lots to like but the difficulty is knowing how well he will be suited by 2m4f. |
4/1 |
|
1st 6 (3) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Broadly progressive on a range of ground in his first season last year, despite being 0-6 after debut success; beaten a neck from off the pace in the St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, soft) on final start; that makes him one of the form picks in today's field and, although this trip may eventually turn out to be shorter than ideal, he should be a big player. |
7/2 |
Form: 11-111 CD
Last run: 40 days
W: 9st 12lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 123
| 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 |
9st 3lb |
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 |
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 |
Form: 1111-2 C
Last run: 40 days
W: 9st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 122
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 (2) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
High class, a thorough stayer and a right battler, the powerful combination of which were seen to prime effect here as a 7yo last year when he made the running (he doesn't have to) to win the Gold Cup on good to firm by 7l, having been a close second the year before; just as good when he won here on final start last term; it's seemingly been touch and go whether he defends his crown, as he has been denied a preliminary run this time round and has developed a rare eye problem which makes him sensitive to sunlight, but he's the one to beat if judged on those sterling performances of 2025. |
7/2 |
|
3 (2) |
18th Oct 2025 Good 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Battling 7yo who can front-run (doesn't have to) and did so to pulverising effect in the Gold Cup here (2m4f) this June, winning by 7l; that's his career-best form but several runs are not far behind it, including his two other wins this season; latest was from Sweet William at York (2m); won this race in 2023, fair third last year and very much the one to beat this time. |
4/9 |
Form: 11-325 C
Last run: 40 days
W: 9st 9lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 11 (7) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 1lb |
Suited by step up to 2m when winning a Listed event at Newmarket (good) on final start last term; 40-1 and perhaps in need of the race when she ran out of steam behind Sweet William and Caballo De Mar here (2m; beaten 8l) on reappearance, and staying-on second at York (1m6f) next time was better, but there is nothing in her form which suggests she is up to today's task. |
100/1 |
|
2nd 4 (1) |
23rd May 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Upwardly mobile 5yo who seemed suited by the step up to 2m when winning Listed race at Newmarket (good) last autumn; ran creditably against male rivals when 8l third of eight in Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot on return; today's drop back in distance isn't an obvious positive but she may have more in the tank and should give a good account of herself. |
4/1 |
Betting Forcast
16/1 Amiloc, 25/1 French Master, 25/1 Illinois, 16/1 Lazy Griff, 10/1 Rahiebb, 10/11 Scandinavia, 2/1 Trawlerman, 66/1 Miss Alpilles