Watch out for Watan and Tinto in Goodwood's famous Stewards' Cup

The Stewards’ Cup takes centre stage on a bittersweet final day of Glorious Goodwood.
It's the final day of five at Goodwood on Saturday / Picture: Alan Crowhurst, GettyIt's the final day of five at Goodwood on Saturday / Picture: Alan Crowhurst, Getty
It's the final day of five at Goodwood on Saturday / Picture: Alan Crowhurst, Getty

What promised to be an afternoon in the sun in front of a crowd of 5,000 will remain a solemn and relatively silent occasion on the South Downs. Nonetheless, we still have a cracking seven race card.

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1:50: Unibet Stewards’ Sprint Handicap (Class 2):

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We open the account on the final day of Glorious Goodwood with the consolation race for the Stewards’ Cup, as seventeen horses take to the straight six furlongs down the Goodwood straight.

Rewaayet looks like the favourite for Charles Hills and Jim Crowley after drawing to a seven and a half length victory last time out at Salisbury. Only three of the last sixteen favourites have won this affair and it looks a tough ask for Rewaayat after being upped in grade drastically. Fourteen of the last sixteen winners of this contest had a previous run at Goodwood so this is an obvious concern seeing that this is his first time out on the South Downs.

TOMMY G is an intriguing candidate, having finished third in this affair last year. He has a great record at Goodwood and is very versatile with regards to ground. Last time out he finished two lengths behind the Golden Mile handicap favourite Prompting, who bolted up on. He’s off 6lbs lower than last year and should put in another creditable performance with Sivestre De Sousa in the saddle.

May Remain will appreciate this step up in trip to six furlongs but this looks a deeper affair. Considering all of the last fifteen winners did not win last time out, this looks a serious task to overcome.

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Batchelor Boy travelled strongly to stay onto a reasonable fourth over five furlongs at Yarmouth last time out and Ryan Moore takes the ride here today.

The Lamplighter has a good record at Goodwood and has been shaping well recently, he could put in a good performance but will have to to get in the frame.

Primo’s Comet finished fourth in this last year and is 3lbs lower today; he looks like Jim Goldie’s second string behind Tommy G but could run with credit nonetheless.

2:25: Unibet Summer Handicap (Class 2):

The Unibet Summer Handicap is our second race of the day over a mile and three-quarters as ten go to post to battle it out for Class two honours.

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Laafy demands favouritism for the formidable force of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. This term he’s looked his best ever and being upped to this trip should be no problem. The form of his performance last time out looks substantial with those in behind putting in some good runs subsequently. The doubt could come in the ground as four of his last five runs have been on soft ground, therefore returning to firm ground for the first time since May last year may be a cause for concern.

Shailene is an interesting candidate for Andrew Balding having finished third in this last year to King’s Advice. Last time out everything went wrong. He was very slowly away and was denied a clear run, meaning he would’ve finished up a lot closer if not having a torrid time of it. He is dropped 2lbs for that and could capitalise on this drop in the weights. Ryan Moore was on board that day but he has opted to ride Laafy, but that shouldn’t be too much of a cause for concern and neither should the step back up in trip.

Calling The Wind is raised 6lbs for his recent victory at Ascot and he’ll have to keep improving if he wants to land the spoils here.

Mark Johnston unsurprisingly has a very good record in this race and takes three here. Last year’s winner King’s Advice is down 4lbs from his game victory last term but he’s drawn a blank on his nine appearances since. Considering this race is predominantly won by four or five year-old’s, he could be up against it at the age of six and would without doubt need a revival.

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It may be worth siding with one of Mark Johnston’s other runner’s in THEMAXWECAN, aiming to bounce back after a lacklustre effort at Newbury on his last appearance. His run prior to that was an impressive fourth at Royal Ascot and he could be able to build on that now, stepping back down in trip and off the same mark. This ground should suit him and he’s one from one at Goodwood so should put in a bold bid here.

3:00: Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 2):

A top-class field of four line-up for the Lillie Langtry Stakes as last year’s victor and runner up go head to head again.

ENBIHAAR is the strong favourite after shaping like she needed the run in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. She’s due to come on for that run and will relish the ground underfoot. She beat Manuela De Vega by five lengths in that and is up 5lbs since then. She could take the world of beating and won’t find the firm ground too much of a worry.

Manuela De Vega holds strong claims with Harry Bentley in the saddle after a very classy performance in the Lancashire Oaks, but the ground drying out by the day is battling against her and it may just be a bit too firm to see her firing on all cylinders. However, she does come into the race in the form of her life and, if handling the ground will be the one to beat.

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Cabaletta and Snow look up against it with the front two in the market and will have to put in a career best if getting the better of these two progressive types.