Our ambassador is offering a day‑by‑day preview of the entire five‑day Goodwood Festival, kicking off with an electrifying opening day on Tuesday that features the prestigious Goodwood Cup. One of the standout contests on the first day is the highly anticipated showdown between Scandinavia and Trawlerman in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (3.35). This clash, set against the backdrop of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, has me especially eager, as it promises to deliver a thrilling narrative on the rolling Sussex Downs. Scandinavia, the current champion trained by Aidan O'Brien, previously edged out a tenacious veteran from Godolphin in a hard‑fought duel at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
That victory confirmed his superiority in the Group 1 arena, and the Goodwood Cup now looks set to become a two‑horse contest, with Scandinavia again taking centre stage. Four years younger than the horse that won the Cup for O'Brien last year, Scandinavia appears even sharper this season.
He has the chance to emulate the great Kyprios – also an O'Brien trainee – by winning the race for a second time, which would hand the Ballydoyle master his fourth Goodwood Cup triumph in five years. Roger Varian’s Yorkshire Cup winner Rahiebb also looks attractive, but he faces a steep challenge.
Rahiebb struggled to stay the marathon distance in the Gold Cup, and although he is being dropped back half a mile for this outing, it is hard to see him unseating the market favourites. For those looking for the latest horse‑racing news, interviews and feature stories, Sky Sports Racing remains the go‑to source. If Qirat breaks well and leads the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood, I doubt any of his rivals will be able to reel him in. Ralph Beckett’s five‑year‑old, who produced a stunning upset in last year’s Sussex Stakes, also impressed me when he led from the front in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at York, wearing a tongue‑tie for the first time.
Hollie Doyle predicts that Thunder Call will have a role to play in the Shergar Cup at Ascot, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday. Meanwhile, Jamie Lynch will field five horses at the same meeting as international stars clash for supremacy. Kevin Doyle, a former Premier League striker, is now chasing glory at the Cheltenham Festival with his charges Augusta Kate and La Bague Au Roi. Over at Ascot, Kalpana edged out Calandagan in a dramatic King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes battle.
Legendary jockey Ryan Moore has been honoured with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours, while Benvenuto Cellini leads a quartet of Aidan O'Brien‑trained runners for the Epsom Derby. Scandinavia could still improve, and I would back him over Andrew Balding’s Marvelman for the Goodwood Cup.
Marvelman produced a smashing performance in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle after a long lay‑off and should be sharper this time. As a Group 2 winner, he needs to step up, and he looks a genuine threat, especially when compared with Witness Stand, who won the same race for me last year but underperformed at Chester.
I have also highlighted Pikachu as a horse to watch after his impressive run at Newmarket. He will be making a return in the Coral Vintage Stakes (2.25) at Goodwood, and I am not discounting his chances.
Charlie Johnston’s Amo Racing colt broke well in the Superlative Stakes after hitting a flat spot and could finally secure his maiden over the seven‑furlong distance on his fourth attempt. Never miss a story – the latest racing news, interviews and features are all available on your mobile device. Al Hudaiba appears to be the likely favourite, having shown high class when beating Pikachu in a Group 2 contest. Trainer Charlie Appleby has even added blinkers to help the horse focus, adding another layer of intrigue.
A more dependable option might be Aidan O'Brien’s Haffner, a promising son of Justify who built on his Curragh debut with a maiden win at Newmarket earlier this month. Though the competition will be fierce, Haffner represents Team Ballydoyle for a reason. Listed winner Liberty Lane, who triumphed at Goodwood previously, has been dropped to a very attractive handicap mark, making him a danger to all in the opening Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap (1.50) at Goodwood.
Karl Burke’s 2024 Cambridgeshire winner has not raced off this mark in nearly two years, but he is well drawn in stall four under the guidance of Clifford Lee. He hinted at a return to form at Sandown last time when he wore cheekpieces for the first time – a piece of equipment he will retain for this race.
My husband Tom’s Marquand‑trained mount Yabher also possesses the ability to make a bold statement after a strong performance over this course and distance in May, despite a disappointing run at York last time. The Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap (4.10) at Goodwood promises to be fast and furious, and I see the rapid Lexington Blitz, who produced a huge effort in the Epsom Dash last month, taking the win. Robert Cowell’s four‑year‑old, a proven course and distance winner, looks well‑placed to win even with a slightly higher weight, but don’t underestimate Richard Spencer’s pair Run Boy Run and Twilight Calls. Spencer has a knack for winning big sprint handicaps, and he has enlisted the services of Ryan Moore’s son Toby, who claims a valuable 7‑lb allowance on Run Boy Run.
Run Boy Run is well drawn in stall 17, while Newmarket winner Twilight Calls carries a mark of 90 and will be partnered by the in‑form Saffie Osborne. I will return with my thoughts on Wednesday’s action at Goodwood, which includes the Group 1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes and the exciting juvenile sprint, the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.