Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her insights on Saturday’s marquee handicap, the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, a race that never fails to captivate racing enthusiasts. The spectacle of twenty‑eight thoroughbreds thundering down Goodwood’s famous downhill straight is a hallmark of the sport, and this year’s Coral Stewards’ Cup Handicap (3.35) lived up to the lofty expectations that surround it.
While the field is genuinely open and any runner could seize the day, I find myself drawn to James Owen’s leading contender, Far Above Dream. The four‑year‑old has all the ingredients for a winning performance: solid form, proven experience on the Goodwood track, and a favourable draw.
He recently recorded a career‑best effort, finishing a close fourth in the Wokingham, just behind his talented stable‑mate Soldier’s Tree, after having previously triumphed over the same course and distance back in May. Since that victory he has climbed the handicap ladder, yet he is still capable of racing off the same mark he carried at the Royal Meeting. His affinity for the fast‑pace, cut‑and‑thrust nature of a large‑field handicap makes him a strong prospect for a trainer who is keen to see his horse progress.
Another name that features prominently on my shortlist is Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca, who will be piloted by the promising Irish jockey Dylan Browne‑McMonagle. Although Tuco’s recent successes have come on all‑weather surfaces – including a noteworthy win at Newcastle against respectable opposition – he also boasts a solid record on turf and enjoys a convenient middle draw that could prove advantageous in a crowded field. In last weekend’s blog I highlighted Charles Hills’s lightly‑raced seven‑year‑old Mitbaahy as my "Hot Shot".
I would not be surprised if the gelding, after finishing a close second in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at Newbury, steps up to the big odds and punches well above his weight in the Stewards’ Cup. Beyond the Stewards’ Cup, there are several other stories making the headlines across the racing calendar. Kevin Doyle, a former Premier League striker, is now chasing Cheltenham Festival glory with his horses Augusta Kate and La Bague Au Roi.
At Ascot, Kalpana triumphed over Calandagan in a thrilling King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Legendary jockey Ryan Moore was honoured with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.
In the Derby, Benvenuto Cellini leads a four‑strong Aidan O’Brien team for the Epsom Classic, while At The Races analyst Kevin Blake offers his picks for Derby day. In a more sobering note, former jockey Levi Williams was sentenced to prison for the manslaughter of a pensioner after an altercation outside a pub. Turning to the Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood, Santorini Star appears to possess the class and stamina to add a third Group Two victory to her résumé, joining her previous wins in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster and the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
Trained by William Haggas, the five‑year‑old suffered a minor setback in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the race at Goodwood suits her staying ability and her proven record on the course. Her main rival is likely to be the Owen Burrows‑trained Waardah, who captured this race last year and later proved too strong for the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes winner Estrange in a Group Three at Carlisle. Although Waardah is returning after a long break since last autumn, Santorini Star’s overall profile and consistency give her the edge.
Haggas also has a strong hand in the Group Three Coral Glorious Stakes (2.25) on Saturday, where market favourites Al Aasy and Opportunity are expected to clash. I anticipate the veteran to secure a third consecutive win in this contest. Jockey Tom Marquand will be looking to replicate Jim Crowley’s successful ride from a year ago, and he can count on a committed performance from Shadwell’s excellent Sea The Stars gelding. The horse, still in top form, should be able to outpace the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes winner Opportunity, who showed improved form at Royal Ascot but may struggle to match the step back up to Group level.
In the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap (1.50), Godolphin’s Valedictory will be well supported, and rightly so. However, I am also backing Irish challenger Aeronautic, who has the potential to improve on his third‑place finish in the same race last year.
Joseph O’Brien’s five‑year‑old, after a fourth‑place finish in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal Meeting, looks like a latent winner waiting to emerge. Though he has not won for some time, his competitiveness at a rating of 97 suggests he can be a serious factor when the weight drops.
Valedictory, who won over the same distance in May after being fitted with cheekpieces, will face a three‑pound increase after a narrow victory at Newmarket, meaning John and Thady Gosden’s gelding will need to summon extra effort. Another contender worth noting is Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, a former Northumberland Plate victor who has never won with a triple‑digit rating but could be a dark horse.
Promising apprentice Jack Nicholls has a chance to make a name for himself in the Phase Eight Handicap (4.10) on Saturday, riding Naval Light for trainer Karl Burke. The three‑year‑old carries a relatively low weight, and Nicholls’s three‑pound claim could give him a decisive advantage after his recent wins at Pontefract and Catterick this summer. Startled, a well‑handled claimer for Richard Hughes, has been paired with talented jockey Harry Vigors for this assignment. The horse performed well on his preferred course and distance in May, finishing second, and should be in the mix for a respectable placing.
In other news, Bow Echo delivered the performance of the week at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, showcasing a blistering turn of foot to win the Group One Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4.10) on Wednesday, extending his unbeaten record to six. The horse’s brilliance was matched by the poise of his young jockey Billy Loughnane, whose maturity behind the reins of George Boughey’s superstar was evident.
Overcoming a tricky situation on the Downs, Bow Echo’s victory highlighted the synergy between a special horse and a top‑class rider, creating a memory that will linger with racing fans. On a personal note, since my fall in May, I have been incorporating a hyperbaric oxygen chamber into my recovery regimen.
The chamber, installed at home, raises air pressure to deliver 100 % pure oxygen into the bloodstream, accelerating the healing process. Spending an hour each day inside has become a cornerstone of my rehabilitation.
In addition, I continue a rigorous gym program and physiotherapy at Oaksey House in Lambourn five days a week. While I remain uncertain about an exact return date, the progress is encouraging and I look forward to being back on the track when the time is right.