Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her perspective on Saturday's headline handicap, the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, a race that never fails to excite. The spectacle of twenty‑eight runners thundering down the famed Goodwood hill is one of the most cherished scenes in global racing, and this weekend’s Coral Stewards' Cup Handicap (3.35) lived up to that reputation in every respect.
While the field is truly open, I keep returning to James Owen’s most likely contender, Far Above Dream. The four‑year‑old has all the ingredients for success: a strong recent form, a proven affinity for the Goodwood track, and a favourable draw.
He posted a career‑best effort to finish a close fourth in the Wokingham, just behind his talented stable‑mate Soldier’s Tree, after having already demonstrated his ability over this course and distance back in May. Since then he has risen in the handicap and is capable of racing off the same weight he carried at the Royal Meeting, showing that he thrives in the fast‑paced, cut‑and‑thrust environment of a large‑field handicap. For a trainer on the rise, he could be the perfect illustration of that upward trajectory. Another horse I have earmarked is Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca, piloted by the young Irish rider Dylan Browne‑McMonagle.
Although Tuco’s recent victories have come on all‑weather surfaces—including a solid win at Newcastle last month—he also possesses respectable turf credentials and enjoys a useful middle draw. Those attributes could prove decisive when the race settles into its final stages. In my weekend blog I highlighted Charles Hills’s lightly‑run seven‑year‑old Mitbaahy as a "Hot Shot," and I won’t be surprised if he punches his ticket at generous odds after securing a second‑place finish in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.
His improvement suggests he could be a genuine threat in a race where anything can happen. The broader racing news continues to swirl: Kevin Doyle, a former Premier League striker, is chasing Cheltenham Festival glory with Augusta Kate and La Bague Au Roi; Kalpana edged out Calandagan in a thrilling King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot; legendary jockey Ryan Moore was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours; Aidan O'Brien’s Benvenuto Cellini leads a four‑strong contingent for the Derby; Kevin Blake of At The Races offered his Derby day picks; and former jockey Levi Williams was sentenced for the manslaughter of a pensioner he assaulted outside a pub. All of these stories underline how racing remains intertwined with broader sporting and societal narratives. Turning to the Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood, Santorini Star stands out as a mare of both class and stamina.
The William Haggas‑trained five‑year‑old has already claimed victories in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster and the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. Although she suffered a rare dip in form in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, Goodwood offers an ideal platform for a staying mare with a proven record at the venue.
Her nearest rival in the market is the Owen Burrows‑trained Waardah, who won this race last year but was subsequently outclassed by Group One winner Estrange in a Group Three at Carlisle. While Waardah is returning after a long lay‑off, Santorini Star’s overall résumé appears more compelling. In the Group Three Coral Glorious Stakes (2.25) on Saturday, Haggas again holds the reins with market favourites Al Aasy and Opportunity.
I anticipate the veteran to secure a third consecutive win in this event. Tom Marquand will likely aim to replicate Jim Crowley’s successful tactics from a year ago, and the Shadwell‑owned Sea The Stars gelding should deliver another committed performance. His proven ability on the track could see him edge out Wathnan Racing’s Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes winner Opportunity, who, despite a brilliant Royal Ascot run, may struggle to rediscover that level against seasoned Group company. Godolphin’s Valedictory is well‑supported in the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap (1.50), and rightly so.
Yet I also back Irish contender 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 winner waiting to happen. Though he has not won for some time, his competitiveness at a 97 rating suggests he can be a serious threat. Valedictory, who was transformed by cheek‑pieces in May to win over the course and distance, will face a three‑pound penalty after a narrow victory at Newmarket, meaning John and Thady Gosden’s gelding will need to rise to the occasion.
Another prospect to watch is Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, a Northumberland Plate champion two years ago who has yet to win carrying a triple‑digit rating. Apprentice Jack Nicholls has a chance to make a name for himself in the Phase Eight Handicap (4.10) when he partners Naval Light for trainer Karl Burke. The three‑year‑old carries a relatively low weight, and Jack’s three‑pound claim could give him a decisive edge in this higher‑grade contest after successful outings at Pontefract and Catterick this summer. Startled, a promising claimer for Richard Hughes, teams up with Harry Vigors for this race.
The horse performed well on his preferred course and distance in May, finishing second, and should be in contention. Among the highlights of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Bow Echo delivered the performance of the week, unleashing a blistering turn of foot to win the Group One Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4.10) on Wednesday, extending his unbeaten record to six. His talent is matched by his young jockey Billy Loughnane, whose maturity beyond his years shone through on George Boughey’s superstar.
Overcoming a precarious position on the Downs, Bow Echo’s victory was a testament to both horse and rider, and it will be remembered fondly by racing enthusiasts. On a personal note, since my fall in May, I have incorporated a hyperbaric oxygen chamber into my recovery routine. Installed at home, the chamber raises air pressure to deliver 100 % pure oxygen directly into the bloodstream, accelerating healing. Spending an hour each day inside has become a cornerstone of my rehabilitation.
I continue a rigorous gym programme and physiotherapy at Oaksey House in Lambourn five days a week, though I remain uncertain about a definitive return date to competition.