Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her perspective on the marquee handicap of the weekend – the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. The spectacle of twenty‑eight runners thundering down the famed Goodwood hill is a quintessential moment in the sport, and this year’s Coral Stewards' Cup Handicap (3.35) certainly lived up to its reputation. While the race is truly open, I keep circling back to James Owen’s promising contender Far Above Dream. The four‑year‑old has the pedigree, the experience on this track, and a favourable draw.
He posted a career‑best performance when he finished a close fourth in the Wokingham, just behind his talented stable‑mate Soldier’s Tree, after having already shown a liking for this course and distance back in May. Since then he has risen in the handicap and appears capable of reproducing the same rating he carried at The Royal Meeting. For a trainer on the rise, he could be the perfect example of a horse that thrives in the fast‑paced, cut‑and‑thrust environment of a big‑field handicap.
Another name on my shortlist is Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca, who will be piloted by the young Irish ace 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 form and enjoys a useful middle draw that could prove advantageous in a tightly contested 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 he manages to place, especially after his impressive second‑place finish in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.
That effort suggests he can hold his own against higher‑rated opposition and could be a value pick at generous odds. Beyond the Stewards’ Cup, there are several other storylines worth noting. Santorini Star, the five‑year‑old mare trained by William Haggas, appears primed to add another Group Two victory to her résumé in the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood. After a brief dip in form in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, the mare has returned to her best distance and has previously won at this venue, making her a strong contender.
Her main rival is likely to be Waardah, the Owen Burrows‑trained filly who captured the race last year but has struggled since, most recently finishing behind Group One winner Estrange in a Group Three at Carlisle. While Waardah is due for a return after a long lay‑off, Santorini Star’s overall profile remains more compelling. In the Group Three Coral Glorious Stakes (2.25) on Saturday, Haggas again has a hand in the betting market, with Al Aasy and Opportunity leading the odds.
I anticipate the veteran will secure a third successive win in this race, especially if Tom Marquand can replicate Jim Crowley’s clever tactics from a year ago. The Shadwell‑owned Sea The Stars gelding, still in fine form, should be able to out‑class the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes winner Opportunity, who showed promise at Royal Ascot but may find this step back to Group company challenging. Godolphin’s Valedictory is well‑supported in the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap (1.50), but I am inclined to back Irish runner Aeronautic, who could improve on his third‑place finish in the same race last year.
Joseph O’Brien’s five‑year‑old, who finished fourth in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal Meeting, also looks like a hidden gem. Though he has not won for some time, his performance off a 97 rating indicates he can be competitive at this level.
Valedictory, who won over the same distance in May after being fitted with cheek‑pieces, will face a three‑pound penalty after a narrow victory at Newmarket, meaning John and Thady Gosden will need to extract a little extra from the gelding. Meanwhile, Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, a former Northumberland Plate winner, could be a factor despite never having won with a triple‑digit rating.
Among the younger talent, apprentice Jack Nicholls has a chance to shine in the Phase Eight Handicap (4.10) aboard 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 edge after successful outings at Pontefract and Catterick earlier this summer. Richard Hughes’s claimer Startled, now partnered with Harry Vigors, appears well‑placed after a solid second‑place run on this course and distance in May.
He should be in the mix if the race unfolds as expected. Turning to the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Bow Echo delivered the performance of the week by clinching the Group One Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (4.10) with a blistering turn of foot, extending his unbeaten record to six.
His young jockey, Billy Loughnane, displayed a maturity beyond his years, guiding George Boughey’s superstar through a tricky situation on the Downs and securing a memorable victory that will linger in the minds of racing fans. On a personal note, since my fall in May, I have been using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber installed at home as part of my rehabilitation. The chamber raises air pressure to deliver 100 % oxygen directly into the bloodstream, which aids healing. Spending an hour each day inside has become a routine, complementing my gym work and physiotherapy at Oaksey House in Lambourn, where I train five days a week.
While I still cannot pinpoint a definitive return date, the progress is encouraging and I remain optimistic about getting back on the track soon.