Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her insights on Saturday’s headline handicap, the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. The spectacle of twenty‑eight horses thundering down Goodwood’s famed downhill straight is a quintessential moment in the racing calendar, and this year’s Coral Stewards’ Cup (3.35) certainly delivered the drama and excitement that fans anticipate.
While the race is wide open, one contender that stands out in Doyle’s mind is James Owen’s Far Above Dream. The four‑year‑old has shown the right blend of form, experience at the venue, 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 demonstrated his ability over the same course and distance back in May. Since then he has progressed up the handicap scale, yet he can still race off the same weight he carried at The Royal Meeting, proving his affinity for the fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment of a large field handicap – a valuable asset for an ambitious trainer looking to climb the ranks.
Another horse Doyle has earmarked is Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca, piloted by the promising Irish jockey Dylan Browne‑McMonagle. Although Tuco’s recent victories have come on all‑weather surfaces – including a solid win at Newcastle last month against strong opposition – he also possesses respectable turf form and benefits from a convenient middle draw, which could prove advantageous in a crowded field.
In the previous weekend’s blog, Doyle highlighted Charles Hills’s lightly‑run seven‑year‑old Mitbaahy as her ‘Hot Shot’. Given his impressive second‑place finish in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at Newbury, it would not be surprising to see him feature prominently at long odds, especially after that strong showing.
Beyond the Stewards’ Cup, Doyle also touched on several other racing stories. She mentioned the upcoming Shergar Cup at Ascot, where Thunder Call is expected to make an impact, and listed Jamie Lynch’s five horses to watch at the event.
She also referenced Kevin Doyle’s pursuit of Cheltenham Festival glory with Augusta Kate and La Bague Au Roi, and noted Kalpana’s victory over Calandagan in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Additionally, she highlighted Ryan Moore’s recent MBE award, Benvenuto Cellini’s role in Aidan O’Brien’s four‑horse Epsom Classic lineup, and encouraged fans to stay updated with the latest racing news via their mobile devices.
Turning to the Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood, Doyle believes Santorini Star has the class and stamina to add another Group Two win to her résumé, which already includes 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 track.
Her main rival is likely to be the Owen Burrows‑trained Waardah, the defending champion who was outclassed by Group One winner Estrange in a recent Group Three at Carlisle. While Waardah returns after a long break since last autumn, Santorini Star’s overall profile remains more compelling. 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 well‑matched. Doyle expects the veteran to secure a third consecutive victory in this contest.
Tom Marquand will aim to replicate Jim Crowley’s successful ride from a year ago, and a solid performance is anticipated from the Shadwell‑owned Sea The Stars gelding, who remains in excellent form. In the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap (1.50), Godolphin’s Valedictory is expected to be well supported, but Doyle also backs 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 placed fourth in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal Meeting, looks like a hidden gem; despite a lengthy winless spell, he has shown he can be highly competitive when carrying a rating of 97. Valedictory, who won over the same distance in May after being equipped with cheek‑pieces, will face a three‑pound penalty after his narrow victory at Newmarket, making the race a true test for John and Thady Gosden’s gelding. Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, a former Northumberland Plate winner, is another horse to watch, though he has never triumphed with a rating in the triple‑digit range.
Promising apprentice Jack Nicholls could 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 Nicholls’s three‑pound claim may give him a decisive edge after successful outings at Pontefract and Catterick earlier in the summer.
Richard Hughes’s runner Startled, now paired with talented claimer Harry Vigors, has shown promise on its preferred course and distance, having finished second in May. Doyle expects it to be in contention. The Qatar Goodwood Festival produced a standout performance from Bow Echo, who displayed a blistering turn of foot to claim 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 composure of his young jockey, Billy Loughnane, whose maturity belies his age and who delivered a cool‑headed ride that will be remembered by racing enthusiasts. On a personal note, Doyle shared an update on her recovery after a fall in May. She has been using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber installed at home, which raises air pressure to deliver 100 % oxygen into the bloodstream, aiding tissue healing. She spends about an hour daily in the chamber as part of her rehabilitation routine, alongside a rigorous gym programme and physiotherapy at Oaksey House in Lambourn five days a week.
While she remains uncertain about an exact return date, the progress she describes is encouraging.