Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her perspective on Saturday's marquee handicap, the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. The spectacle of twenty‑eight horses thundering down the famed Goodwood hill is a highlight of the racing calendar, and this year’s Coral Stewards' Cup Handicap (3.35) lived up to its reputation for excitement and unpredictability. While the race truly belongs to no single contender, my mind keeps returning to James Owen’s likely favourite, Far Above Dream.
The four‑year‑old has shown genuine class, posting a career‑best performance when he finished a close fourth in the Wokingham, just behind his talented stable‑mate Soldier’s Tree. He previously demonstrated his ability over the same course and distance back in May, and his recent progression up the handicap scale suggests he can still race on the same weight he carried at The Royal Meeting.
For a trainer on the rise, Far Above Dream appears perfectly suited to the fast‑paced, cut‑and‑thrust nature of a big‑field handicap. Another horse I have earmarked is Ollie Sangster’s Tuco Salamanca, piloted by the young Irish jockey Dylan Browne‑McMonagle. Although Tuco’s recent victories have come on all‑weather surfaces—including a strong showing at Newcastle last month—he also possesses solid turf form and benefits from a favorable middle draw, which could prove decisive in a crowded field. In my previous weekend blog I highlighted Charles Hills’s lightly‑run seven‑year‑old Mitbaahy as a "Hot Shot".
I would not be surprised if Mitbaahy snaps into the frame at generous odds after his impressive second place in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at Newbury. His consistency and ability to handle a strong pace make him a serious threat. Beyond the Stewards’ Cup, there are several other storylines worth noting. Hollie Doyle hinted that Thunder Call could feature in the Shergar Cup at Ascot, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Jamie Lynch will have five horses to watch as international stars clash in the same event. Former Premier League striker Kevin Doyle is now chasing Cheltenham Festival glory with his horses Augusta Kate and La Bague Au Roi, and at Ascot Kalpana recently bested Calandagan in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Legendary jockey Ryan Moore was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours, and Aidan O’Brien’s Benvenuto Cellini leads a four‑strong stable for the Epsom Derby classic. For fans who want to stay up‑to‑date, the Sky Sports Racing app offers the latest news, interviews and features right on your phone. Turning to the Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00) at Goodwood on Saturday, Santorini Star possesses both the class and stamina to add another Group Two victory to her résumé, which already includes 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 this race is an ideal fit for a mare that stays well and has proven form at Goodwood.
Her main rival appears to be the Owen Burrows‑trained Waardah, the 2022 winner of this event, who has struggled to reproduce that form since a disappointing run in the Group Three at Carlisle. While Waardah will be eager to return, Santorini Star’s overall profile remains 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, yet I anticipate the veteran to secure a third consecutive win. Tom Marquand will aim to replicate Jim Crowley’s successful tactics from a year ago, and the Shadwell‑owned Sea The Stars gelding is expected to deliver another committed performance. His proven ability on the track should allow him to outshine Wathnan Racing’s Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes winner Opportunity, who, despite a strong Royal Ascot showing, may find the step back to Group company challenging.
Godolphin’s Valedictory is well‑supported in the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap (1.50) on Saturday, and I am also backing Irish runner Aeronautic, who could improve on his third‑place finish last year. Joseph O’Brien’s five‑year‑old, who placed fourth in the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal Meeting, looks like a latent winner; although he has not won for a while, he remains highly competitive at a weight of 97. Valedictory, who was transformed by cheek‑pieces in May and won over the same distance, will face a three‑pound penalty after a narrow Newmarket victory, meaning John and Thady Gosden’s gelding must rise to the occasion.
Another contender worth noting is Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, a past Northumberland Plate victor who has yet to win carrying a triple‑digit rating. 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 could give him a decisive edge after successful outings at Pontefract and Catterick this summer. Richard Hughes’s Startled has been performing well, and he has enlisted the talented claimer Harry Vigors for this assignment.
Having shown a solid second‑place effort on the same course and distance in May, Startled should be in contention. The Qatar Goodwood Festival produced a standout performance from Bow Echo, who displayed 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 talent is evident, and so is the composure of his young jockey Billy Loughnane, whose maturity behind the reins of George Boughey’s superstar was remarkable. Overcoming a tricky situation on the Downs, Bow Echo’s victory was executed with cool precision, creating a memorable moment for racing fans.
On a personal note, since my fall in May, I have incorporated a hyper‑baric oxygen chamber into my recovery routine. The chamber raises air pressure to deliver 100 % pure oxygen into the bloodstream, which aids healing. Spending an hour daily inside has become a cornerstone of my rehabilitation.
I continue to train in the gym and attend physiotherapy sessions at Oaksey House in Lambourn five days a week, though I still cannot pinpoint a definitive return date to the saddle.