The Goodwood Cup (Thursday 3 August) is one of the highlights of Glorious Goodwood, a horse racing meeting that is the epitome of the English Summer Flat Racing scene. It is run over 2-miles, and up until 2017 it was a Group 2 Race. However, it has now been upgraded to a Group. It remains the second-leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown, with the Ascot Gold Cup the first-leg, and the Doncaster Cup the final-leg.
Trends
- Michael Stoute, Michael Bell, Aidan O’Brien and Saeed Bin Suroor have all trained 2 winners this century
- Jamie Spencer and Frankie Dettori have both ridden 2 of the last 8 winners
- Double Trigger is the winning most horse with 3 victories, but no horse has won 3 consecutive Goodwood Cups
- Winners this century have been aged between 4 and 10
- The shortest-priced winner this century was just 8/15
- The longest-priced winner this century was 10/1
Major Contenders
Big Orange
Bidding to become the first horse to win three consecutive Goodwood Cups, and he has every chance if his Herculean efforts in winning this season’s Ascot Gold Cup haven’t taken too much out of him. Loves fast ground, and his biggest threat might be if the rain arrives and turns the ground soft.
Order Of St George
The 2016 Ascot Gold Cup winner was all the rage to win a second Gold Cup this year, but could only get within a short-head of Big Orange after jockey Ryan Moore appeared to ride him over-confidently. Could easily reverse the form with Big Orange but, unlike his main market rival, he’s yet to prove he handles the quirky undulations of Goodwood.
Vazirabad
Possible French-challenger who has beaten Big Orange twice at Meydan, but missed the Ascot Gold Cup because of a slight injury. Risky ante-post proposition, but an interesting challenger if he turns up on the day.
Dal Harraild
Has two ways of running, and has a habit of winning a race then underperforming next time. Always looked a stayer in the making though, and could relish stepping-up in trip to 2-miles for the first time here.
Sheikhzayedroad
Ran well in all the big staying events last season, but disappointed when only sixth in this season’s Ascot Gold Cup, after finishing third in the 2016 renewal. Ground was faster than ideal for him there though, and he might appreciate a bit of cut in the ground more than some of his rivals if the rain arrives
Higher Power
Improved again when winning the Northumberland Plate last time, and this consistent sort hasn’t finished out of the first three in his last 10 starts. However, he was beaten 5-lengths by Big Orange at Sandown earlier in the season, and will have to find further improvement if he is to challenge the best of these.
Summary
Vazirabad would be an interesting betting proposition if he turns up, but that can’t be guaranteed after he missed Royal Ascot. Therefore, this will hopefully turn into a thrilling rematch between Big Orange and Order Of St George after their battle in the Ascot Gold Cup. It could go either way but, with Big Orange already proven over course and distance, he can hopefully become the first horse to win a hat-trick of good wood Gold Cups.
Tip: Big Orange