The Coral Stewards’ Cup has to be one of the toughest handicaps of the year to solve and tomorrow’s running (Goodwood, 3.35 p.m.) is as open as they come, with a maximum field of 28 runners due to line up for this downhill cavalry charge over six furlongs.
The most likely winner is arguably Two Tribes, who won this race last year and who ran such a top prep race for this contest just six days ago when second in the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at Ascot. However, the chances of Two Tribes winning are fairly obvious and he is now a single-figure price. Far Above Dream has a big shout too from stall 23 but he is also a single-figure price and the likely favourite.
So I am going to instead put up a horse at bigger odds in the shape of DARK THIRTY, trained by the father and son team of John and Sean Quinn. The Quinns love to target this meeting and their six-year-old gelding is 5lbs ‘well in’ for this early-closing race after being second in a hot sprint handicap at The Curragh less than two weeks ago.
Few flat-bred horses truly stay such an extreme distance but I am going to take a chance
The winner of that race, Sondad, reopposes again tomorrow but on 7 lbs worse terms with the runner-up for just half a length. The downside is Dark Thirty’s draw in stall 8, which is far from ideal with high numbers usually favoured in the sprints. However, back him 1 point each way at 16-1 with bet365, paying six places.
Nevertheless, I will go into the race double-handed with GET IT, the winner of the race in 2024 and much better drawn than Dark Thirty in stall 28. This horse is now eight years old and this will be his first run of the season after more than ten months off the track which, in turn, followed three poor runs.
However, he relishes fast ground, goes well fresh and, if he gets to the front, he could take some pegging back. Furthermore, this race may have been the plan for some time plotted by his in-form trainer, George Baker. Back Get It 1 point each way at 25-1 with Betfred, paying six places.
In the first race at Glorious Goodwood tomorrow, the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap (1.50 p.m.), I fancy the chances of HOPEWELL ROCK, largely on the basis of his third place behind Daiquiri Bay in the Boodles Handicap at Newmarket in May. That’s rock-solid form which has been franked since, with the first two home in that race finishing in the same places in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Hopewell Rock is owned by Wathan Racing and their in-form stable jockey James Doyle has opted to ride course and distance winner Sing Us A Song instead. However, Doyle doesn’t always select the right Wathnan horse when he has a choice as was proved at Royal Ascot this year.
Hopewell Rock was admittedly a disappointing favourite when only sixth in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot last month but he pulled too hard that day. Up in trip, being too keen might again be an issue but he has the world’s best jockey in Ryan Moore to educate him tomorrow. Back him 1 point each way at 7-1 with bet365, paying four places.
In today’s big handicap, the Coral Golden Mile (3 p.m.), I have already put up two each-way tips in Cerulean Bay and Scoville. I have been sweet on the chances of both horses for some time and both have been declared for the race. However, outside draws in stalls 13 and 18 respectively temper my enthusiasm for their chances, especially as top rival and the likely favourite Beagle Bay has the prime draw in stall 1.
The Coral Goodwood Handicap (1.50 p.m.) is one of the longest flat races of the year at more than two and a half miles. Few flat-bred horses truly stay such an extreme distance but I am going to take a chance on SEA OF KINGS for the Harry Eustace/Saffie Osborne trainer/jockey combination.
Eustace is a master handler at targeting big meetings and Osborne is in sparkling form, while I have had this four-year-old gelding in my horse tracker for a nearly a year after his promising fourth at York last August in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap, when his trainer said he was still a ‘work in progress’.
Back Sea of Kings 1 point each way at 16-1 with bet365 or William Hill, both paying five places. There are dangers aplenty, particularly the Irish raiders Defiantly and Alphonse Le Grande.
So far it has been a good week for favourite backers at Glorious Goodwood. Let’s hope that trend ends over the next two days. Next week, I will take a look at the ante-post markets for York’s Ebor meeting.
Pending:
1 point each way Sea of Kings at 16-1 for the Summer Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Scoville at 20-1 for the Golden Mile, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Cerulean Bay at 16-1 for the Golden Mile, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Hopewell Rock at 7-1 for the Highclere Castle Gin Summer Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Dark Thirty at 16-1 for the Stewards’ Cup paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Get It at 25-1 for the Stewards’ Cup paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Coedana at 66-1 for the Yorkshire Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Daiquiri Bay at 16-1 for the Ebor Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Last weekend:+ 7.2 points.
1 point each way Amazing Journey at 15-2 for the Moet & Chandon International, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Ast. + 9 points.
1 point each way Minnie Hauk at 13-2 for the King George, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Masterinthewoods at 6-1 for the Ascot Shop Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 2nd. + 0.2 points.
2026 flat season running total: + 15.225 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points on all tips.
2026 flat season running total: + 12.225 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points on all tips.
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