5 minutes Check out my previous of this feature race from Glorious Goodwood.
The Stewards Cup is the feature race on Saturday with a colossal 27 runners currently confirmed to line up. A cavalry charge over 6 furlongs for horses aged three years and over, which has proved a great race for bookmakers recently with seven of the last eight winners returning at double digit odds, including a 40/1 shock last year with the returning ‘Get It’ back to defend his crown.
With the deluge of rain we had earlier in the week the ground still rides soft, however with the brighter weather forecast, we may find the ground races fairly sticky come Saturday afternoon which will suit the horses with a bit of stamina in their armoury.
A low draw has been advantageous here when the ground is on the soft side, so may be best to find a good pick down near the rail draw.
Below you'll find my race analysis where the winner will take home just shy of £50,000 in prize money. It's been a good few weeks for the team but we may need to throw a few darts at this one to find the winner.
15:05 Goodwood
6f Coral Stewards' Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)
Can ‘Get It’ go back to back?
Get it (9/1) clearly appreciates a big race Handicap having won the Wokingham last time out at Ascot and was an all the way winner of this race, last year. He's 6lb higher this time around but arrives here in good heart. Although he's run some okay races on softish ground his best form appears to be on good or firmer ground. That couple with his high draw is a little off putting this time around in his bid to go back to back.
The leading fancies
A winner of five of his 11 races, Elmonjed (9/1) comes here off the back of a good win last time out in the SkyBet Dash at York. He broke sluggishly but still managed to time his run well when hitting the front and appearing not to do a lot once there. He may have been better value for the winning margin that day and there could be more to come from this lightly-raced four year old. Has an apparent good draw and has a chance today.
Hammer The Hammer (7/1) has been well supported in the market and this three year old deserves plenty of respect having only had the seven races, showing rapid improvement in each outing. Was hit with a 12lb rise after his run away success and it was only the classy Ardestia that beat him home last time at Ascot over 5 furlongs. He has another 4lb rise to deal with in an even deeper race but the step back up to 6 furlongs looks the right move and he holds every chance from what appears to be a plum draw.
Purosangue (9/1) has always looked as though capable of winning a race of this nature and with the recent rain around this could be his time to deliver. He was a disappointing favourite for this race last year where things didn't go right but better drawn this time around and the rain softened ground should aid his cause. He still needs to prove he has what it takes to win a race like this but his effort last time was a step back in the right direction. An each way chance.
Completely Random (9/1) ran a fine race in the Wokingham behind Get it last time, doing best of the hold up horses, in a race where the pace held up. That day he showed he can cope in a big field. He's been highly progressive and you would expect more to come from this four year old. He appears to have the plum draw in 1 and may be seen finishing to good effect. Definite chance.
At bigger prices
Commanche Falls (40/1) is the same odds as last year's winner and has shown his love for this race claiming back to back successes in 2021/22. This is quite the achievement and is racing off a slightly lower mark here than for the last of those successes. However, he's now eight years old and his best days appear to be behind him having not found the winner's enclosure since Sep 23. That losing run is up to 16 and it's hard to envisage him landing a blow against some of his younger, in form rivals.
At a big price Orazio (33/1) has looked a shadow of his former self in his last four starts and has barely beaten a rival home, however connections keep the faith for another big race entry. He looked an unlucky loser in last season's Wokingham off a 3lb higher mark and the draw has been kind here. A bit of a leap of faith to back him here but the stable has won this race twice previously in 2015 and 2019 and is not completely written off.
Korker (18/1) for the Karl Burke yard has an outside squeak from stall 17. He may have finished a bit nearer last week in the race won by Elmonjed with a clearer passage. He has the promising Jack Nicholls taking off 7lb which will come in handy here. Has won on soft and heavy earlier in his career and this mark isn't beyond him. Could be staying on through the beaten horses at the end.
Annaf (25/1) is lurking on a good mark and has shown a liking for softer ground. He was never able to land a blow around the tight track at Chester last time which is a difficult place to come from behind at. This type of race should suit and is another who will do his best work late on. The draw could have been kinder, however.
Analysis
The rain may have come at the right time for Purosangue, although the dry forecast may not aid his chances. He's been expensive to follow but is expected to show up well today. Korker is good EW value if he can latch on to the pace whilst Completely Random is improving and may have landed a great draw. All the action and favoured horses appear to be down the far side and it's the well back Hammer The Hammer that is the selection to land the big prize. He should be able to get some cover early before making his charge and this lightly raced sprinter appears to be going places.
Selection: Hammer The Hammer
