Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup: guide to the possible runners

Official Rating: 116. Odds: 40-1. 

The nine-year-old is seeking to become the oldest winner of this race since the mighty Persian Punch obliged at the age of 10 in 2001. Plugged on to be a never-nearer third in the Gold Cup last time, having landed the Dubai Gold Cup earlier in the campaign. Drop back to 2m should suit but again looks to have place claims at best. Suited by good ground or quicker. 

Official Rating: 108. Odds: 9-2. 

He’s the unexposed improver in the field, having had only six starts. The Frankel colt took his form to a new level when winning the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot last month, although he will need another chunk of improvement to bridge the gap from handicap company to Group One level in one leap.

Stepping up to 2m could well unlock more improvement – he’s unraced beyond 1m 6f – and he’s a course winner, having overcome trouble in running when scoring here in late May. 

Official Rating: 116. Odds: 8-11. 

A rock-solid pattern performer who again gave his all when runner-up to Trawlerman in the Gold Cup last month.

It looked a case of him being outstayed although Aidan O’Brien suggested his training regime was partly responsible, given he had been training him for middle-distance prizes until Kyprios’s retirement triggered a shuffle in running plans.

That’s something to revisit another day because he’s got half a mile less to tackle here. His blend of speed, stamina and reliability will make him a tough nut to crack. 

Official Rating: 112. Odds: 14-1. 

Has never run beyond 1m 4f and would be an interesting new face in the staying ranks, although he will probably need some ease in the ground if he’s to join stablemates French Master and Sweet William in the line-up.

Military. Academy does not have much to find in terms of ratings and made Hamish dig deep in the Tapster Stakes at Goodwood last time, going down by a neck in an exciting finish. There’s stamina on the dam’s side of his pedigree but some give underfoot does seem important to him. 

Official Rating: 103+. Odds: 7-1. 

The runaway Bahrain Trophy winner (watch a replay above) would be a fascinating runner getting 14lb from the older horses, but you’d imagine he only been left in the entries in case Illinois, his stablemate, suffers a late hiccup.

Stradivarius is the only three-year-old to have scooped this prize in the past 44 years but he denied the hat-trick seeking Big Orange and, of course, went to reel off four successive triumphs. 

Official Rating: 105. Odds: 66-1. 

Looks an ambitious runner after his lacklustre return at York when easy to back and trailing home last of six runners in the John Smith’s Silver Cup. He had been progressive last season, signing off with a Listed success at Ascot, having been runner-up in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster (off a mark of 95) before that. His best efforts have been on soft ground. 

Official Rating: 114. Odds: 12-1. 

You can read this horse two ways. On the plus side, he was runner-up to Los Angeles in the Irish Derby last season and was promoted to third in the St Leger, having been a Group One winner at two. 

But on the minus side he’s now gone 21 months and ten runs without a win, spurning some good opportunities along the way. This step up to 2m is not sure to suit, either, given he has often looked more about speed than stamina. 

First-time blinkers didn’t revive his fortunes in the Hardwicke Stakes last time, when he was fourth to Rebel’s Romance. Perhaps my negativity is influenced by the fact I’ve backed him a couple of times this year and been left disappointed. 

Official Rating: 116. Odds: 8-1. 

Sweet William chased home Kyprios in this race last year and has usually been a model of consistency in the Cup races, with highlights being his wins in last year’s Henry II Stakes and Doncaster Cup. 

He ran a typically good race on his return when a length third to Rebel’s Romance in the Yorkshire Cup and I’d be inclined to overlook a rare dull effort in the Gold Cup last time as much more attacking tactics (you could understand them trying something different) seemed to backfire. 

I’d expect Rab Havlin to revert to a more patient policy and, if so, Sweet William should make a bold bid to go one better than 12 months ago, having won a handicap at this meeting two years ago. 

Official Rating: 114. Odds: 25-1. 

He’s been a fabulous stayer over the years, running in three editions of this race despite sometimes having to miss out because of fast ground. 

Took the honours in 2021; was a gallant third when defending his crown a year later; and returned last year to finish a distant fourth. 

Rated 124 at his peak, Trueshan is not the force he once was, reflected by his mark slipping 10lb. 

He was a one-paced fourth on his return in France and missed an intended run at Sandown in July because the ground was deemed too quick. He’s been a non-runner on 11 occasions. 

To follow next week . . .