Goodwood Cup Position Map Preview: 'Dor open for Harrington ace

Tuesday’s Qatar Goodwood Cup is the opening Group 1 of the week, having been promoted to that level last season when the race was also moved to the first day and its prize money boosted to £500,000. The race is also part of a new initiative aimed at protecting and enhancing the stayers’ events in Britain. The WH Stayers' Million will be given to connections of a horse that wins one of four races in May - the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot, the Ormonde Stakes at Chester, the Yorkshire Cup at York or the Henry II Stakes at Sandown - before going on to claim victory in each of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup at York.

Last year’s winner of this race Stradivarius is on track for the prize this season after winning the Yorkshire Cup on his return in May and the Gold Cup last time. But will the race be run to suit here?

The Early Position Map below shows how the runners are expected to line up in the early stages:

The first thing to notice about the race – which has a pace forecast of weak – is that there is no confirmed front-runner in the line-up.

Based on previous performances, Idaho is expected to go forward, however it’s worth noting that he is stepping up to two miles for the first time in his 20-race career. Whilst he has always shaped like a strong stayer, his full-brother Highland Reel never raced past a mile and a half, and jockey Ryan Moore may give him a more circumspect ride than the horse received when attempting to make all in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.

Torcedor has produced some of his best performances when dictating in slowly-run races, as he did when winning the Sagaro in May. He backed that up with an even better performance when third behind Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, having gone on with over three furlongs out, and giving his all once headed approaching the final furlong. With no fears over ground conditions, which could be important given the uncertain forecast and recent rain, it’s easy to see why he’s the clear second favourite.

The market, though, is headed by Stradivarius. An uncomplicated sort, he recorded EPF figures of 3 or 4 on his five preceding starts before Ascot, but was given a more positive ride by Frankie Dettori on the latter occasion, always tracking the pace before making his move into the lead a furlong out. With Dettori on the sidelines, Andrea Atzeni takes the ride, but – as his jockey radar below shows – he tends to ride his horses very positively, and has a good record when doing so.

Of the other runners in the race, Call To Mind should be suited by the make-up of the race, unlikely to be too far from the pace (has recorded an EPF of 2 on seven of his nine starts), while stablemate Dal Harraild – who has raced prominently in the past - is fitted with blinkers for the first time after failing to put the race to bed at York last time.

In theory, a modest pace would work against St Michel, a confirmed hold-up performer who has quite a bit to find on ratings, and Desert Skyline, who ran as if amiss when tailed off in the Gold Cup last time; he also has plenty to find with Torcedor on their Sagaro running (eight lengths third).

Conclusion

Torcedor finished ahead of Stradivarius in last season’s soft-ground Long Distance Cup won by Order of St George, and for all Stradivarius has improved again this season, the value may lie with backing a repeat at 5/1. The key part could be the track; it’s easier to kick on at Goodwood – from the turn in, around three furlongs out on the downhill stretch - than it is at Ascot, and Colm O’Donoghue may be able to steal a march on Stradivarius’ substitute jockey Andrea Atzeni.

Recommended bet: 

Back Torcedor to win Tuesday's Goodwood Cup at 5/1