GOODWOOD 15:35

Non Runners: SIMPLE VERSE (IRE), DAL HARRAILD. Race Distance Adjustment: +10 yds

Time: 3m 25.47s Closing Sectional: (4f): 48s (106.7%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 119%, Betfair SP 101.4%

After the declaration stage for this year's Goodwood Cup both Simple Verse and Dal Harraild suffered setbacks that meant they missed the race, taking away 2 of the higher-rated horses in the initial field, and the standard-setting Big Orange, who'd won this in 2015 and 2016, was taking on many of the same faces again, with the exception of a couple of 3-y-o's, and they came to the fore with the favourite in a race worth rating positively; there was some competition for Big Orange at the head of affairs early, with Qewy and Oriental Fox both pushing forward, perhaps making Dettori go a bit quicker than he'd have wished, making the race a thorough test, highlighted by how strung out they got.

STRADIVARIUS (IRE) had a very different profile to most of the opposition, an unexposed, progressive 3-y-o who'd improved with every start and every increase in trip, and he continued the trend to land this major prize on only his seventh career start, seeing out the extra 2f strongly and becoming the first 3-y-o to win the Goodwood Cup since Lucky Moon in 1990; held up, travelled well, good progress 3f out, led inside final 1f, stayed on well; the St Leger is the aim now and he's already at a standard that will make him a leading contender in an average renewal, whilst big-race experience like this will also stand him in good stead, and looking further ahead he's sure to be a big player on the 'Cup' scene for some time to come.

BIG ORANGE was sent off a short-priced favourite as he bid for a hat-trick of Goodwood Cup wins, coming here thriving too, and, although he was beaten, in performance terms he wasn't far below his best, up against a highly progressive and talented 3-y-o to whom he was conceding 13 lb, whilst compared to some of his big wins he was pressed a bit harder in front, forced to set a stronger tempo, so under the circumstances it was still a cracking effort; led, kicked on early in straight, driven 2f out, headed inside final 1f, one paced; he won't be going to Australia for the Melbourne Cup this year so the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day will surely be his autumn target.

DESERT SKYLINE (IRE) faced his stiffest task to date but rose to the occasion, improving again to record another good placed effort in first-time cheekpieces, the extra 2f not posing a problem; held up, headway 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, hung right, kept on.

WICKLOW BRAVE shaped as if still in good form, left with a lot to do even though this was a well-run race; dropped out, travelled better than most, headway over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, one paced.

SHE IS NO LADY has been set stiff tasks on every start so far this year and is holding her form, this a respectable effort, again finishing ahead of some bigger names, as she had at Royal Ascot; mid-division, chased leaders over 5f out, not quicken over 2f out but plugged on.

PALLASATOR who was second to Big Orange in the corresponding race 12 months ago, came here cold this time and looked rusty after 3 months off, but he didn't look to have that hard a race; dropped out, effort over 2f out, one paced but never dangerous and not unduly punished once it was clear he wouldn't be making an impact.

SHEIKHZAYEDROAD was in the mix for a long way, challenging for a place at least, but ultimately ran below form and may not get back to the heights of last autumn when he won 2 'Cup' races, 8 now and perhaps in gradual decline; chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, hung right over 1f out, not see race out.

US ARMY RANGER (IRE) is testing Ballydoyle's patience no doubt, most disappointing since last year's second in the Derby, tried in a first-time hood and kept to staying trips here, but the bottom line is that temperament is getting the better of him and he should be treated with caution; mid-division, travelled well, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, not run on.

SWEET SELECTION was back in headgear, last tried a couple of years ago, but found her run of good form coming to a halt; in rear, never travelling well, always behind.

PRINCE OF ARRAN should have been suited by dropping back in trip but just wasn't in the same form as last time; mid-division, lost place home turn, weakened, never on terms.

HIGHER POWER came here on the crest of a wave but maybe such a big effort to win the Northumberland Plate had taken the edge off and he produced a rare below-par effort; mid-division, outpaced 3f out, dropped away.

HIGH JINX (IRE) underperformed and has gone backward from his encouraging comeback run; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, went with little fluency, never on terms.

QEWY (IRE) in first-time cheekpieces (on Flat), ran too badly to be true, possibly amiss; prominent, driven 3f out, beaten 2f out, weakened.

ORIENTAL FOX (GER) clearly wasn't 100% on the day; chased leaders, lost place 3f out, dropped away quickly.