The Stewards’ Cup had its inaugural running in 1840 over a sprint distance of six furlongs.

The contest has now become the feature race on the concluding Saturday of the Glorious Goodwood Festival and always attracts a large and competitive field.

The race has been won by top sprinters down the years like Lochsong in 1992 who carried just 8 stone to victory, and she went on to be successful at Group 1 level too.

The quality of winner has been strong in the last ten years with seven of the last eight officially rated between 102 and 111.

The Draw:

It’s been a split down the middle with five winners coming from the middle to high numbers and five winners from low to middle.

Over the last five years these have been the successful stalls numbers of the first four home:

  • 2019: 3, 8, 18 & 6

  • 2018: 25, 7, 10 & 4

  • 2017: 15, 12, 7 & 8 

  • 2016: 4, 12, 20 & 26 

  • 2015: 1, 10, 26 & 17 

As you can see in recent years the trends have been swinging towards the low to middle stalls - especially those stalls numbered up to 10 so keep an eye out for those in the horse racing betting tips.

  • 10/10 - Ran between 1 and 4 times in the previous 90 days.

  • 10/10 - Previously won at least twice at six furlongs.

  • 10/10 - Returned 25/1 or shorter.

  • 10/10 - Best previous win was in Group 3, Listed or Class 2 Company.

  • 10/10 - Previously won at least one handicap.

  • 10/10 - Officially rated between 95-104.

Here is your guide to the chances of all the runners and riders in this year’s renewal:

Summerghand

Frustrating horse to follow at times and should have won more races in his career but he does pull the rabbit from out of the hat from time to time. Ran a cracker in the Wokingham and is an e/w player.

Gulliver

Always travels well into his races, especially in these big-field handicaps and represents a trainer in-form in the shape of David O’Meara. Angus Villiers takes off a handy 5lb.

Tinto

Ran well in a Group 3 race at Sandown last month but was extremely disappointing in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last time. Decent jockey booked but has plenty to prove.

Danzeno

The nine-year-old is an old hat at these large handicaps and it would come as no surprise to see him run another big race, but likely to just come up short.

Hey Jonesy

After a long losing run one suspects that Hey Jonsey has had his big day in the sun already this season with his win at Royal Ascot. A follow-up victory stretches the imagination somewhat.

Watan

Watan is a Group horse masquerading as a Handicapper and he has a great opportunity to show his class in this line-up. His form line with Nahaarr ties in well and he can go close.

Angel Alexander

Last year’s Ayr Gold Cup winner but has been handed a stinker of a draw. Tom Dascombe’s Goodwood raiders this week are failing to fire too.

Nahaarr

Like Watan, this four-year-old is potentially a class above many of these seasoned handicappers and based on what we have witnessed thus far, has a real favourite’s chance.

Mr Lupton

He’s slowly sliding down the handicap and has probably reached a winnable mark, but he will need to capitalise on it. His Wokingham run was very positive.

Meraas

Won the Scottish version of this at Hamilton a fortnight ago and given Mark Johnson’s not too shabby credentials at Glorious Goodwood over the years, who can leave this one out?

Silent Echo

Hails from a relatively unknown stable to most people so will probably go off at a decent price. His fifth place in the Wokingham is very strong form.

Aljady

Has been running really well so far this season, picking up handicaps at Windsor and Haydock and is definitely on an upward trajectory. It may pay to keep following him.

Barbill

He sprang somewhat of a surprise at Haydock last time after a lengthy spell in the doldrums. Whether he can follow that win up is another question altogether?

Swindler

Ed Walker’s four-year-old won a couple of 6f handicaps last season at Ascot and has the potential to win a few more this season. He could well build upon his encouraging comeback run.

 

 

Chairmanoftheboard

Rarely out of the frame and always runs with plenty of gusto. He ranks as an e/w dark horse.

Stone Of Destiny

His Wokingham sixth gave punters a glimmer of hope but his overall form leaves a lot to be desired.

Louie De Palma

Ran well in the Richmond Stakes here as a 2-y-o and a liking for this unique track has to be a positive.

Lexington Dash

Runs his heart out every single time for his Middleham Park owners and is a likely podium finisher once again.

Kimifive

Has been knocking on the door without any success so far this season but could well see that change under the man of the moment Cieren Fallon.

Open Wide

He was extremely unlucky in this race last season and the phrase ”horses for courses” quite often comes home to roost.

Venturous

Doesn’t appear to enjoy himself at Ascot and could easily bounce back to form this weekend.

Teruntum Star

No stranger to winning sprint handicaps and showed signs of a revival when running well at York last week.

Brian The Snail

Brian has been a “work in progress” project since his Godolphin days but appears to have picked up the winning thread once again. His draw is a major worry however.

Atalanta’s Boy

Course and distance winner and will probably pick up a few followers based on his form figures alone. However, this is his toughest task to date.

Wedding Date

Very attractively weighted filly, especially after Theodore Ladd’s claim, and she has a nice central draw. She’s another handicapper just flying underneath the radar.

Concierge 

Has had plenty of racing already this season and has also moved stables. He’s very hard to make a case for.

George Bowen

Another handicapper who has been around the block a bit. His last turf victory came in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup in 2018 which must be frustrating his followers no end.

I Am A Dreamer

Has very erratic form figures but does appear to break up his seventh places with the occasional victory. He definitely falls firmly into the “ very dangerous to dismiss” category.

Horse Racing Betting: Prediction

The Richard Hannon-trained Watan looks like an each-way bet to nothing and has seen his odds slowly contract during the week.

Wedding Date, also trained by Richard Hannon, appears to be just bubbling under the surface for a well overdue win, and she can put in a really bold show.

888sport Prediction: Watan and Wedding Date (e/w).

Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.