THE Stewards Cup – 28 runners spread across the Glorious Goodwood track and no doubt in two or three groups meaning anything can, and probably will, happen.
No thanks. Not for me.
If you get the winner of tomorrow's big sprint (3.40pm) fair play to you but in my book the best betting option comes 35 minutes earlier where Henry Cecil's Midday looks a great bet around the 2-1 mark.
Locally there's th
e choice of both Donny and Thirsk tomorrow, but Glorious Goodwood has been just that this week – top-class racing with favourites going in left, right and centre.
Canford Cliffs was clearly a buying money job at 4-6 on Wednesday, but if the price holds up on Midday tomorrow this might just be the bet of the week.
In a nutshell, Midday is a class above the opponents she'll take on tomorrow. Cecil's four-year-old filly is a Breeders' Cup winner no less, not to mention an Oaks runner-up.
And while French raiders Stacelita and Rosanara are no mugs – and neither is Strawberrydaiquiri – none are likely to be capable of lowering Midday's colours, especially now she's fit and has had a run.
That race came at York in May when Midday ran a cracker in being a close second to the top-class Sariska when giving her 5lbs.
She was said to be hating the lightning fast ground that day, and in need of a run, yet without the 5lbs penalty she might well have won.
The ground has to be a slight worry again tomorrow, but Midday is said to have been working brilliantly this week and odds of 9-4 – which surely will not last – look very generous.
Strawberrydaiquiri has been so progressive that she must be respected but she seemed to have her limitations exposed last time and the big danger – if there is one – is Stacelita.
She was hailed as the next Zarkava last year but came up short in the Arc and in ideal world she also wants softer ground. It would be no great shock were she to beat Midday but, let's be honest, it hasn't been the best year for our Gallic friends and we'll happily take her on with our own Midday and jockey Tom Queally.
The Stewards Cup is of course tomorrow's big betting race and, for what it's worth, I'll side with Enact who has a nice weight, a bang in-form jockey in Ryan Moore and also represents Sir Michael Stoute whose horses you sense are about to hit form.
But the Goodwood next best is a debutant called Pausanias for all-conquering Richard Hannon in the maiden at 4.15pm.
Winning first time out at Goodwood is not easy and the Hannon yard had a very well touted newcomer, Big Issue, just beaten this week – again through inexperience.
However, Pausanias is said to be one of Hannon's best two-year-olds and that's saying something given the strength in depth he has.
He apparently keeps up with speedball Zebedee on the gallops and if that's the case the rest are playing for places tomorrow with Captain Bertie the clear danger and likely beneficiary should Hannon's horse be too green and fluff his lines.
Other good things look thin on the ground tomorrow but up at Thirsk, Face The Problem should do the business in race two (2.20pm) following his easy win at York last weekend.
And two good bets down at Donny look to be Midnight Rider who can make it third time lucky at 2.40pm and downgraded Arcano who ought to win on the bridle at 3.15pm.
Now watch a well-backed favourite go and hack up in the Stewards Cup and make me regret being such a chicken.
Best of luck and have a great weekend.
