Architect Tips shares his betting tips and prediction for the Stewards Cup on Saturday at Goodwood.
15:35 Goodwood
Goodwood Tips Friday: Stewards’ Cup 2023 Tips, Runners & Prediction
King’s Lynn
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Jockey: Harry Davies
- Form: 408296
- Odds: 16/1
A likeable sprinter with a pair of Listed wins and a Group 2 win to his name and has been running with credit in defeat this season. Not seen to best effect when sixth of 16 at Ascot last-time-out when sent off favourite but the fifth, Existent, ran well to finish second at this meeting earlier in the week to uphold the form-line. This will be his first visit to this course but it should suit and while luck will be needed given his hold-up style of racing, the six-year-old has the qualities to at least fill the frame provided the gaps appear with conditions of no concern.
Rumstar
- Trainer: Jonathan Portman
- Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
- Form: 141656
- Odds: 33/1
A winner of a good-quality nursery over course-and-distance at this meeting last year when producing a late surge to beat Silencer at a double-figure price and proved that to be no fluke when signing off his season with success in a Group 3 at Newmarket in October. Has twice finished behind Shaquille this season but ran well to take fifth in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and wasn’t beaten far when sixth in the Hackwood Stakes last-time-out. A mark of 109 for his handicap debut is high enough but he will get a good pace to aim at and cannot be ruled out.
Gorak
- Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
- Jockey: Callum Shepherd
- Form: 221407
- Odds: 40/1
Has improved from a mark of 80 to 104 in less than a year and has shown some of his best form so far this season. He caught the eye when 12th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot and was then seventh of 15 in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket when last seen. His mark has been eased a pound but more will be required if he is to defy this mark back down in distance. He might be one for another day and can be passed over for the time-being until his mark is reduced a few more pounds.
Tanmawwy
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Jockey: Connor Planas
- Form: 310201
- Odds: 12/1
Resumed winning ways at Windsor last-time-out when beating Lethal Nymph and was only beaten a neck at Newmarket back in April from a mark of 95. With his jockey's claim taken into account, he is effectively three-pounds lower for this race. Also has winning form on soft-to-heavy ground but as much as his win strike-rate is appealing, winning five of his 12 starts, he can throw in the odd lacklustre display and I have a suspicion he might find a few too good.
Orazio
- Trainer: Charlie Hills
- Jockey: Jim Crowley
- Odds: 4/1
- Form: 306116
Another representative of the Charlie Hills team, who is the current market leader and ran well to finish sixth of 26 in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot when last seen despite returning a beaten favourite. He won his two previous starts though, including on deep ground at Ascot, so conditions will suit. After just seven career starts, he is open to further improvement, but I am not sure I want to be getting stuck into his single-figure odds, especially when a few of his opponents are well-treated. I am happy to leave him alone and look elsewhere.
Mums Tipple
- Trainer: Richard Hannon
- Jockey: Frankie Dettori
- Odds: 161454
- Form: 20/1
Has been highly tried throughout his career and is certainly a class act on his day. He defied a pound higher mark at Chelmsford back in March and was last seen running really well when fourth of 27 in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. He is only a pound higher for this race and probably has a big race like this in him on the turf but it’s worth noting all of his best form has come on a better surface. If he can overcome that caveat though, he has possibilities under Frankie.
Badri
- Trainer: Ruth Carr
- Jockey: Ryan Sexton
- Form: 816102
- Odds: 25/1
Been in superb form this year, winning four times and ran very well when second at Newmarket last time in another large-field handicap. He remains on the same mark for this contest and his jockey takes off a handy three pounds. Lots to like form-wise but the soft ground is an unknown for him. If he handles it, he could run well at a price but this is undoubtedly a tougher race than last time and he needs a personal best to succeed.
Apollo One
- Trainer: Peter Charalambous & James Clutterbuck
- Jockey: Richard Kingscote
- Form: 321322
- Odds: 14/1
A highly-consistent sprinter who was in good form towards the end of last season and has continued where he left off with three placed efforts in valuable handicaps this season. The latest of those came in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot where he finished second of 27 in which he had several of these in behind. A three pound rise seems fair and while his best form has come on a quicker surface, he has won on soft ground in the past which is essential. The five-year-old has to enter calculations given the form he is in at the moment.
Summerghand
- Trainer: David O’Meara
- Jockey: Jason Watson
- Form: 700064
- Odds: 20/1
Not getting any younger but has been a fantastic team-player for connections over the years and won this three years ago from an eight pound higher mark than today’s mark. Enjoyed a productive 2022, winning three times, including the Ayr Gold Cup and a Listed event at Lingfield when beating the classy Judicial and ran well last-time-out when fourth of 15 at York. Has been given a fine chance by the assessor but the issue is 19 of the last 20 winners were six years old or younger. Vulnerable for win purposes but he should be thereabouts and is likely to be finishing his race to good effect as he often does.
Bielsa
- Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Form: 500210
- Odds: 12/1
Another who’s age is against him if trends are factored into the equation but is on the same mark as when sixth in this race two years ago and won the Ayr Gold Cup later that season from only a pound lower mark. Won a big-field handicap at York two starts ago and wasn’t disgraced when 10th in the Wokingham. He was behind a few of these though and will need to bounce back. The presence of Ryan Moore is interesting but others seem better treated.
Tactical
- Trainer: Julia Camacho
- Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- Form: 640656
- Odds: 25/1
Achieved quite a lot as a two-year-old, winning at Royal Ascot and a Group 2 at Newmarket and has run well in a few high-quality handicaps since despite being winless since defeating Naval Power over two years ago. He will need to step up markedly on what he has shown so far this season to have a say in the outcome but has fallen to a career-low mark and the combination of cheekpieces and wind surgery (again) could see him make an impact.
Juan Les Pins
- Trainer: Mick Appleby
- Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
- Form: 735013
- Odds: 25/1
Showed a resurgence in form for this yard this season, winning at Nottingham in June before a good third in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot only nine days later. He will need to improve if he is to defy this two pounds higher mark though, which is now the highest mark he has ever been on in his career. Moreover, he would prefer a better surface as well, so he needs to find more to trouble a few of these. Not completely ruled out but I am not sold on his chances on this ground.
Makanah
- Trainer: Julie Camacho
- Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
- Form: 561854
- Odds: 40/1
Another representative of Julie and hasn’t been beaten far in his last two starts in other quality handicaps. Won at Musselburgh back in October and was seventh in this race last year from a mark of 102, faring best of those who were drawn low. He is four pounds lower this year and is drawn in stall 11. Has lots of form under different conditions and off higher marks, so he has place possibilities, in which he could improve on last year’s result in the race.
Albasheer
- Trainer: Archie Watson
- Jockey: Luke Morris
- Form: 296707
- Odds: 16/1
Missed the whole of last season and was below form in his first couple of starts this year but has looked a lot like his old-self in his two recent starts since the blinkers have been fitted. He ran quite well when 11th in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot before a good seventh in the Paddy Power Scurry Handicap at the Curragh. It is likely he has the capabilities from this mark judged on his performance last-time-out. Fresh after a winner here yesterday, Luke Morris should get a nice spin off him as he should go well with the potential of more to come after just nine career starts.
Aleezdancer
- Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- Jockey: Neil Callan
- Form: 316097
- Odds: 11/1
Made a successful return to action when scoring at Doncaster in April off a three pounds lower mark but hasn’t fired in four starts since. The blinkers failed to rekindle the spark last time and now connections reach for the cheekpieces. He is desperately in need of getting back on track but this is a really tough race to do so and better value is elsewhere in the field.
Vintage Clarets
- Trainer: Richard Fahey
- Jockey: Oisin Orr
- Form: 401136
- Odds: 33/1
Highly tried throughout his career and was back to winning ways at Chester in June before following up at Newcastle less than two weeks later. Has remained in reasonable form in two starts since but was still well-held here earlier in the week and I can’t see the return to this trip signalling further improvement. He won’t disgrace himself but again, others are better treated at present and expect him to find a few too good.
Mr Wagyu
- Trainer: John Quinn
- Jockey: Jason Hart
- Form: 873977
- Odds: 14/1
A regular in big-field handicaps and returned a good third at Epsom in June. Ran quite well when a three-length seventh in the Wokingham later that month but was well beaten at Thirsk when last seen. His last win was off a five pound higher mark and he did win the consolation race of this contest two years ago over course-and-distance but he is vulnerable to a few others and I struggle to see him resuming winning ways in such a competitive renewal like this.
Hyperfocus
- Trainer: Tim Easterby
- Jockey: David Allan
- Form: 201350
- Odds: 40/1
Got back on the scoresheet at Ripon in April on soft ground but his form has dipped in two subsequent starts and was absolutely thrashed at York last weekend. Hard to make a case for off this mark in such a warm heat.
Aberama Gold
- Trainer: David O’Meara
- Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
- Form: 811851
- Odds: 14/1
Won three of his last five starts and won in good style at York just seven days ago. A positive jockey booking here and has done some of his winning and placed efforts off higher marks on the all-weather but carrying a penalty for that latest success might halt his momentum at this far more demanding level and more is required.
Spanish Star
- Trainer: Patrick Chamings
- Jockey: Liam Keniry
- Form: 612154
Odds: 25/1
Thrives over this course-and-distance with three wins from four starts and even though he has never won off a mark this high before, he was a very good fifth in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot off this mark. His latest run back at the same venue can be excused but even with his good record at this course, he will do well to repeat the dose against these. A place might be the best he can hope for at this level.
Lucky Man
- Trainer: Richard Spencer
- Jockey: Hayley Turner
- Form: 458030
- Odds: 66/1
Won on the turf last September and then made the frame in a pair of competitive handicaps, including the Ayr Gold Cup. Not been in the same form since but Hayley Turner is a master in these types of events and if she can keep her mount interested mid-race, it is likely this closer will be there or thereabouts in the closing stages. For all that, this race demands more if he is to come out on top and that seems doubtful.
Sterling Knight
- Trainer: Ed Dunlop
- Jockey: Tom Marquand
- Form: 114613
- Odds: 16/1
Could hardly arrive in better form with three wins from his last six starts and caught the eye with a strong-finishing third at Windsor last month. A career-best is required if he is to win this but Tom Marquand is an excellent jockey to have on side and he might be able to get a solid performance out of this consistent four-year-old.
Significantly
- Trainer: Julie Camacho
- Jockey: Joe Fanning
- Form: 778412
- Odds: 28/1
Former Royal Ascot winner on heavy ground and his new connections have seemingly got him back to something near his best in recent starts, winning at Haydock two starts back before a fine second at Ascot seven days ago. He remains on a very fair mark based on his historical form and Joe Fanning is an interesting addition to the saddle as well. This five-year-old has an each-way squeak at double-figure odds and he handles heavy ground, which can’t be said for most of these.
Watchya
- Trainer: George Baker
- Jockey: Sean Levey
- Form: 140545
- Odds: 40/1
Scored three times last year and has run well on more than one occasion for this yard. His last couple of starts have come at a much lower level though and has yet to win above class-four company, so on the face of it, he is likely to be outclassed and makes limited appeal off a mark that does appear to be too high for him.
Good Earth
- Trainer: Michael Herrington
- Jockey: Aidan Keeley
- Form: 212518
- Odds: 66/1
Twice a winner this year and was fourth of 25 in the Silver Cup at Ayr last year off a three pounds higher mark. That said, he wasn’t at his best when down the field at Yarmouth recently and this is a much tougher assignment. I am not sure he can catapult a career-best showing in this company and is impossible to fancy despite being back on the same mark as when successful at Newmarket.
Chairmanoftheboard
- Trainer: Jack Channon
- Jockey: Sam Hitchcott
- Form: 327723
- Odds: 16/1
Did win over course-and-distance as a two-year-old and finished fifth in this race three years ago from a six pounds higher mark. Has made the frame several times since in some red-hot handicaps, as well as placing in four of his last six starts off around this sort of mark. He is also now operating from a two pound lower mark than when he last got his head in front but his win ratio is alarming to an extent.
Aphelios
- Trainer: Mick Appleby
- Jockey: Theodore Ladd
- Form: 213055
- Odds: 50/1
Before his three runs this year, he was extremely consistent, not finishing out of the first three in his first 13 starts but has taken a backwards step this year and a revival is now needed. His trainer now reaches for the first-time blinkers in the hope it can get him back to last year’s form. If it does, he could go well but he has too much to prove at the moment and is passed over.
Came From The Dark
- Trainer: Ed Walker
- Jockey: David Egan
- Form: 536308
- Odds: 20/1
Smart horse a few years back and still retains most of his ability but has become a shade inconsistent nowadays and has marginally declined. Ran a stinker on his last visit here too when last of six but his last win was in a Group 3 and his last handicap success was off a 12 pounds higher mark. He didn’t run too badly when eighth of 16 at the Curragh in the Rockingham last time and David Egan is a good jockey to take the ride. Age is against him but his best form would entitle him to a lot of respect carrying a tiny weight on this ground and he has won on heavy ground over this distance as well.
Stewards’ Cup Tips & Prediction
With conditions set to be testing come post-time, I really like the each-way thought of Ed Walker’s CAME FROM THE DARK (best price 20/1) who sneaks into the race at the foot of the weights, is drawn reasonably well in stall 10, and will appreciate the ground. The seven-year-old has winning-form over this trip on bottomless ground and has been given every chance by the assessor to land a valuable pot. With six places widely available, he makes plenty of appeal from a betting stance.
