There is a slight sense of deja vu in this year’s Stewards’ Cup with the same connections as 2016 winner Dancing Star entering the progressive filly, Foxtrot Lady. She has a very similar profile to her half-sister, albeit has arguably achieved more at the same stage of her career.
Her credentials are solid though and she is 2lbs well-in so it would be no surprise to see her go in for Andrew Balding who is in top form. But she isn’t drawn particularly well in nine and looks terrible value at 6/1 having been well-found by punters for this 28 runner race.
The Wokingham could be a key form guide here with seven winners already coming from that race, and a quarter of the runners in this race having contested it. Tis Marvellous ran really well in the Wokingham, and remains competitive from a 2lb higher mark, while the likes of George Bowen has taken his form to new heights during this campaign and can be a threat again.
But the pick of the runners at Royal Ascot and the best treated at the weights is SILENT ECHO who finished a fine two and a half lengths fifth in the Wokingham, when drawn away from the pace on that occasion. He had several of his market rivals in behind him that day and has also got a pull at-the-weights with all of them having been kindly dropped 2lbs by the handicapper to 99.
Having won two small field handicaps at Windsor this season, he will have learned a lot from the hustle-and-bustle of the Wokingham being just his ninth start on turf and unlike that day he should get plenty of cover from stall 11. He will love the rattling fast ground and has been saved for this ever since Ascot by his trainer.
The experienced Joe Fanning takes over the reigns from Tom Marquand, and his mount really does have a live each-way chance at 11/1.
Spring Loaded put in a superb effort on his latest run to win over the minimum distance, he should have no problem stepping back up to six furlongs and was close to being our second selection. I wouldn’t put anyone off having a bet on him as he seems to be thriving.
Although I am not the biggest fan of backing horses in big-field handicaps after a long lay-off, I am really intrigued by the chances of GLENAMOY LAD who is having his first start for 247 days.
He was last seen bolting-up in a Class 3 handicap ahead of Tropics – who has since raised his mark back above 102 – at the end of November and Glenamoy Lad has seemingly been held back with this in mind ever since based on comments from his yard.
He has been raised 10lbs for last year’s success to 95 – which is normally the minimum rating to claim this – but that mark could still completely underestimate him as he looked hugely progressive as a three-year-old winning his races in breathtaking fashion.
Glenamoy Lad will have strengthened up over the winter and Michael Wigham has plenty of confidence behind him. There may be a slight concern over the ground being too quick, but they keep it well-watered at Goodwood and you couldn’t rule it out for him having never been tested on this surface given he was originally trained in Ireland.
The booking of Silvestre De Sousa is an eye-catching one and although he looks to have been drawn out of it in two, there is plenty of pace around him and it’s no bad thing having the rail when a large field could be likely to split.
Solar Flair and Justanotherbottle should set the race up for Glenamoy Lad and he could be a potential handicap blot.
0.75pts each-way Silent Echo @11/1, 15:40 Goodwood, Saturday (six places, 1/5 odds with Ladbrokes)
0.75pts each-way Glenamoy Lad @14/1, 15:40 Goodwood, Saturday (six places, 1/5 odds with Ladbrokes)