Will the opening day of ‘Glorious Goodwood’ see a new champion crowned?

For four years, from 2017 to 2020, Stradivarius dominated the G1 Goodwood Cup over 3200m. Last year, as an eight-year-old, he was just beaten by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kyprios.

On Tuesday (1 August), O’Brien is represented by his four-year-old filly Emily Dickinson, while John and Thady Gosden, who trained Stradivarius, are hoping that Courage Mon Ami can follow in their former champion’s footsteps.

For champion jockey Frankie Dettori, his ride on Courage Mon Ami will be a chance to win a sixth Goodwood Cup and add another Group One to his CV before retiring.

John Gosden pointed out: “Goodwood has its own demands. They swing left, right, up and down. It demands a lot of agility and Courage Mon Ami has won there.”

That was in May over 2800m. In June, the lightly raced four-year-old extended his unbeaten record by winning the G1 Ascot Gold Cup over 3991m.

He vies for favouritism with Coltrane, the close runner-up at Ascot. That was a career best for Andrew Balding’s six-year-old, who finished fourth in the Goodwood Cup last year.

Ground conditions could play an important part. Soft going might inconvenience Coltrane while being welcomed by Emily Dickinson’s supporters.

O’Brien said: “She loved the ease in the ground at the Curragh [when winning the G2 Curragh Cup over 2800m on 22 July]. Ryan Moore felt she won very easily. We had really fancied her for the Ascot Gold Cup [She finished fourth on fast ground.] She ran a good race but appears much better with an ease in the ground. It hinders other horses, whereas she appears to grow another leg on soft ground.”

Eldar Eldarov and Giavellotto, their history closely linked through last year’s G1 St Leger over 2905m and this year’s G2 Yorkshire Cup over 2771m, are waiting in the wings if the leading candidates fail.

Eldar Eldarov beat Giavellotto in the St Leger but Giavellotto just got revenge on Eldar Eldarov in the Yorkshire Cup.

Chris Wall, racing manager for Eldar Eldarov’s owner, Bahraini operation KHK Racing, said: “We don’t think he got the trip when seventh in the Ascot Gold Cup and we’ll come back to shorter in the Goodwood Cup. Any give in the ground would suit him.”

The going at Goodwood is currently good to soft, with it rated good in places. Ed Arkell, Goodwood’s clerk of the course, said: “There is expected to be the odd shower about and it looks like we will start the meeting on the easier side of good.”