Not many horses shine over a distance as far as the Goodwood Cup’s 3209 metres, but trainer Aidan O’Brien, a four-time winner of the Group 1 contest, knows what is required. Illinois is the short-priced favourite to give Europe’s most successful trainer his fifth success in Tuesday’s (29 July) feature race.

O’Brien said, “The thing about Illinois is that he stays very well, but he’s got a bit of class to go with it. We’re happy with him; he’s been doing everything right at home. He has a good mind, he’s relaxed, he’s big and he’s hardy. Physically, he’s done well.”

Illinois’ regular partner, Ryan Moore, added, “He’s never run a bad race. He’s a talented horse and there’ll be more to come.”

Illinois found the extreme distance of the G1 Gold Cup (3991m), in which he finished second, too far and will appreciate the shorter test.

His most dangerous opponent may be French Master. The four-year-old lacks Illinois’ experience and record, but is progressive and took another step forward last month when winning a competitive handicap over 2831m at Royal Ascot.

Richard Brown, owner Wathnan Racing’s manager, said, “I saw French Master at John and Thady Gosden’s yard recently and he seems to have come out of his Ascot race in great condition. You had to be impressed with that performance. He’s stepping up from a handicap to a Group 1 race but we’re going to pitch him in the Goodwood Cup and see where we are.”

French Master is the Gosdens’ main hope, but stablemate Sweet William commands respect, having finished second in the race last year and has been extremely reliable. In 17 races, the six-year-old has only once finished out of the first three, when fourth in last month’s Gold Cup.

John Gosden said, “It was a tough race and in the end it was a little too far for him, but he ran a brave race. He’s in very good form. Robert Havlin rides him every day and he’s very pleased with him.”

O’Brien also has another runner in the shape of Scandinavia, an improving three-year-old.

Ryan Moore said, “I hadn’t ridden him until he won at Newmarket (a Group 3 race on 10 July). He got into a lovely rhythm then and stayed on really well. He was impressive.”

The G2 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes (1409m) leads the supporting card, with Kinross returning for the fifth time. The eight-year-old boasts a remarkable record in the race, having won it twice and finished second and third.

Age is not on his side, and Jonquil – five years his junior – presents a challenging obstacle. If trainer Andrew Balding’s representative reproduces the form he showed when narrowly beaten by Henri Matisse in a Group 1 race over 1600 metres at ParisLongchamp in May, he will be difficult to beat.