POPMASTER can win the Coral Stewards’ Cup (Heritage Handicap) (3.20pm) on the final day of Glorious Goodwood on Saturday afternoon.
Ed Walker’s four-year-old has not won since last September but he can land a deserved victory in the feature handicap on the last day of the five-day meeting at the West Sussex track.
Popmaster won two of his seven starts after being gelded midway through last season. He looked a progressive sprinter in those successes at Doncaster and Ascot and ran well enough when seventh on his final start in the Coral Sprint Trophy at York.
And following two runs to blow away the cobwebs he has been excellent in last two runs, finishing second twice. He was only beaten half-a-length at Chelmsford City before running a massive race when runner-up to Rohaan in the Wokingham Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot. He led until late on when collared by the smart Group performer Rohaan, who was winning the Wokingham for a second successive year.
That similar contest has been a decent guide to the Stewards’ Cup with several who have run well in defeat going on to success in the Glorious Goodwood sprint.
He will need luck in running, but he has been threatening to land a big handicap and Saturday may be the day.
As ever there are many who could go close to victory with David O’Meara’s former winner Summerghand sure to go well, while the George Boughey-trained Inver Park – seeking a four-timer; Raatea from the Julie Camacho stable; and Ed Bethell’s Regional are others who should be in firing line at the finish.
Willie Haggas’ SEA LA ROSA can win the Group Two Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (Fillies & Mares) (2.45pm).
The four-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars, progressed well last season ending with a Listed win over 1m5f at Lingfield on her final start in October.
She returned to land the Group Three Betfred Pinnacle Stakes over 1m4f at Haydock Park in May, before only finding Free Wind too good back over course and distance in the Merseyside track in the bet365 Lancashire Oaks at the start of this month.
She can get her head back in front stepped back up in distance to 1m6f and beat Aidan O’Brien’s Emily Dickinson.
The William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained MITROSONFIRE can win the Coral Stewards’ Sprint Handicap (Consolation Race For The Stewards’ Cup) (1.40pm).
The four-year-old remains in good form, having won at Nottingham in June and run reasonably well when fourth at Windsor and third at Ascot. He can return to winning ways ahead of Karl Burke’s Lethal Levi.
Charlie and Mark Johnston’s SOAPY STEVENS just beat Red Flyer by a short head in the bet365 Trophy at Newmarket and he can do something similar in the Coral Summer Handicap (2.10pm).
The four-year-old, who will again be ridden by Scouser Franny Norton, is bidding for a hat-trick having also scored at Chester. And although he is up another 3lb and worse off at the weights with Red Flyer, he looks in fine form and can make it three in a row in the 1m6f handicap.
Haggas’ SPIRIT OF NGURU ran well to be second at Haydock last time on his seasonal return and he can build on that to land a third career success on his fifth start in the Medallia Handicap (3.55pm).
Others who can win on the final day of Glorious Goodwood are the Andrew Balding-trained THE FOXES in the opener, the British European Breeders Fund EBF Maiden Stakes (1.05pm) and another Johnstons’ runner RAINBOW COLOURS – who was second under Norton earlier in the meeting – who can go one better in the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Handicap (4.30pm).
At Newmarket the Johnstons’ ROSE OF KILDARE can win the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes (Fillies & Mares) (2.25pm).
The five-year-old mare has some good form in the past but had her injury issues. She was last of six on her first start in more than 18 months at Lingfield back in February. But she was much better back at Newmarket where she has won in the past when second to Eternal Pearl over 1m4f last time.
That should put her spot-on for this and she can land a first win since July 2020.
Liverpool FC fan William Buick is in fine form and was firing in winners over the first four days at Goodwood. He rides at Newmarket on Saturday and could have several winners with the Johnstons-trained course and distance winner TEMPORIZE looking good to make it three wins from three starts in the Patti Crook Memorial Handicap (3pm).
Buick could also strike on the Michael Dods-trained AZURE BLUE in the Turners Fillies’ Handicap (3.35pm). While other good chances for the in-form jockey are Charlie Appleby’s ART OF MAGIC in the opener at Headquarters, the Turners British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (1.20pm) and the Haggas-trained THUNDER LEGEND in the Harry Allport Is Getting Married Handicap (4.05pm).
At Thirsk Richard Fahey’s SOCIETY RED can win the William Hill Summer Cup Handicap (3.48pm). The eight-year-old can be an in-and-out performer but if he’s on a going day he can land another course win.
Others who may score at Thirsk are the Dods-trained RED WARNING in the Tomahawk Steakhouses Handicap (3.13pm) and Tim Easterby’s consistent DANZAN in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap (4.55pm).
Wright Ones
GLORIOUS GOODWOOD (DAY FIVE)
1.05pm The Foxes
1.40pm Mitrosonfire
2.10pm Soapy Stevens
2.45pm Sea La Rosa
3.20pm Popmaster (NAP)
3.55pm Spirit Of Nguru
4.30pm Rainbow Colours
NEWMARKET
1.20pm Art Of Magic
1.55pm Liberation Bay
2.25pm Rose Of Kildare
3pm Temporize
3.35pm Azure Blue
4.05pm Thunder Legend
4.40pm Uzincso
DONCASTER
1.47pm Jam Nation
2.17pm Lotus Rose
2.52pm Tribal Wisdom
3.27pm Protagonist
4pm Another Investment
4.35pm Redzone
5.10pm Key Look
THIRSK
2.06pm Amy Santiago
2.38pm Billy No Mates
3.13pm Red Warning
3.48pm Society Red
4.20pm Lattam
4.55pm Danzan
5.30pm Neverbatsaneyelid
6.05pm Ba Na Hills
HAMILTON
5.45pm Jm Jungle
6.20pm Kats Bob
6.55pm Wickywickywheels
7.25pm Dragon Symbol
8pm Mi Capricho
8.30pm Bouncing Bobby
9pm Lochnaver
LINGFIELD
4.25pm Dark Kris
5.05pm Winforglory
5.40pm Bonnsie
6.15pm Blue Flame
6.45pm Come On Girl
7.15pm Klip Klopp
7.45pm One Step Beyond
8.15pm Greenscape
SUNDAY’S NAP: Red Mirage (Chester 3.30pm)
