Goodwood Cup verdict: ‘He would have won at Ascot with a better ride’ ❌🏆

‘A Group 1 seems like the next logical step’

Obviously Gold Cup winner Kyprios has every chance here judging by his demolition job in the Saval Beg over 1m6f. This is a competitive race and his market price doesn’t reflect that. Coltrane is a much more attractive proposition and is improving with every run. It was a rout at Sandown last time and that 10-length victory puts him right in the mix here.

More progression will be needed in Group 1 company but it would be dangerous to rule out more improvement at this stage. A Group 1 seems like the next logical step and he has certainly earned his shot. Stradivarius and Trueshan arguably have more questions to answer than Coltrane with the ground being a significant factor for one of those. The latter’s only question mark appears to be; how much more can he improve? (Liam Bramall)

‘He would have won with a better ride’

Kyprios showed his class when winning the Ascot Gold Cup but I am not so sure he will get away with a flat spot on a speedier track so I am siding with Stradivarius, who needs little introduction. Already a four time winner of this race, the legend was given a poor ride by Frankie Dettori when third at Ascot behind Kyprios when last seen.

He was in a decent early position, but Dettori shuffled him back near rear and got him stuck in a pocket. When he came to make his challenge he had to go around a wall of horses around the bend for home, clearly losing two or three lengths in the process. In my mind, he would have won at Ascot with a better ride. (Adrian Wall)

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