"Julie Camacho has been added to the Saturday Jury panel, concluding Glorious Goodwood's run"
The Coral Stewards' Cup at Goodwood is shaping up to be an exciting race, with Elmonjed currently the clear favourite, but several other contenders, including Strike Red and Master Builder, offering strong challenges.
Elmonjed, with five wins from eleven starts this season and a progressive form, has caught the eye of many trainers and analysts. His last victory at York and consistent high strike-rate make him the benchmark selection for many. However, the race isn't without its contenders.
Strike Red, trained by Richard Fahey, is notably supported by race analysts like Dave Nevison. The horse is considered well suited by the expected softer ground conditions and showed significant promise recently at York, improving on previous performances on faster ground. This suggests some analysts believe Strike Red could outperform Elmonjed, especially given his better affinity for softer going and favourable draw.
Master Builder is another horse regarded positively by trainers and analysts. Seen as having winning potential on very soft ground and proven ability over the 6-furlong distance, Master Builder is considered a solid each-way option, though some reservations exist about his finishing speed.
In the race for the Stewards' Cup, trends favour horses aged 3 to 5 years carrying 9st 6lbs or less, with recent runs on Goodwood and proven 6-furlong experience. Most top picks meet these criteria.
Ken Pitterson, paddock expert, likes Circe each-way for the Stewards' Cup. The horse has won three times this season and comes off a convincing win at Newmarket. Her draw in 23 for the Stewards' Cup is decent, and she has the bonus of Ryan Moore in the saddle.
Apollo One, consistently running well in top sprint handicaps, is another horse to watch. Harry March, race analyst, believes Strike Red is well suited to big-field handicaps and is drawn near some of the pace. Strike Red, winner off soft ground in October, won't mind the ease underfoot in the Stewards' Cup.
For those interested in the race, The Racing Post digital newspaper offers award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing. A subscription, costing over £100 per month, includes form study tools such as the Pro Card and Horse Tracker, expert tips from Tom Segal and Paul Kealy, replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses, and an extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree, and sales data.
In the end, the Coral Stewards' Cup promises to be a thrilling race, with Elmonjed favoured overall by many, but Strike Red and Master Builder offering strong challenges. The race is set to take place at 3.05 on Saturday at Goodwood.
Strike Red and Master Builder, alongside Elmonjed, are contenders in the Coral Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, offering strong challenges to the favourites. Strike Red, supported by analysts like Dave Nevison, is well suited to the expected softer ground conditions and has shown promise, while Master Builder is regarded positively for his winning potential on very soft ground and proven 6-furlong experience.
