Disclaimer: Compulsive gambling can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt. If you have a problem with gambling and you’d like to stop, support and treatment is available. To find information, support and counselling on gambling addiction, please visit the NHS website: www.bit.ly/NHSGambling

THE Stewards Cup is the final big betting heat on the fifth day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting and with the ground drying out all the time, this is going to be a fast and furious six-furlong dash as they appear over the hill just before the five-furlong start and fly down the home stretch.

Last year’s hero, Get It, comes here at the top of his form to defend his title following a remarkable all the way success in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot. That win came off a mark of 100, his success 12 months ago came off 95, and he will have to defy a career high rating of 104 which to be fair isn’t the strictest of penalties from the Berkshire track. A box number of 27 gives him a chance to fly out once again and try and make all against the stand’s side rail.

I wholly respect his chances as he seems to be getting quicker even at the age of seven and the gelding will surely be one of the main dangers to my each-way play which is COMMANCHE FALLS (3.05) who is a year older and was the winner of this race back in 2022 off 103 and now set to run off 100.

At the grand old age of eight he is obviously getting no quicker, but he still retains a high level of ability as he showed when running second in a class two at Hamilton at the beginning of June and then running two fair races at Ripon and then back at the Glasgow track last time out in the Scottish Steward’s Cup when just three lengths off Nariko.

Of the remaining 26 runners for this famous cavalry charge, the likes of Drama (unlucky in running at Newcastle last time out after winning at Kempton Park) and Jakajaro (found five furlongs too sharp here earlier in the week) both have excellent each-way chance both at double figure prices.

The feature group race on the card is the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes and chasing after a fine four timer, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Goodie Two Shoes could just about start favourite after a game success in the Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse.

But in a field of just nine it makes sense to have another each-way play in such a wide open contest and the improving WAARDAH (2.30) fits the bill. The form of her win at the track in the 10-furlongs Abingdon Stakes may not be as good as some of her rivals, but she acted beautifully around here and once Callum Rodrigueuz gave asked the daughter of Postponed for her effort she readily scooted clear of Anna Swan.

This of course is a step up in grade and trip, but will be only her fifth run under rules and there is plenty of stamina on both sides of her breeding line to expect that she will see out the extra half mile and I suspect that trainer Owen Burrows has had this race in mind for her for a while.

The Group Three Glorious Stakes which kicks off the card at 1.20 will see the remarkable eight-year-old Al Aasy gunning for yet more black type. The Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot was probably flying a bit high last time out and this is more his grade, but in the complete outsider, RAJA RAJA we could well see another upset at the festival at around the 50/1 mark. 

He was some five lengths behind another of today’s runners Candleford in the Listed Charlie Wood Stakes, staying on strongly up the hill that day, and with plenty of pace on here I fancy another really strong finishing effort from him and a career best which he will surely need to land this opening contest.

Of the other handicaps on the card, I shall certainly be having a lumpy wager on FRENCH DUKE (1.55) in the other mile-and-three-quarters event, the Summer Handicap. The Ebor Handicap may well be on his radar next at the York August meeting, but this looks a very nice prize in its own right worth taking on with £50,000 to the winner. 

I thought that the Wathnan Racing owned charge was a huge high catcher in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap when finishing eighth of the 18 runners behind Ethical Diamond. He pulled quite hard in rear for the first part of the race and after the pace quickened between the mile and five pole he settled and took closer order. 

Then the field concertinaed and he was predictably outpaced when the field turned into the home straight and from that point onwards James Doyle never asked him for everything. With loads more left in the locker he should be a horse set to win off his current mark of 98 and should be running in group staying events before the season is out and could possibly become a Melbourne Cup horse.

Former Golden Mile Handicap hero TOIMY SON (4.55) is slowly but surely dropping down the weights and could have a say off a mark of 93 in the concluding Handicap over nine furlongs. Course and distance winner Alpha Crucis (probably needs some give in the ground) and big outsider Longlai (finally being shown some mercy by the handicapper off a 1lbs higher mark than for his last win) both have claims at bigger prices in what is always a very competitive last race at the festival.

Away from Goodwood I shall be keeping a close eye on the betting for SIEMPRE ARTURO (Newmarket, 4.35) in the Handicap over 12 furlongs. He was very heavily supported to land a similar race on the all weather last time out and off a 1lb lower mark and with cheek pieces added, he may well be worth an each-way sniff against the likes of Beylerbeyi and the in form Just An Hour.

Finally, have a second look at the versatile RON O (Thirsk, 4.05). Effective from seven furlongs to a mile and a half, with loads of pace on in this race, he could be flying through beaten horses at the back end of the race and could well prove to be a springer in the market.