TODAY’s Goodwood Cup will surely be a romp for miracle stayer Kyprios — so just enjoy the ‘million-to-one’ comeback king.
The Group 1 feature, the highlight at the start of the Glorious meeting on ITV, is stuffed full of mudlarks.
And, thankfully, for once it’s not going to rain at Goodwood.
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What that means is it’s hard to fancy Trueshan or Sweet William, and I suspect if there is a danger it will be Gregory who, in June, failed to stay behind Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup.
But, to be honest Kyprios, should win as he pleases. He rarely hacks up as he idles in front but he is a class above this lot.
Aidan’s O’Brien’s hero took this prize in 2022 when defeating Stradivarius.
Back in third that day was Trueshan with another of today’s rivals — Coltrane — in fourth.
It was at the end of that year when Kyprios had issues.
He got an infection in his off fore fetlock and it was not just his racing career that then hung in the balance.
The injury can cause a total loss of use of the limb and it was therefore a very real possibility the horse would not come out of the other side.
O’Brien said: “It’s a million to one, almost impossible to come back from what he came back from. At one stage, we weren’t sure he would live.
“Then we had to teach him how to trot and how to canter, this was before a rider ever went near him.
“It was like someone having the most horrific injury, a human being, and going from winning the Olympics to having to learn to move and walk, then getting back to the very top level.”
This is a magical story.
Come on, Kyprios!
Today’s action gets underway at with an 18-runner handicap over ten furlongs. Nice.
Enfjaar could easily outclass the field, but I will chance the horse third to him up at York in TONY MONTANA (1.50) for Michael Bell.
He has been pretty consistent this year,stays well and goes on good to firm.
He should get a good position from stall 12 and clearly has an excellent each-way chance.
Next is the Group 2 Vintage Stakes is for two-year-olds over seven furlong.
The one I think will be suited best to a step up to this trip is AOMORI CITY (2.25) for Godolphin.
He was caught flat-footed when the pace quickened before staying on well into third behind Whistlejacket at Newmarket last time.
The boys in blue can also strike in the Lennox Stakes. It should be a Group 1 as we don’t have many seven furlong races at the top level.
NOBLE DYNASTY (3.00) is in great form and will love the conditions.
There will be loads of pace on with Audience, Pogo and Kinross all capable of front-running.
I expect William Buick to sit tight and then come on strong on the run-in.
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