Evens And Odds (red cap) scoots to a popular success for punters

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Evens And Odds strikes for Pricewise followers

Report: Goodwood, Saturday

Bluesq.com Stewards' Cup (Heritage handicap) 6f, 3yo+

EVENS AND ODDS, Pricewise's Stewards' Cup selection in Saturday's Racing Post, rewarded punters who followed Tom Segal's advice with a 20-1 success in the famously tricky handicap at Glorious Goodwood.

The winner - also flagged up by Gerald Delamere and on top on Racing Post Ratings - provided trainer David Nicholls with a third Stewards' Cup win, equalling Roger Charlton and Fred Armstrong's post-war record.

Second in the race last year, the mount of Billy Cray shot up the centre of the track to  score by a neck from 14-1 shot Jonny Mudball.

Prohibit, 12th a year ago, was third at 33-1, while Rileyskeepingfaith came fourth, returning at 12-1.

Some bookmakers paid out up to five each-way places and that position was filled by Noverre To Go (12-1), who, like Jonny Mudball, is trained by Tom Dascombe.

Evens And Odds was beaten a length by Genki last year and turned the tables on that rival, who was down the field in 23rd. Another fancied runner not to make much impact was 6-1 favourite Enact, representing the Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore combination. She finished 24th of the 28 runners.

The victory was Evens And Odds's first since May last year and Nicholls, who has trained the former Kevin Ryan inmate for the last two seasons, was understandably delighted after another big-sprint success.

David Nicholls (right): three Cups

  PICTURE: Martin Lynch  

Nicholls, who also trains classy sprinter Regal Parade for winning owners Dab Hand Racing, said: "I'm pleased for Billy and pleased for the staff. We're lucky to have some good horses to come here and that can run to a high level.

"He was in good order but I knew we had a few lengths to find with Genki."

Nicholls, whose previous Stewards' Cup wins came courtesy of Tayseer in 2000 and Gift Horse five years later, added: "He's a very individual racehorse but Kevin Ryan thought he was good enough to run in the Dewhurst. He weaves and he worries but is certainly a good horse.

"I never had a doubt that my jockey would deliver."

The second-placed Jonny Mudball, who is owned by footballer Jonathan Woodgate, could be set for a step up in class according to Dascombe.

"The irritating thing is he'll go up in the handicap after this," Dascombe said.

"He ran a great race and the owners are happy. He's been a star for us. Handicaps might be too tough for him now so we might go for a Listed race."

Greg Chung, representative of Prohibit's trainer Robert Cowell, said: "We're thrilled to bits. He's done all we've asked and run a superb race. He deserves to win one - and very soon too. We'll sit back and think about what we do next."