Back for the Cup as Big Orange bids to emulate mighty Double's treble

Since its creation more than 200 years ago the Goodwood Cup has undergone many changes. Some have been relatively modest but not so the developments that give a very different feel to the latest running of a venerable old affair. Reassuringly, a familiar name provides welcome continuity.

Never has the Goodwood Cup been so grand or so valuable.

Thanks to the enhancements to the stayers' programme announced earlier this year, the race is being run for the first time as a Group 1 and, owing to Qatar's generous sponsorship, plus a single supplementary entry, prize-money has soared to £523,000.

In an attempt to further boost the event's status it moves from its traditional Thursday slot to become the opening day highlight of Glorious Goodwood.

All that is different. The likely star of the show stays the same.

For the last two years Big Orange has triumphed on the rolling Sussex downs. Double Trigger won the race three times in four years, but Big Orange returns seeking to become the first to complete a hat-trick.

And the popular front-runner has old ally Frankie Dettori back in the saddle after adding a titanic Gold Cup victory to his name. No horse at Goodwood this week will be cheered with such enthusiasm.

Wicklow and Ranger among the Big dangers

At Royal Ascot Big Orange was the underdog who fended off 5-6 market leader Order Of St George. This time it is he who dominates the market, to a level rarely seen in a Group 1 contest.

It is entirely possible the Michael Bell-trained stayer will carry the colours of Bill and Tim Gredley as an odds-on favourite against rivals all quoted at double-figure odds.

The six-year-old, partnered by James Doyle at Ascot in place of the then injured Dettori, faces a number of opponents he defeated in the Gold Cup, most notably the Doyle-ridden She Is No Lady – whose St Leger-winning stablemate Simple Verse is an important non-runner, along with Dal Harraild – and the smart Sheikhzayedroad.

Also lining up are Northumberland Plate victor Higher Power, Queen's Vase winner Stradivarius, last year's increasingly disappointing Derby runner-up US Army Ranger and Irish compatriot Wicklow Brave, so brilliant when winning the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April.

Godolphin quartet chase Lennox laurels

Chief supporting contest on day one at Goodwood is the Qatar Lennox Stakes, in which Limato sets the standard, but only if he runs. Should Henry Candy feel underfoot conditions have not sufficiently dried out, the dual Group 1 winner will stay at home.

Limato may or may not be involved in the Lennox. Godolphin definitely will be.

With the UAE among those Gulf nations to have severed ties with Qatar, the state this festival promotes, there were fears Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed could keep his horses away from Goodwood. That has proved very much not to be the case, with the sheikh instead choosing to keep sport and politics apart.

On Wednesday Godolphin heavyweight Ribchester will take on Churchill in the Sussex Stakes. More immediately there are four Godolphin runners – headed by last season's one-two, Dutch Connection and Home Of The Brave – in the Lennox.

Dutch Connection leads home Home Of The Brave in last year's Lennox Stakes - they renew rivalry in this year's raceCredit: Mark Cranham

Also involved in the race is recent Group 2 winner Spirit Of Valor, whose trainer Aidan O'Brien is represented by a potential Classic contender, Seahenge, in the first big heat of the week for juveniles, the Qatar Vintage Stakes.

Those races will be showcased on ITV, making its Glorious Goodwood debut, and BBC Radio 5 live, which most definitely is not.

Indeed, this year's meeting marks the 70th anniversary of the first BBC radio horseracing broadcast. The man with the microphone that time was Frank More O'Ferrall. Seventy years on it will be the superb John Hunt.

Weld in Tandem tilt at Galway

Five minutes after Goodwood's final race of the afternoon is scheduled to finish, Galway's first race of the evening is scheduled to start. You need not miss a thing.

While it is on Wednesday and Thursday that the jewels in Galway's crown are staged, the Tuesday fare offers plenty of interest, principally the €120,000 Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap.

Tandem has shown a love for LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann

Heading the weights, and pursuing a fourth consecutive strike, is a Ballybrit regular trained by a man who also knows the place quite well.

Tandem was an 11-length maiden winner at this festival five years ago. Dermot Weld was coming to the west coast racecourse long before then. A further seaside success could await them both.

Galway card and form