'We're definitely running' - King commits Trueshan to Goodwood Cup defence

Alan King has confirmed Trueshan will defend his crown in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (3.35) following a discussion about ground conditions with the star stayer's regular rider Hollie Doyle.

King consulted Doyle following her ride in the opening handicap and has given the go-ahead for Trueshan to take his place in the race, setting up a thrilling clash against Ascot Gold Cup winner Kyprios and four-time Goodwood Cup hero Stradivarius.

The going for the opening day of Glorious Goodwood remains good, good to firm in places.

King said: "We're definitely running. I just wanted Hollie to ride in the first. She came back and was happy. The time backed up the going description so we're going to roll the dice."

All the rage for Coltrane in Goodwood Cup – bookmaker

Bookmaker Star Sports say "all the rage" is for Coltrane to defeat the three leading stayers in the Goodwood Cup (3.35), which could be one of their worst results of the day.

The firm have taken a £3,000 bet on the Ascot Stakes hero, a wide-margin winner of the Coral Marathon last time, in the day's feature race and he is as short as 7-1 in places, having been a general 9-1 in the morning.

Star Sports spokesperson Ed Dark said: "Stradivarius is completely friendless, likewise Kyprios. Trueshan looks like he'll go off favourite, but all the rage is for Coltrane. We laid £3,000 on him at 9-1 and he's been backed into 7-1 with us.

"We want to see him beat and he continues to shorten. At the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes shorter than Stradivarius."

Last year's Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan remains popular and is now 15-8 joint-favourite with Ascot Gold Cup victor Kyprios, having been a 9-4 chance earlier on, while four-time winner Stradivarius has been very weak and is now 4-1 (from 11-4).

Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said: "Kyprios and Stradivarius have eased, while there has been support for both Trueshan and Coltrane. The going doesn't look ideal for Trueshan, but punters are willing to overlook that.

"Coltrane was one of our biggest ante-post movers for the meeting having opened at 33-1 and going into 6-1 at one point."

Pierre Lapin now favourite to give McGuinness remarkable success

Pierre Lapin has been one of the most well-backed horses of the day and is now vying for favouritism in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap (6.40) on day two of the Galway festival.

The five-year-old has been out of form recently but that has not stopped him being supported into as short as 5-1 in places, having been a general 8-1 on Tuesday morning.

He is one of eight runners in the race for trainer Ado McGuinness, who bids to win it for a remarkable fourth time in a row following victory with Sirjack Thomas last year and Saltonstall in 2019 and 2020.

Frankie Dettori backed for early Group 2 glory

Kinross has been supported to provide Frankie Dettori with a big-race winner on the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood festival and is now 4-1 to land a second World Pool Lennox Stakes (3.00).

The five-year-old was a 6-1 chance early on Tuesday morning but has been backed to defend his crown in the 7f Group 2, having prevailed by a neck last year.

It would be a welcome success for Dettori, who misses out on partnering Stradivarius in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup later on the card, in what could be the legendary stayer's final run.

Impressive Chesham Stakes winner Holloway Boy has drifted at the top of the Vintage Stakes (2.25) market and is as big as 9-4 in places (from 7-4).

Market movers

Goodwood
2.256. Holloway Boy 9-4 (from 7-4)
3.00 2. Kinross 4-1 (from 6)
3.35: 2. Coltrane 7-1 (from 9), 8. Trueshan 15-8 (from 9-4)

Galway
6.40: 11. Pierre Lapin 5-1 (from 8)

Going remains good, good to firm in places for Goodwood's opening day

The going for the opening day of Glorious Goodwood remains good, good to firm in places, with the track's clerk of the course Ed Arkell hopeful conditions will allow Trueshan to take his place in the Goodwood Cup.

Only 0.2mm rain fell throughout Monday at the Sussex venue ahead of today's eight-race card, which begins at 1.50, and despite a sunny day expected, Arkell is confident the ground will not quicken up sufficiently.

Speaking just before 8am on Tuesday morning, he said: "We remain good, good to firm in places as we had 0.2mm of rain yesterday lunchtime. We're expecting it to be sunny with some bright spells, but it is overcast at the moment.

"The Goodwood Cup looks a fantastic race and with luck I hope they all turn up, but we've got great fields throughout the card. There are some competitive handicaps and I do hope we can find a great two-year-old winner of the Vintage Stakes."

The going at Galway for the second day of their festival is good to yielding on the hurdle and chase courses, while it is soft, yielding in places on the Flat track.

The seven-race mixed card gets under way at 5.10, with the BMW Mile (6.40) the feature contest.

Glorious Goodwood day one card

Galway festival day two card

Non-runners

Goodwood
5.20 11. Eponina

Galway
8.20 11. Devious Dreamer

Posted at 8.40

Read Tuesday's previews . . .

1.50 Goodwood: could the John Smith's Cup at York prove the key to this competitive handicap?

2.25 Goodwood: 'He's favourite and rightly so' – Burke bullish about Holloway Boy in Vintage

3.00 Goodwood: 'He should have an excellent chance' – who is feeling confident for the Lennox?

3.35 Goodwood: Bjorn Nielsen on what could be Stradivarius's farewell in Goodwood Cup

5.10 Galway: Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott go head-to-head for Listed novice hurdle prize

6.40 Galway: who does Ado McGuinness like best of his eight BMW Mile contenders?

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