Goodwood best bets: Glenfinnan and Cover Up can defy massive odds in wide-open Stewards’ Cup

3.35 Goodwood: Coral Stewards' Cup (6 furlongs)

Last week’s selection, New Image, would in all likelihood have won the race in another couple of strides, but we had to settle for a narrow second place, which produced a small profit and hopefully we can round off our trends-based tips with a win on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.

The Stewards’ Cup is one of the top sprint handicaps of any season, and is a good way to end my column with Planet Sport. I truly hope that you have enjoyed my scribbles and selections, not to mention a fair few tasty winners along the way. 

It would be great to finish with another winner, but this is an incredibly difficult handicap to pick the winner, so hopefully the trends below will hopefully narrow the 28-runner field to three or four likely candidates:

• 21/21 – Had won over 6f before 
• 20/21 – Aged 6 or younger 
• 20/21 – Had at least 3 previous career wins  
• 19/21 – Had 3 or more previous runs that season 
• 14/21 – Raced at either Ascot, York or Newmarket last time out 
• 13/21 – Aged either 4 or 5 years-old 
• 12/21 – Carried 9st-1lb or less 
• 11/21 – Placed favourites (top 4) 
• 11/21 – Placed 1st or 2nd last time out 
• 10/21 – Raced at Goodwood before 
•   6/21 – Favourites (1 joint, 1 co) 
•   3/21 – Winning 3 year-olds 
• 15/19 - Came from a double-figure draw
• Michael Dods, David O’Meara, Roger Charlton, William Haggas and Charles Hills have each saddled two of the last 21 winners

Having applied the trends above the following four horses make the shortlist:

Cover Up comes from a top stable and ran well to come within five lengths of the winner in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. 

The Gosdens’ four-year-old had been running well on all-weather tracks before the royal meeting,  and the quick going should suit him at Goodwood. He does need to improve to win but has scope to progress more than some of his rivals.

Suggested bet (1): Cover Up each-way in the 15:35 at Goodwood

Aleezdancer has plenty of experience and put in an excellent performance to win another big-field handicap at York in May, although there has to be concern over the poor stable form with only a 5% strike rate in the last two weeks. 

The ground may prove too quick for Kevin Ryan’s five-year-old as most of his wins have been on ground with cut, but the fast pace should suit and if he can handle the going, then he could run into a place.

Ferrous is an improving type who has made the frame in eight of his 13 runs, and he won on his only start at Goodwood, so he handles the idiosyncrasies of this track. 

Jack Channon’s yard is also having a cold patch and Ferrous has struggled on his two runs since the York victory, probably due to the rise in the weights.

Glenfinnan has scope to improve after winning at Ascot in May, where he also finished fifth in the Wokingham,  less than two lengths behind the winner, which is his best performance to date. 

Michael Dods has a decent record in this race and the stable is firing now, and with Glenfinnan’s liking of a strong pace, this race should suit him with its traditional breakneck speed.

Suggested bet (2): Glenfinnan each-way in the 15:35 at Goodwood

This is a very difficult race on which to finish, with plenty of capable contenders, but on the trends I am suggesting backing both Glenfinnan and Cover Up each-way, and as usual seek out the best prices and extra places from your bookmakers.

READ MORE: Today's best free horse racing tips from Goodwood