Glorious Goodwood 2016: Dancing Star to shine in Stewards’ Cup
David Metcalf | July 29, 2016
Dancing Star can lift the Stewards’ Cup
Dancing Star is on a serious upward curve and looks to hold outstanding claims of landing the big betting race on the final day of Glorious Goodwood, the 6f Stewards’ Cup (15:45).
The Andrew Balding trained filly has won three of her four starts this season, kicking off with success in a class 5 contest off a rating of 75 and landing an ultra-competitive 20-runner class 2 handicap at Newmarket off 96 when last seen in action.
Dancing Star showed plenty of early dash to track the leaders in the latter, before being produced inside the final furlong and running on strongly to beat Priceless by 3/4 of a length.
It was a performance which suggested the daughter of Aqlaam may have even more to offer, and a 6lb penalty for that success means that she squeezes in at the foot of the weights off 8st 12lb.
Dancing Star, who is also a winner over course and distance, looks to have been placed to perfection by Balding and is bidding to follow in the footsteps of Magical Memory, who won the same handicap at Newmarket before going on to land the spoils in this 12 months ago.
Orion’s Bow in the form of his life
Orion’s Bow comes into the race on the back of a five-timer and looks sure to make a bold bid to extend that winning sequence.
The Dandy Nicholls trained gelding bolted up by 3 1/4 lengths in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton when last seen in action and – even with a 6lb penalty – is 3lb well-in at the weights, as he is due to race off 9lb higher in future contests.
That gives Orion’s Bow outstanding claims from a handicapping perspective, and the five-year-old once again has the services of Barry McHugh in the saddle, who has partnered him to his last three successes.
Ninjago a lively outsider
Ninjago is bidding to win the race at the fourth attempt and looks a lively outsider, so could well be an each-way player.
This gelding finished a close-up fifth in 2013 off a mark of 103 and ran a blinder to finish runner-up in 2014 off the same rating.
Although only 16th in last year’s renewal, Ninjago got hampered and was only beaten 6 1/2 lengths.
The six-year-old is now able to race off a reduced rating of 101, also coming into the contest having shaped as if returning to form when seventh of 16 to Kimberella at York.
Related
There’s plenty more Glorious Goodwood tips and content on our dedicated page.
Coral’s top tip: Dancing Star is improving at a rate of knots, so looks worth a wager in a typically fierce renewal of the Stewards’ Cup. Orions Bow rates a big danger, while Ninjago looks a lively outsider.
