Scandinavia to successfully defend Goodwood Cup crown

Having worn down Trawlerman to wrestle away the Gold Cup crown at Ascot, it is difficult to see how the elder statesman can turn the tables on Scandinavia in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.

The two appear to be head and shoulders clear of the rest of the current crop of stayers and official ratings tell the same story.

Scandinavia is rated just 1lb clear of Trawlerman having benefited from a perfect Ryan Moore ride at Ascot, yet Trawlerman is 6lb clear of the next best, Roger Varian’s St Leger runner-up Rahiebb, but he was 24 lengths behind the big two in the Gold Cup.

Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia won the Goodwood Cup last year when only a three-year-old, no mean feat – in fact the last one from the Classic generation to win the race before that was a certain Stradivarius and look what he went on to do.

Unbeaten in six, Scandinavia dropped back in trip after Goodwood last year to win the St Leger and he looks like being the dominant force on the staying scene for some time to come.

Qirat may be being overlooked in his bid for the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes.

Ralph Beckett’s five-year-old caused a huge shock in the Sussex Stakes 12 months ago when winning at 150-1.

He has been a bit in and out since but with a first-time tongue tie on, he got back to winning ways at York when once again allowed to dominate in the Criterion Stakes.

That was his first run over 1400m since last year’s City Of York Stakes and he can be ridden more forcefully over that trip.

As long as he does not get drawn into an early battle for the lead, you at least know he will be staying on strongly at the finish, just like he was at York.

Haffner may have only won a maiden on the July course but he did so in the manner of a typical Ballydoyle Classic contender.

The Justify colt had finished an eyecatching second to stablemate Abraham Lincoln on his debut and in true style for one from that yard, took a big step forward next time.

He beat a well-bred newcomer of Charlie Appleby’s there and it is that stable who provide the big danger again, this time in Al Hudaiba.

He is unbeaten (in races he has completed after getting rid of his jockey at Yarmouth) and he beat Abraham Lincoln by a short head in the Superlative Stakes.

O’Brien will have a very good idea of who is the best between Abraham Lincoln and Haffner and it probably says a lot that only the latter was entered in the Coral Vintage Stakes.

William Haggas’ Yabher was strongly fancied for the John Smith’s Cup at York but was held up at the back of the pack and was never on terms.

He barely had a race there but the time before he had bolted in over the course and distance he will face in the Coral Chesterfield Cup.

Hammered 12lb by the handicapper for that 6-length win, he has been dropped a couple after York and may resume winning ways.

It seems a bit harsh but Final Objective was gelded after finishing seventh in the Coventry Stakes.

Wathnan Racing paid £115,000 for him at the breeze-ups but obviously felt his mind was not fully on the job.

If that was the case and given he was only beaten 2 lengths by Great Barrier Reef, he looks the one to beat in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes. – Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Tuesday. Here are the tips.

BEVERLEY: Race 1: 14.35 Sunny Orange, Race 2: 15.10 La Trinite, Race 3: 15.45 Lexington Boom, Race 4: 16.20 Giant Dan Burn, Race 5: 16.55 Norcross Brow, Race 6: 17.30 Golden Havana.

GOODWOOD: Race 1: 14.50 Yabher, Race 2: 15.25 Haffner, Race 3: 16.00 Qirat, Race 4: 16.35 SCANDINAVIA (NAP), Race 5: 17.10 Twilight Calls, Race 6: 17.45 Final Objective, Race 7: 18.20 Wid, Race 8: 18.55 Gold Digger.

YARMOUTH: Race 1: 15.35 Educator, Race 2: 16.10 Mithaaly, Race 3: 16.45 Love You More, Race 4: 17.20 Nuptown Good, Race 5: 17.55 Charencey, Race 6: 18.25 Thapa VC.

FFOS LAS: Race 1: 19.00 Jazzy Bay, Race 2: 19.30 Name The Day, Race 3: 20.00 Knightmare, Race 4: 20.30 Cracking Beauty, Race 5: 21.00 Zaraquelle, Race 6: 21.30 Legendsoftheland.

ALL TO COME: Haffner and Scandinavia (Goodwood, Races 2 and 4)