Glorious Goodwood: Carr plans double raid on Blue Square Stewards' Cup

Weights for the six-furlong heritage handicap are revealed today, with the 2011 winner Hoof It, who carried a record 10st to victory, heading the handicap with a welter burden of 10st 4lb. The Mick Easterby-trained sprinter is a 16/1 shot for a repeat success with Blue Square Bet.

Victory in the Blue Square Bet Stewards’ Cup would be particularly fitting for Carr, whose late grandfather David Chapman recorded one of the biggest wins of his career in the 1982 Stewards’ Cup with Soba.

Head Space, a 20/1 chance with Blue Square Bet, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a five-furlong handicap at Ayr on Monday (July 9) when he shied badly nearing the winning line and had to settle for a share of third place.

The four-year-old had previously posted an easy success in a six-furlong handicap at the same course on June 22, adding to a half-length victory in a Newcastle handicap over five furlongs earlier the same month. Carr revealed: “Both Head Space and Klynch are going to Goodwood. There’s nothing wrong with Head Space after Monday and I think that it was just down to a bit of greenness

“He jumped the line when he won at Ayr last month, which was understandable because he was well clear and his ears were pricked. He might have frightened himself as he spooked a bit going down to the start on Monday but I can’t understand how he would be able to pick out the winning line in a race when his head is down in a finish.

“I am hoping that it is something that he might grow out of and the short-term aim is for him to run in a nice five-furlong handicap at Ascot on July 22 and then head to Goodwood.

“He is quite versatile regarding ground although he showed a really impressive turn of foot when he won on decent ground at Ayr, so he is probably going to be better on good ground.

“He’s an improving horse and it makes you wonder how much he has left in the tank if he is looking around at the end of a five-furlong race.”

Six-year-old Klynch, who is currently a 20/1 chance with the race sponsor, is also on an upward curve having registered a hat-trick of wins on his latest three starts. The Kyllachy gelding followed up a short-head verdict in a six-furlong York handicap on June 16 with a decisive victory over the same trip at Hamilton on June 28.

He continued his ascent up the handicap ranks by comfortably taking an Epsom handicap over seven furlongs on July 5.

Carr continued: “Klynch is going to go for the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton on Friday (July 13). He needs to run while the weather is like this because he likes soft ground.

“He ran well in the consolation race for the Stewards’ Cup last year and he seems to come good at this time of year. He’s probably better this season compared to last year and he’s certainly in good form.”

Blue Square Bet currently has five horses sharing favouritism on 12/1 - Waffle (9st 3lb), who has finished runner-up in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot for the past two years, the James Fanshawe-trained duo of Mac’s Power (8st 11lb) and Hallelujah (8st 3lb), the three-year-old Top Offer (8st 5lb) and Cape Classic (8st 3lb), from the William Haggas stable.

There is a maximum field of 28 for the Blue Square Bet Stewards’ Cup. Horses that fail to make the final field are eligible for the Get Your Bet On At Bluesq.Com Stewards’ Sprint Handicap, the opening race on Saturday, August 4.

Latest odds from Blue Square Bet

12/1 Waffle, Mac’s Power, Top Offer, Cape Classic, Hallelujah

14/1 Alben Star, Hezmah, Jamesie, Scarf, Sholaan

16/1 Hoof It, Hawkeyethenoo, Es Que Love, Mince

20/1 Mirza, Colonel Mak, Palace Moon, Borderlescott, Desert Law, Lui Rei, Seal Rock, Pearl Ice, Ancient Cross, Dungannon, Shropshire, Whaileyy, Victoire de Lyphar, Catfish, Head Space, Top Cop, Klynch

25/1 Markab, Elusivity, Humidor, Secret Witness, Pabusar, Jonny Mudball, Confessional, Bajan Tryst, High Standing, Lady Gorgeous, Al Aasifh, Head of Steam, Lexi’s Hero, Gold City, Esprit de Midas, Atlantic Sport, Fast Shot, Racy, Tax Free, Steps, Dickie’s Lad, Accession, La Fortunata, Global City, Chilli Green, Novellen Lad, Johannes, Docofthebay, Lutine Bell, Tioman Legend, El Viento, Nasri, Swiss Cross

33/1 Prime Defender, Oasis Dancer, Duchess Dora, Imperial Guest, Louis The Pious, Advanced, Breathless Kiss, Thunderball, Piazza San Pietro, Grissom, Vocational, Fitz Flyer, Valery Borzov

40/1 Bayleyf, Fratellino, Starwatch, Shifting Star, Elusive Prince, Muaamara