Glorious Goodwood: New sponsor revealed as entries come in for Stewards’ Cup

Goodwood have announced 32Red as the new sponsor of the £100,000 Stewards’ Cup, the six-furlong heritage handicap on Saturday, Augut 2 – the fifth and final day of Glorious.
Rex Imperator, ridden by Neil Callan, wins the Stewards' Cup last year   Picture by Malcolm WellsRex Imperator, ridden by Neil Callan, wins the Stewards' Cup last year   Picture by Malcolm Wells
Rex Imperator, ridden by Neil Callan, wins the Stewards' Cup last year Picture by Malcolm Wells

First run in 1840 and historically known as the Stewards’ Cup, the hugely-competitive contest is one of the highlights of Glorious Goodwood and a major betting event in the Flat season. It will be known as the 32Red Cup.

The 2013 renewal was won by the William Haggas-trained Rex Imperator and six horses have been successful twice although none since Sky Diver in 1967/1968. Roger Charlton, William Haggas and David Nicholls are the most successful current trainers in the race, with three victories each.

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Sponsor 32Red will also extend its support to the opening race on Saturday, August 2, the 32Redsport.com Handicap over six furlongs. This race is for horses eliminated from the 32Red Cup at the 48-hour declaration stage and offers a prize fund of £40,000 (up from £35,000 in 2013).

Matt Booth, commercial director at 32Red, commented: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring the 32Red Cup at Glorious Goodwood as well as the consolation race, the 32RedSport.com Handicap, for those horses eliminated from the 32Red Cup.

“Glorious Goodwood coincides with the official launch of our new sports betting site, 32Red Sport http://32redsport.com

“We look forward to building on our continued and proud association with Goodwood Racecourse.”

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The 2014 32Red Cup has received a very strong entry of 144 - up from 128 last year- and includes three former winners in Rex Imperator (2013, 20/1 with 32Red), Hoof It (2011, 20/1) and the veteran Borderlescot (2006, 33/1).

In addition to Rex Imperator, the second Ajjaad (25/1), the third Burwaaz (25/1)and the fourth Racy (25/1) from 2013 are entered again.

32Red’s 14/1 favourite is Intrinsic, who hails from the stable of sprint specialist Robert Cowell. The lightly-raced four-year-old, who has only made six career starts, has been successful in his last three races and was most recently seen out taking the six-furlong IBA Handicap at Goodwood on May 23.

Among the entries for the 32Red Cup who took part in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot on June 21, the Richard Hannon-trained Professor (20/1) did best, finishing second.

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Another horse to run well at Royal Ascot was Steps (20/1), who came home a close sixth in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs on June 17 for trainer Roger Varian.

James Tate is looking forward to saddling Ruwaiyan (25/1) in the 32Red Cup after a tenacious second to Danzeno in the Group Three Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle on June 28. The five-year-old relished his first attempt at six furlongs when beaten just three quarters of a length.

Ruwaiyan has improved since switching to the turf this season, scoring impressively at Thirsk in May and finishing a neck second on his penultimate start in a competitive handicap, the IJF John Woodman Handicap, at Goodwood on June 8, both over seven furlongs.

Tate could also be represented by Iptisam (33/1), with both owned by Saeed Manana, who progressed on the all-weather over the winter. The five-year-old was second to subsequent King’s Stand Stakes runner-up Stepper Point in a five-furlong Listed event at Lingfield in March, but finished tailed off on his turf return in the Group Three Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on May 3.

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James Tate: “Ruwaiyan has taken his race at Newcastle very well and we are now looking at the 32Red Cup.

“He runs well in big fields and has definitely got faster as he’s got older. Saeed Manana owns the family, so it could be that we look at Listed and Group Three races, but big field handicaps will suit this horse better.

“We had been looking forward to dropping him back to six furlongs for a while and we expected a big run at Newcastle. The only disappointing aspect was that they didn’t go that fast in it because he doesn’t like to make the pace.

“We will get a stronger pace at Goodwood and he has already proven himself at the track having finished second there over seven on his penultimate start. If he is drawn well, we would be very much looking forward to it.

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“Iptisam progressed really well on the all-weather and ran a cracking race to finish second to Stepper Point in a Listed race. He was drawn 10 that day, which is almost an impossible draw to win from at Lingfield.

“Unfortunately, he had a problem in the Palace House, but he has fully recovered from that and will be ready to run in about two weeks. I guess we will be looking at one run before the 32Red Cup. We will see how he gets on and then make a decision.”

The maximum field for the 32Red Cup is 28. Horses who fail to make the cut at the 48-hour declaration stage on Thursday, July 31, will be eligible for the £40,000 32Redsport.com Handicap.

Weights for the 32Red Cup will be revealed on Wednesday, July 9.

32Red Cup, 32Red Sport odds:

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14/1 Intrinsic; 16/1 Alben Star, Discussiontofollow, Gamesome, Muthmir; 20/1 Arnold Lane, Blaine, Boomerang Bob, Eastern Impact, Fairway To Heaven, Hoof It, Intibaah, Lancelot du Lac, Line of Reason, Ninjago, Professor, Rex Imperator, See The Sun, Steps; 25/1 Ajjaadd, Ashpan Sam, Athenian, Bear Behind, Bogart, Burwaaz, Desert Law, Dinkum Diamond, Foxtrot Romeo, Goldream, Hallelujah, High On Life, Hoodna, Joey’s Destiny, Masamah, Out Do, Pearl Acclaim, Racy, Rene Mathis, Ruwaiyan, Saayerr, Secondo, Seeking Magic, Shropshire, Soul, Tropics, Yeeoow, York Glory; 33/1 Addictive Dream, Annunciation, Bahamian Heights, Ballesteros, Barracuda Boy, Borderlescott, Captain Ramius, Clear Spring, Confessional, Eastern Dragon, Englishman, Expert, Fast Shot, Flyman, Heaven’s Guest, Hitchens, Humidor, Iptisam, Jimmy Styles, Kimberella, Lucky Beggar, Normal Equilibrium, Pipers Note, Sir Maximilian, Sir Reginald, Stepping Out, Zanetto; 40/1 Barnet Fair, Cosmic Chatter, Desert Command, El Viento, Farlow, Foxy Clarets, Love Island, Peterkin, Regal Parade, Run With Pride, Swiss Cross; 50/1 Angus Og, Chooseday, Daylight, Doc Hay, Drive On, Hopes N Dreams, Jammy Guest, Kinglami, Mar Mar, Milly’s Gift, Mission Approved, Noble Deed, Outer Space, Pal of The Cat, Picture Dealer, Saakhen, Sleeper King, Tatlisu; 66/1 Above Standard, Amadeus Wolfe Tone, Arctic Feeling, Brother Tiger, Commanche, Desert Ace, Extrasolar, Gatepost, Hadaj, Highland Acclaim, Huntsmans Close, Imperial Legend, Khelman, Lexi’s Hero, Marjong, Noverre To Go, Pandar, Polski Max, School Fees, Serenity Spa, Shaolin, Shore Step, Slip Sliding Away, Supersta, Withernsea, Zero Money; 100/1 Baby Strange, Breccbennach, Canyari, Clear Praise, Corporal Maddox, Crisis Averted, Diamond Charlie, Even Stevens, Galvanize, Harwoods Volante, Inxile, Ladweb, Links Drive Lady, Rocket Rob, Tidal’s Baby

Win tickets to Glorious Goodwood – in the Chichester Observer tomorrow (July 3)