GOODWOOD 15:35 1j2dt

Non Runners: SUMMERGHAND (IRE).

Time: 1m 16.93s

Overrounds: Industry SP 135%, Betfair SP 105.8%

The Stewards' Cup has been run on heavy ground as recently as 2021, but this was something else, the winning time the slowest for at least 35 years and probably a lot longer, the ground barely raceable by this stage with the rest of the meeting abandoned after, yet it's a race that makes remarkable sense among the principals, plenty of them big-field handicap regulars with any draw bias proving negligible with runners from the 3 distinct groups finishing in the first 5, Aberama Gold continuing his excellent spell since switched to David O'Meara; Summerghand was withdrawn at the start after getting upset in his stall.

ABERAMA GOLD is climbing back up the ranks this year, starting his resurgence with his old yard and continuing the good work with his new one, has now won 4 of his last 6 races, following up last week's York success with this very valuable one that suggests he's at least as good as ever; raced centre, chased leaders, tanked along, led over 1f out, driven out; he's versatile with regards ground, a winner on firm at Hamilton in June but is particularly proficient when the mud is flying and this success should guarantee his place in other top sprint handicaps, his course record suggesting he'll be a big player in the Ayr Gold Cup later in the year.

APOLLO ONE must be one of the unluckiest horses around, runner-up in a top handicap at a big meeting for a third start in a row, building here on his Wokingham second and 'winning' his race on the stand side without being able to reel in Aberama Gold down the middle; raced stand side, close up, ridden over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, plugged on.

BIELSA (IRE) finds all ground coming alike, running just as well here as when winning on firm at York at the Dante meeting, and he might have done even better but for lugging towards the centre of the track; raced stand side, mid-field, pushed along from halfway, hung badly right over 1f out, ran on; it's credit to his trainer that he's got him back to the level he has after a disappointing 2022.

MR WAGYU (IRE) did worst of his trainer's 5 runners at this meeting this week, a remarkable training performance considering the competitiveness of the races contested, and though My Wagyu perhaps isn't quite so good as he once was, his mark reflects that; raced centre, prominent, travelled well, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra final 100 yds; much tends to be made of his winning record in the summer months, but he's often been fighting the handicapper in the later part of recent seasons.

ALEEZDANCER (IRE) in cheekpieces instead of blinkers this time, attracted earlier in the week in the anticipation of testing ground and duly bounced back to form, 'winning' the race involving the smaller group on the far side; chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, plugged on; his trainer is yet to win this valuable handicap, but has won 5 Ayr Gold Cups and it's easy to see this gelding heading up his team for a sixth providing he gets his conditions.

SIGNIFICANTLY well backed, has found things a bit tougher since Haydock, back up in the weights and grade but remains in good form, this test under the conditions an absolute maximum for him; raced stand side, led group, pushed along soon after halfway, headed 2f out, hung right inside final 1f, no extra only late on.

SPANISH STAR (IRE) is probably too high in the weights to win a race like this but remains in form, doing best of those that had to come from off the pace; raced centre, held up, typically travelled well, pushed along under 2f out, ran on.

ALBASHEER (IRE) easy to back, hasn't been seen to best effect in high-end handicaps on his last 3 starts now and remains capable of making a big impact in one when a little more goes his way; raced stand side, held up, headway from halfway, ridden over 2f out, hung right, no extra only late on.

APHELIOS in a change of headgear, fared no better than last time, though this sort of test was asking a lot of him given his form this year so far; raced far side, helped force pace, pushed along soon after halfway, weakened over 1f out.

JUAN LES PINS unproven on the ground, is better judged on his excellent third in the Wokingham, that form upheld here by the second and fourth; raced stand side, mid-field, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out.

GORAK (FR) has plenty of form in the mud, but at a lower level over further and seemed unsuited by the drop in trip; raced centre, mid-field, pushed along before halfway, not quicken.

VINTAGE CLARETS was running for the second time at this meeting and underperformed once more; slowly into stride, raced far side, raced off the pace, pushed along over 2f out, switched off rail to make a brief challenge, weakened final 100 yds.

MUMS TIPPLE (IRE) was another who had run well in the Wokingham that failed to repeat that effort and is best excused given his poor position; awkward leaving stalls, raced centre, raced well off the pace, pushed along halfway, merely ed beaten horses.

MAKANAH produced a rare below-par effort; raced centre, mid-field, pushed along before halfway, weakened over 1f out.

GOOD EARTH (IRE) back up in trip, followed a below-par effort with an even worse one, though was a bit of his grade in a race like this; raced stand side, chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 2f out.

STERLING KNIGHT found run of good form coming to a halt; raced stand side, mid-field, ridden before halfway, weakened over 2f out.

HYPERFOCUS (IRE) has possibly gone off the boil for the time being, but that should help his mark begin to come back down; raced far side, led group, headed around halfway, weakened 2f out, held when hampered over 1f out.

ORAZIO (IRE) was back on softer ground (albeit unproven on going this testing) but proved to be a disappointment as he was beaten favourite in another heritage handicap, rather caught in no man's land on the outer of his group without cover; raced centre, mid-field, travelled well, pushed along over 2f out, wandered, weakened inside final 1f; things haven't gone to plan the last twice, but his potential was there for all to see on his early-season form and isn't one to be forgetting about just yet.

LUCKY MAN (IRE) in a change of headgear, again ran poorly; raced centre, prominent, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out; something to prove at present.

TANMAWWY (IRE) is now on a career-high mark and never looked like getting involved; awkward leaving stalls, raced centre, held up, pushed along halfway, never a threat.

TACTICAL who'd had another breathing operation since last seen 3 months ago, ran poorly in first-time cheekpieces; very slowly away, raced stand side, raced well off the pace, never involved.

KING'S LYNN produced a rare below-par effort; raced far side, mid-field, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out.

BADRI back up in trip, ran poorly; raced stand side, mid-field, ridden before halfway, weakened over 1f out.

CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (IRE) who's being kept busy, was well held; raced stand side, in rear, never travelling well, made no impression.

WATCHYA unproven on the ground, was well held in first-time blinkers; raced centre, mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened quickly.

CAME FROM THE DARK (IRE) offered little, the trip not to blame; raced centre, beaten halfway, always behind.

RUMSTAR hardly looked well treated back in a handicap after his pattern race exploits but didn't get the chance to show what he could do having tried to get under the stalls and unseated his rider.