Fantastic four: assessing the key contenders for a heavyweight Goodwood Cup

The 2022 Qatar Goodwood festival gets off to a thunderous start, with a Goodwood Cup (3.35) to savour on the opening day. The heavyweights of the staying division are set to go toe-to-toe on Tuesday afternoon, with Stradivarius looking to win the race for a fifth time on what is set to be his final appearance. Here, we assess the chances of the outgoing great, and look at three contenders who are bidding to crash the party. . .

Kyprios

Form 14-111

Strengths The new kid on the block, Kyprios produced an excellent finishing effort to take the Gold Cup at Ascot last month. It was his first attempt over further than 1m6f and he demonstrated a superb attitude when showing he stayed the marathon trip. As a four-year-old he has plenty of scope for improvement – a frightening prospect for his challengers.

Weaknesses It is hard to knock Kyprios's credentials although there is always the chance he could bump into one better on the day – we'll never know how close Stradivarius would have got to him at Ascot if he'd enjoyed a smoother passage into the race.

Odds 5-4

What they say Aidan O'Brien, trainer

"It's been the plan for him to head to Goodwood since Ascot. It's a Group 1 and the race we've had our eye on since the Gold Cup. Everything has gone well with him. He's very straightforward, really. He relaxes and stays well. He just has a great mind. We always thought he'd be a lovely four-year-old and you'd have to be very happy with all of his runs so far this year."

Stradivarius finished third at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Stradivarius

Form 123-13

Strengths The four-time champion and one of the most popular Flat horses of all-time, the Goodwood Cup is set to be Stradivarius's swansong. Frankie Dettori's ride at Royal Ascot was heavily criticised but despite finding himself boxed in and having to switch out late in the straight he still ran Kyprios within a length and a quarter. He may have one more mighty effort in him.

Weaknesses He is now an eight-year-old and there will clearly be far more improvement in some of his rivals. Stradivarius will also be without his usual partner in Dettori for the first time since the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. However, replacement rider Andrea Atzeni is unbeaten in three starts on the star stayer including two wins in this race.

Odds 6-4

What they say Bjorn Nielsen, owner-breeder (on his jockey choice)

"Frankie Dettori, who has enjoyed a great relationship with Stradivarius and ridden him to many brilliant stakes victories - more than he has any other horse - will by mutual agreement give up the ride to Andrea Atzeni in the Goodwood Cup. Frankie remains not only 'the Strad's' biggest fan, but a very good friend and, of course, I look forward to seeing him continue his phenomenal career as one of the greatest big-race jockeys of all time."

Trueshan: defied a huge weight to win at NewcastleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Trueshan

Form 111-11

Strengths Trueshan delivered one of the great handicap performances to win the Northumberland Plate last month, conceding upwards of 19lb all round to score under Hollie Doyle. Victory at Newcastle was a prep run for this assignment, which will be the six-year-old's major target having won the race last year and missed Royal Ascot because of unsuitable ground.

Weaknesses Will he turn up? Trueshan's chances are at the mercy of the weather. He missed the Gold Cup at Ascot after the rain failed to materialise – the recent heatwave and a dry forecast could result in him being pulled out again by Alan King.

Odds 5-1

What they say Alan King, trainer

"If it's genuine good ground, then he'll take his chance. They're throwing an awful lot of water at it. I think he's [Goodwood's clerk, Ed Arkell] hoping to start on good ground."

Coltrane: progressive gelding won at Royal Ascot and in a Listed contest at Sandown last time outCredit: Mark Cranham

Coltrane

Form -42211

Strengths Coltrane was edged out by the Melbourne Cup-bound Cleveland in the Chester Cup but has made no mistake on his two assignments since and was a classy ten-length winner of the Coral Marathon at Sandown last time out. Connections subsequently suggested an Australian adventure could also be on the cards for the five-year-old who, like Kyprios, struck over 2m4f at Royal Ascot.

Weaknesses This presents a major step up in grade, stage and class for Coltrane and he will need to seriously improve to topple the three big guns ahead of him in the market.

Odds 7-1

What they say Andrew Balding, trainer (after Sandown win)

"Coltrane is a great horse who has been threatening to get his confidence back after a nasty injury. It has taken him a couple of runs on the all-weather to find his confidence and he's been back since the Chester Cup. He was impressive when he won the Melrose as a three-year-old and looked right back to his best there."

Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (3.35 Goodwood, Tuesday)

Sky Bet: 5-4 Kyprios, 6-4 Stradivarius, 11-2 Trueshan, 6-1 Coltrane, 12-1 Princess Zoe, 25-1 Away He Goes, 33-1 Bar

Read these next:

Eight remain to take on Baaeed after confirmations made for Sussex Stakes

Who remains in contention to run in Tuesday's Goodwood Cup?

'Everything's gone well' - O'Brien confirms Kyprios for a Goodwood Cup epic

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.