Orion to star in Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood

Dandy Nicholls’ five-year-old charge making good progress

ORION’S BOW has made relentless progress this season and can keep up the good work in the Qatar Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

The five-year-old has improved 37lb so far this term, with trainer Dandy Nicholls trusted to get even more from him on this grandiose stage.

Orion’s Bow laboured his way into seventh place in a humdrum class five handicap at Catterick way back in April. But after he struck just a month later at Newcastle he has not looked back, notching up five wins on the bounce.

Yet because his last victory, a runaway triumph in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton, came after the publication of the weights for the big Goodwood dash, he only has to contend with a 6lb penalty for that facile triumph.

The former John Gosden inmate will find the ground as quick as it has been since last year, but he has won before to the tune of his rattling hooves so that is unlikely to be an issue.

Having completed his relentless spree by an aggregate of 14¼ lengths, that old cliche of a Group horse running in a handicap seems never more appropriate as far as Orion’s Bow is concerned.

It would perhaps be the biggest surprise of the season if MINDING came unstuck in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

The brilliant filly, a five-times Group One winner, looked as sharp as ever at the Curragh last month when she ghosted home by 4 lengths from winner Bocca Baciata.

Aidan O’Brien’s representative, whom one can imagine running a mighty race in the Arc later this season, has her first try at Goodwood, which can catch a good ’un out, but Minding’s class will see her home. In tonight’s meeting at Hamilton,

INDIAN GIVER can pay off in the 7.15. SELECTIONS: GOODWOOD: 2.00 Projection, 2.35 Move Up, 3.10 Minding, 3.45 ORION’S BOW (NAP), 4.20 Lockheed, 4.55 Bobby Wheeler, 6.00 Bold Prediction. HAMILTON: 5.40 Cool fitch, 6.15 Five hundred miles, 6.45 Fidelma Moon, 7.15 Indian Giver, 7.45 Barkston Ash, 8.15 Danzeb, 8.45 Lara Carbonara.

DOUBLE: Orion’s Bow and Minding.