GOODWOOD 15:40

Non Runners: AEOLUS, QUENCH DOLLY.

Time: 1m 9.56s Closing Sectional: (4f): 45.3s (102.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 135%, Betfair SP 101.4%

The usual combination of quality and quantity, as many as 9 running off marks of 100 or more, but the unusual thing about this relative to most Stewards' Cups was the extreme concentration of power, basically shared between 2 horses, the leaders of the 2 groups, the break between them diminishing by halfway, and by the end the full width of the track was populated, but Gifted Master and Justanotherbottle never let anything else in, the winner rallying after the second looked home and hosed at one stage; because the first 2 made it an unfair fight, plenty amongst the rest - especially the patiently-ridden contingent - need to be marked up, the unluckiest ones easily spotted.

GIFTED MASTER (IRE) still had joint-top weight even after the rider's 5-lb claim, and to win a Stewards' Cup off so high a mark obviously takes Group-class ability, though he's had that since a 2-y-o, nonetheless taking his bullying to new levels with this, clearly good at playing the handicap game, 2 from 2 in such races since his targets were slightly realigned this year, leading his group (and overall) until 2f out, looking second-best thereafter untill digging very deep into his class reserves and pulling it out of the fire in the last stride.

JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE (IRE) had never previously ran at Goodwood, tailor made for him as it turned out, becoming to his style (prominent) and speed, but he has still never won over 6f, agonising this time after heading up the centre-field group and taking a couple of lengths out of Gifted Master over 1f out, only to be clawed back at the line, still a personal best.

GROWL added a third to his pair of fourths in this race, some record given the uncompromising strength of the Stewards' Cup, 10 lb lower this year than last, a case for saying he should have won given not only his position (towards rear) relative to the pair who beat him but also the fact he got caught up in some traffic; this was just his fourth race of the year, fresh for Ripon and Ayr.

SOLAR FLAIR finished closer than last year, but 11 lb lower this time, an acknowledgement made that he's better on AW, given an extra hand by being claimer-ridden for the first time in his life, chasing Justanotherbottle in the far group, sticking to the task well.

GEORGE BOWEN (IRE) goes from strength to strength, and would have gone very close had he not been quite so far back and/or made his move slightly sooner, still just about last of all over 1f out, cutting through thereafter and running out of time rather than space, not bottomed out by any means; the top handicaps are still open to him, but his time is now coming for Group sprints.

FOXTROT LADY was no better than the result, getting a clear shot at it, kept handy in the far bunch, but the fact that sixth in a Stewards' Cup could be considered only passable shows just how far she's come in her 3-y-o season, plenty of time yet for her to make a higher grade.

SPRING LOADED (IRE) left it rather too late, in the context of a race where the leaders didn't come back, working his way (left) into the clear at the point others were already committed, his surge in the final 1f that of a horse at the top of his game; his mark is pushing him towards Group races but the Portland is still open to him, devastating in that last year.

SILENT ECHO was hampered over 1f out but also at the start, both incidents costly considering he had more to give at the line, gaining in the last 1f, confirming his promotion this season to a premier-league handicapper.

POYLE VINNIE comes out of the week with plenty of credit after the 2 races he ran, flattening out towards the finish here, always tending to bend at the end of 6f, but beaten only 2½l, albeit with a trouble-free passage.

GLENAMOY LAD asked an awful lot to make his reappearance in a race like this, but picked straight up where he left off last year, or at least would have done without all the trouble, settled in last in the bigger group but going well for a long way and hampered twice when looking to launch, ending up furthest bar one to the far rail, doing what he could in the last 1f with the damage already done; his shooting progress as a 3-y-o (won 3 of 5 upon joining Michael Wigham from Ireland) was just the beginning, given the impression he left here, in an eyeshield for the first time (reportedly injured an eye earlier in the year).

GUNMETAL (IRE) chased up the leaders 2f out, as good as it got for him, but he's already done very good work for a new yard this year, and this is the quickest turnaround he's faced in that time.

MARIE OF LYON first handicap of the year, having kept higher company, but a slipped saddle prevented her showing any benefit, the rider having to ease off in the last 1f, though the horse had leaned right before then.

OPEN WIDE (USA) barely had a race, hitting traffic at the crucial time, no counter-measures taken by his rider.

REPUTATION (IRE) has been on his game at Ripon and nowhere else this year, fading out of this (chased winner for 4f).

WATCHABLE had bossed a small field at Pontefract and a penalty for that left him back on the sort of mark that may be beyond him at his age, overwhelmed in the finish.

ATLETICO (IRE) may be tipping over the edge temperamentally, cheekpieces not remotivating him, never dangerous, adding weight to the theory that he's going through the motions.

SWIFT APPROVAL (IRE) underlined that he's short of a gear or two for 6f, at least on a track as sharp as this, hard work to make the bit of ground he managed on the far side.

HADDAF (IRE) is having a season of two halves, the upshot of his progress in the first few months, never competitive here, though caught rather between groups to begin with.

LANCELOT DU LAC (ITY) has faced only firmish ground since the end of his winter campaign, seemingly against him at his age, the evidence mounting.

TUPI (IRE) ran out of room in the last 100 yds, unthreatening at that stage, as it had taken him all his time to wind up, looking on the awkward side.

PETTOCHSIDE second race of the week, neither working for him, despite his course record, looking rusty (off a break) on Tuesday and dealt an extreme draw here, putting him on the far wing, weakening 1f out.

MERHOOB (IRE) out of his comfort zone in a race of this nature, feeling the pressure from halfway.

MUSCIKA weakened over 1f out, in over his head in a race like this but generally missing an edge recently.

BARRINGTON (IRE) back over 6f, but the company piled all sorts of other pressures on him, not withstanding it, weakening over 1f out.

TIS MARVELLOUS no sooner roared back to life at Royal Ascot than fell apart again here, fragility resurfacing, losing his place 2f out, looked after.

EIRENE suffered an injury.