Trawlerman looking for revenge in G1 Goodwood Cup

Trawlerman bids to reverse the form with his Royal Ascot conqueror Scandinavia when the Gold Cup 1-2 meet again in the G1 Goodwood Cup on Tuesday, 28 July.

The duo served up an epic renewal of the marathon showpiece, with Trawlerman only yielding close home to go down by a head to his younger rival in a captivating finish. 

Trawlerman was making his first start of the year in the Gold Cup and the John & Thady-Gosden trained stayer had seen his preparation hindered by an eye problem. 

The eight-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2025, winning four consecutive races including lowering the course record when dominating the Gold Cup and securing more G1 honours at Ascot with victory in October’s British Champions Long Distance Cup. 

Thady Gosden said: “Trawlerman ran a huge race in the Gold Cup and was only just beaten by a younger horse in Scandinavia. We had to give him 1lb that day but he lines up here off level weights, which should hopefully help. 

“It is his first appearance in the Goodwood Cup, although he won a handicap at this meeting four years ago and he’s a well-balanced horse, so he should handle the track well. He has sharpened up since Royal Ascot and getting that first run of the season out of the way helped with his base fitness. You would expect him to show that he has taken a nice step forward.” 

The G2 Vintage Stakes has been won by some notable Godolphin luminaries, including Shamardal, Rio De La Plata and Pinatubo. Recent G2 Superlative Stakes scorer Al Hudaiba aims to add his name to the roll of honour in the seven-furlong contest for juveniles on the same Goodwood card. 

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Dark Angel colt has won all three of his completed starts, with his only defeat coming when unseating Tom Marquand at Yarmouth in May. 

He again showed signs of inexperience in the Superlative Stakes, in which he wandered under pressure before getting up on the line to deny Abraham Lincoln. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Al Hudaiba has come out of the July Festival in good order. We thought about going straight on to the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, but Zavateri won the Superlative and Vintage last season before winning in Ireland. 

“He has progressed since the Superlative and we are happy giving weight to the field. We are applying blinkers as we know he can be a bit wayward, and he has worn them at home without any issue. The track at Goodwood should hopefully suit and he looks the one they all have to beat.”