IT’S not easy to win back-to-back renewals of the Stewards’ Cup.

It is a feat that has been achieved just five times in the 180-year history of the race, four and a half times if you count one dead heat, and never since Sky Diver who won his second in 1968.

So history is against Summerghand today, but you can still make the case. David O’Meara’s horse was very good in winning the race last year. He was best by a fair way of those who raced towards the near side, and he just did enough to get the better of Kimifive, who raced from stall one and finished off his race flush against the far rail.

Summerghand raced under top weight that day, off a mark of 108, and he is back down to that mark today.

He doesn’t come into today’s race with the momentum that he had last year, but he did win the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket in the early part of this season, and his last two runs have been in the Diamond Jubilee and the July Cup, both Group 1 races.

He should appreciate the drop back into handicap company today for the first time in six races. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him out-run his odds.

Better handicapped

Hurricane Ivor could be an even better-handicapped horse though. First past the post twice over six furlongs in France last year as a three-year-old, his last two runs for William Haggas have been very good.

In the first of those races, he had to share the spoils with Phoenix Star at Sandown on Eclipse day when the mirror wasn’t aligned, and on the second, he was just nutted by Significantly in a five-furlong handicap at Ascot three weeks ago.

He did well to get as close as he got that day. He raced on the far side, he came clear of his rivals on the far side, and he failed by just a short head to beat Significantly.

He came almost five lengths clear of his far-side rivals, and the next six horses home all raced on the near side. The next best of the far-side group was Nomadic Empire, who finished ninth overall.

The handicapper raised Hurricane Ivor by 4lb for that run to a mark of 103, but he gets to race off a mark of 100 today, so he is 3lb well-in.

As well as that, he is only four and he has raced just three times for William Haggas, so he has the potential to continue his progression now as a sprinter.

And the step up to six furlongs, the distance over which he was first past the post twice in France, an easy six furlongs at Goodwood, is probably a positive.

He finished off his race well over Ascot’s stiff five furlongs last time. And his draw in stall 18, towards the near side, is probably a positive too.

Summer Handicap

Earlier in the day, Aaddeey could be the answer to the Summer Handicap.

Winner of a novice stakes over 10 furlongs at Nottingham last September, Simon and Ed Crisford’s horse has progressed this season as a four-year-old since being gelded.

He won a handicap at Newmarket over a mile and a half in May off a mark of 87, and he didn’t run badly on ground that was probably softer than ideal in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He could only finish seventh in the John Smith’s Cup at York last time, but that was over 10 and a half furlongs, probably an inadequate trip, and he was held up in a race in which the prominent racers fared best. Held up early on, Aaddeey was last into the home straight, and he was still well back in the field as they passed the three-furlong marker.

He stayed on really well on the far side though, probably not the fastest part of the track, to get to within five lengths of the winner Johnny Drama by the time they got to the winning line, closest at the finish.

The handicapper left him on his mark of 100 after that run, and that is a mark that could still under-rate him.

He has raced just seven times in his life, he has plenty of potential for progression, and he could really appreciate the step up to a mile and six furlongs today.

And Simon and Ed Crisford’s horses are in really good form, they have had four winners from their last seven runners before Friday.

Recommended

Aaddeey, 1pt win, 2.30 Goodwood, 6/1 (generally)

Hurricane Ivor, 1 pt e/w, 3.40 Goodwood, 13/2 (generally)