French is fancied for Goodwood Cup glory

FRENCH Master can announce himself as a leading player in the staying division with victory in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

- By ADAM MORGAN

The Group One event has been won by some of the division's elite in the last decade, with Stradivarius a four-time scorer between 2017 and 2020 and Aidan O’Brien’s Kyprios taking up the baton in two of the last three years.

With the departure of that pair from the scene, this term there is a vacancy at the top of the staying tree and this race is made all the more intriguing by the absence of Gold Cup winner Trawlerman, who is being given added time to recover from his Royal Ascot exertions by John and Thady Gosden.

The Clarehaven team can be afforded such luxury by the fact they are blessed with riches in the marathon distance ranks and as well as the Philippa Cooper-owned stalwart Sweet William, there is French Master, ready and waiting to prove himself at the highest level.