Bookies forced to slash odds of new Stewards' Cup favourite despite start dilemma

Punters can’t get enough of the new favourite for the Coral Stewards’ Cup - even thought he is not guaranteed a start.

The £250,00 6f dash on the last day of the Glorious Goodwood meeting is one of the hottest handicaps of the year, regularly drawing a maximum 28-runner field.

The unexposed three-year-old Almeraq, trained by William Haggas for Shadwell, had won once in three starts but was strongly fancied on his handicap debut in the Ayr Gold Cup Trial at Ayr on Monday.

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Clifford Lee partnered the colt in the 6f race against older horses and victory was never in doubt.

Almeraq raced on the outside of the field, took the lead with two furlong to run and put the race to bed with ease in the manner of an exciting horse, crossing the line five lengths in front of the second.

Lee, speaking to RacingTV, said: “I wasn’t really happy with Almeraq’s low draw and it wasn’t ideal being stuck on the wing. I tried to get the best I could but he’s done everything right and he’ll come on from that.

“He’s a big baby still but he’ll learn a lot from that and I liked the way he finished his race off. I spoke to Mr Haggas beforehand and he said he wanted this sort of ground. He’s a lovely big horse and I think he’ll be a better horse in a better race.”

Coral’s first reaction was to promote Almeraq to 8-1 favourite from 20-1 for the Stewards’ Cup, then 5-1 but within an hour the price had changed again. His odds tumbled further to 3-1.

Spokesperson David Stevens said: “Having initially cut Almeraq to 8-1 for the Coral Stewards' Cup, we were soon forced to cut those odds again to 5-1, and even that didn't deter punters, with the Ayr winner now an even shorter-priced market leader for one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season.”

Being a three-year-old Almeraq is not guaranteed to get the chance to emulate 2019 race winner Khaadem, also Shadwell owned, and become the latest of his age to triumph.

He is bound to be ‘well in’ once reassessed by the handicapper as he will only carry a 6lb penalty for his Ayr victory but will still need at least 28 defectors to be guaranteed a start.