Sierra Vista Heads Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup Weights

Classy mare Sierra Vista, who captured the Group Two Temple Stakes at Sandown in May, has been allotted top-weight of 9st 10lb in the #100,000 Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup, the great handicap run over six furlongs on Saturday, August 4, the final day of Glorious Goodwood 2007.

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The David Barker-trained seven-year-old, rated a 25/1 chance with the sponsors, was last seen finishing a creditable fifth behind Confuchias in the Group Three Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle on June 30, two places behind Fonthill Road (9st 4lb), runner-up in the 2005 Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup, and who is quoted at 20/1 with Blue Square to go one place better this year.

Dark Missile (9st 1lb), who gave apprentice jockey William Buick the biggest win of his fledgling career in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot on June 23, is the 10/1 co-favourite with Blue Square to follow up at Goodwood.

The Andrew Balding-trained filly heads the market with the sponsors along with Something (9st 4lb) and Zidane (9st), fourth and seventh at Royal Ascot, who are 3lb and 5lb better off respectively with Dark Missile for being beaten two and a quarter lengths and three and a half lengths.

Intrepid Jack (9st 4lb), runner-up in the Wokingham Handicap, is 1lb better off with the winner for a neck defeat. The Hughie Morrison-trained five-year-old is 12/1 to reverse the placings in the Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup.

The much travelled Protector (9st 3lb), now in the care of Gay Kelleway, finished a good eighth in the Wokingham Handicap on his British debut before romping home by five lengths in the Northern Sprint Handicap at Newcastle on June 30. Blue Square make him a 16/1 chance to land the spoils.

Wetherby-based handler Robin Bastiman enjoyed his finest moment in racing when Borderlescott (9st 8lb) triumphed in last year's Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup carrying 3lb less, getting the better of the Kevin Ryan-trained Mutamared (9st 1lb) by a neck. He is 14/1 to become the first dual winner since Sky Diver (1967 &1968).

The David Nicholls-trained Gift Horse (20/1) landed the 2005 Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup carrying 9st 7lb and has been allotted 8st 11lb this year, having failed to get back in the winner's enclosure since that success.

James Fanshawe's trio of hopefuls also includes Firenze (9st 5lb, 16/1), beaten just half a length when third behind Borderlescott in last year's renewal.

Irish entry That's Hot (9st 2lb), trained by Ger Lyons, who has done well with his British raiders this season, finished runner-up in the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown on June 6. He is available at 25/1 to provide the Emerald Isle with a first Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup success since the Dermot Weld-trained Red Alert triumphed in 1974.

Machinist (8st 8lb), another contender from the David Nicholls stable, landed a valuable handicap over an extended six furlongs at the Curragh on July 1 and is a 14/1 chance to provide his trainer with a third success in the race, following Tayseer (2000) and Gift Horse (2005). Nicholls also landed the contest as a jockey aboard Soba in 1982.

The Karl Burke-trained Aahayson (9st 1lb) looks an improving three-year-old judged by his success against older rivals in the totesport Handicap at Windsor on June 30, and can be backed at 20/1 with the sponsors.

Lipocco (8st 10lb, 25/1), trained by Ralph Beckett, was touched off over six furlongs at Newmarket on May 26 having scored readily on his reappearance at Salisbury earlier that month and looks a progressive type, while Longquan (8st 7lb, 20/1) made an impressive return this year when an easy three-length victor at Newmarket on May 18. His trainer Peter Makin sent out Pivotal Point to collect in 2004.

Kate Miller, of sponsors Blue Square, said: 'The Blue Square.com Stewards' Cup is always a tremendously exciting spectacle as well as being one of the hottest betting heats of the season, and we are delighted with the quality and size of this year's entry.

'With Blue Square offering each-way betting down to fifth place, punters will be able to get even more value this year, and we look forward to a fantastic contest at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday, August 4.'

The maximum field is 28.

The sponsor's prices for Blue Square.com Stewards´ Cup:

10/1 Dark Missile, Something, Zidane, 12/1 Intrepid Jack, 14/1 Borderlescott, Grantley Adams, Mutamared, Machinist, Utmost Respect, 16/1 Firenze, Balthazaar's Gift, Hogmaneigh, Protector, Knot In Wood, Desert Commander, 20/1 Fonthill Road, Bentong, Aahayson, The Jobber, Gift Horse, Buachaill Dona, Beaver Patrol, Viking Spirit, Longquan, Green Park, Wyatt Earp, Indian Trail, Aegean Dancer, Orpsie Boy, Cape, 25/1 Sierra Vista, Bond City, Excusez Moi, That's Hot, Baron's Pit, The Tatling, Mecca's Mate, Ripples Maid, Song Of Passion, Fantasy Believer, Lipocco, Out After Dark, Zomerlust, Masta Plasta, Ice Planet, 33/1 Bar