Fonthill Road On Course For Vodafone Stewards´ Cup Revenge

Last year´s Vodafone Stewards´ Cup runner-up Fonthill Road is one of three Richard Fahey-trained entries for the prestigious #100,000 six-furlong contest, which is to be run at Goodwood on Saturday, August 5, the final day of the Festival Meeting.

The Malton handler could also be represented by Philharmonic and Green Park as he bids to banish the memory of last season´s narrow defeat.

Fahey reflected: 'I was gutted that day, but that happens. You need a lot of luck to win a race like the Vodafone Stewards´ Cup.'

Fonthill Road looked to have secured victory when taking the lead with 100 yards to race in the 2005 renewal of the prestigious sprint handicap, only to be collared on the line by the fast-finishing Dandy Nicholls-trained Gift Horse.

The six-year-old gelding subsequently finished a short-head second to Presto Shinko in the Ayr Gold Cup and this term he has been restricted to two outings, most recently when a creditable 10th to Steenberg in the Group Two Duke Of York Stakes at York on May 17.

Fahey revealed this morning: 'He´s had a bit of an interrupted season but he´s fine now. He´s just had a little problem, nothing serious, but he´s back in full work and the plan is to go for the Vodafone Stewards´ Cup, but he won´t run if it´s firm ground.'

Philharmonic was 16th in the 2005 Vodafone Stewards´ Cup, but has been in top form in six outings this term, finishing runner-up to the Group One-placed Majors Cast over seven furlongs at Haydock in May, and filling the same position behind Etlaala in a six-furlong Salisbury Listed contest on June 18.

Fahey reported: 'Philharmonic is running great. He´s in the form of his life at the moment. He´s a twilight horse, and he´s been running well in Listed and Group races but he´s struggling to win. He´s definitely a better horse this year and his form is rock solid now so he´s entitled to run in the race.'

Fahey´s potential three-pronged assault is completed by the former Richard Hannon-trained Green Park, who won for his new connections over five furlongs at Thirsk in May.

The trainer continued: 'Green Park is running well and goes tomorrow in the Gosforth Park Sprint Cup, then the plan would be to run in the Stewards´ Cup if he´s okay at the time. I´d say he´d go on any ground.'

In conclusion, Fahey said: 'We´ll look at the draw and see which horse is in form at the time and then keep our fingers crossed.'