Geordieland on the cup trail

Geordieland will face 14 rivals as he bids to go one place better than last year in Thursday’s ABN Amro Goodwood Cup.

Jamie Osborne’s charge was beaten five lengths by Yeats in the two-mile event last term but is a likely favourite to claim top honours in the absence of the Ballydoyle runner.

A raft of horses from the 2006 renewal take their chance again with Amanda Perrett fielding third-placed Tungsten Strike. Mick Channon’s fifth Baddam is also in the mix once again.

Richard Fahey’s Land ’N Stars (sixth), Bulwark (eighth) and Balkan Knight (ninth) will all bid to improve on their previous performances.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Distinction, winner of the Goodwood Cup in 2005, makes his seasonal bow after recovering from a tendon injury that has kept him off the track for over a year.

Ascot Gold Cup fourth Finalmente takes his chance, while Stoute and Osborne have second strings to their bows in the shape of Allegretto and Baizically respectively.

Fahey also has a second runner in Chester Cup winner Greenwich Meantime.

Falpiase, Foxhaven, Rayhani and Queen’s Vase runner-up Veracity complete the field.