Goodwood Cup: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

1. Cross Counter (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle)
Enjoyed an excellent three-year-old campaign last year, which culminated in winning the Melbourne Cup. Having won the Dubai Gold Cup on his next start at Meydan in March, he fared best of those held up when fourth behind Stradivarius in the Ascot Gold Cup last time out, pulling clear of the rest. It's worth noting that he broke the track record over a mile and a half her last season, and he looks a big threat to the champion stayer now dropped back to two miles.

2. Dee Ex Bee (Mark Johnston/Silvestre De Sousa)
Produced a string of smart performances without getting his head in front last year, the pick of which coming when second in the Epsom Derby, and he has quickly made up into a top stayer so far this term, winning his first two starts over two miles, before finding only Stradivarius too good in the Ascot Gold Cup last time. He should be in the mix once again and is respected.

3. Raa Atoll (Luke Comer/Non-Runner)
Non-Runner.

4. Southern France (Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore)
Capable of very smart form at his peak, and he made a real fight of it when going down by just three quarters of a length to Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup in May. He had the benefit of race fitness and was in receipt of 3 lb that day, however, and has been below par since.

5. Stradivarius (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori)
Champion stayer who has won the last two renewals of this race, and went on to win the inaugural Stayers' £1 Million Bonus last season. He has won both of his starts so far this term, and successfully defended his Ascot Gold Cup crown when defeating several of these rivals last month. Remains as the standout star in the division, and very much the one to beat.

6. Wells Farhh Go (Tim Easterby/David Allan)
Winner of the Bahrain Trophy (Group 3) at Newmarket last season, before signing off with a fair effort to finish fourth in the Great Voltigeur at York on his final start last August. He landed a listed contest on return at Newmarket (by four lengths from Walton Street) after 10 months off last month, and looks well worth a crack at this trip. Much more needed is to trouble the market leaders, but he has an outside chance on ground which will suit.

7. Dashing Willoughby (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy)
Improved for the step up to 1¾m when landing the Queen's Vase against his own age group at Royal Ascot last month, and the way he stayed on strongly that day suggests that this trip is well within his reach. He improved further when finishing fourth in a Group 2 contest at Newmarket on his first start outside of his age group last time out, but he would need much more to take this.

8. Harpo Marx (Aidan O'Brien/Andrea Atzeni)
Tipperary maiden winner this year who wasn't disgraced when finishing fifth behind Dashing Willoughby when pitched straight into Group company in the Queen's Vase last time out. He was nearest at the finish and could improve for this trip, but is presumably here for pacemaking duties.

9. South Pacific (Aidan O'Brien/Wayne Lordan)
Got off the mark in a big-field maiden at Naas in April over a mile and a half, and took a big step forward when landing a the King George V handicap at Royal Ascot last month (1½m, good to soft, off six weeks and carrying 1 lb overweight). This stiffer test may help unlock further improvement considering the way he went through the race at Ascot (forced wide and lugged right under pressure) and has each-way claims considering he's bred to improve for the step up in trip.