ORION'S BOW should take a heck of a lot of stopping in the Qatar Stewards' Cup at Goodwood.

The five-year-old chestnut's progress this summer has been nothing short of astounding, with trainer Dandy Nicholls trusted to get even more from him on this grandiose stage.

Orion's Bow laboured his way into seventh place in a humdrum class five handicap at Catterick way back in April, but after he struck just a month later at Newcastle, he has not looked back.

The son of Pivotal has knocked off five victories on the spin and risen a whopping 37lb.

Yet because his last victory, a runaway triumph in the Scottish Stewards' Cup at Hamilton, came after the publication of the weights for the big Goodwood dash, he only has to contend with a 6lb penalty for that facile triumph.

The former John Gosden inmate will find the ground as quick as it has been since last year, but he has won before to the tune of his rattling hooves so that is unlikely to be an issue.

Having completed his relentless spree by an aggregate of 14 and a quarter lengths, that old cliche of a Group horse running in a handicap seems never more appropriate as far as Orion's Bow is concerned.

It would perhaps be the biggest surprise of the season if Minding came unstuck in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

The brilliant filly, a five-times Group One winner, looked as sharp as ever at the Curragh last month when she ghosted home by four and a half lengths from subsequent winner Bocca Baciata.

Aidan O'Brien's representative, whom one can imagine running a mighty race in the Arc later this season, has her first try at Goodwood, which can catch a good 'un out.

But chances are Minding will not encounter the horrendous traffic problems she met with in the Oaks at Epsom, which she still won by a length and a quarter.

Put simply, her class will see her home.

Godolphin's so-called renaissance perhaps needs to be contextualised a little due to the sheer mass of royal-blue-clad horses running at the big meetings this summer.

Be that as it may, it is probably still all about choosing the rights ones for the right occasion, and Move Up would appear a good fit in the Qatar Handicap.

The Dubawi colt, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, made a big impression on Ascot racegoers earlier this month when he won a strong mile-and-a-quarter handicap by a short head from the capable Gershwin.

That effort was particularly praiseworthy as it was Move Up's first run since he finished third behind Glamorous Approach in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket last October.

Quietly progressive and blessed with quite a big engine, he should get this step up to a mile and a half in his sleep.

Almost exactly the same comments apply to sizeable filly Abingdon, who looks the one to be with in the British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes at Newmarket.

The daughter of Street Cry is unbeaten in two starts this term and even claimed the scalp of subsequent Ribblesdale runner-up Ajman Princess in an Ascot maiden in May.

She then won the Lord Weinstock Memorial race over 10 furlongs at Newbury in the manner of an upwardly-mobile filly.

This looks an ideal next staging post for Abingdon, who is just as much at home on fast ground as she will be over a mile and a half.

Strath Burn can make a dream start for new trainer Robert Cowell in the Unison Defending Your NHS Conditions Stakes at Doncaster.

The son of Equiano has not yet hit the heights of last season - he was runner-up in the Sprint Cup for Charlie Hills, lest we forget - but he should be good enough to win this before a possible tilt at the Nunthorpe.

ends