Aidan O’Brien is hoping Illinois can fill the void left by star stayer Kyprios when he lines up in Tuesday’s Group One Goodwood Cup (3,209m) as the iconic five-day racing festival gets under way.

Last year’s winner Kyprios, an eight-time Group One winner who won the Goodwood Cup on two occasions, was retired in May after aggravating an old injury, - leaving the staying throne up for grabs.

Illinois was made favourite for the Group One Gold Cup (4,000m) at Royal Ascot following his retirement but could only finish second behind runaway winner Trawlerman.

There is no Trawlerman in his way on this occasion and, dropped back in distance, he will get his chance for redemption and a maiden top-level success under Ryan Moore.

The thing about Illinois is that he stays very well, but he’s got a bit of class to go with it. We’re happy with him; he’s been doing everything right at home,” said O’Brien.

“He has a good mind, he’s relaxed, he’s big and he’s hardy. Physically, he’s done well.”

He will face some stern opposition, however, with the main danger coming from the John and Thady Gosden-trained French Master.

Owned by powerhouse Wathnan Racing, the four-year-old gelding posted a career-best effort when running away with the Copper Horse Stakes (2,800m) at Royal Ascot last month.

He is on a sharp upwards trajectory and Wathnan Racing’s manager Richard Brown is hoping to learn more about him.

“I saw French Master at John and Thady Gosden’s yard recently and he seems to have come out of his Ascot race in great condition,” said Brown.

“You had to be impressed with that performance. He’s stepping up from a handicap to a Group 1 race but we’re going to pitch him in the Goodwood Cup and see where we are.”

Other dangers include Scandinavia, a wide-margin Group Three winner for O’Brien earlier this month, and the reliable Gosden-trained Sweet William, who has only finished outside the top three in one of his 17 career starts.

“It was a tough race and in the end it was a little too far for him, but he ran a brave race. He’s in very good form. Robert Havlin rides him every day and he’s very pleased with him,” said John Gosden of Sweet William.

All eight races from the first day of Goodwood will be simulcast, with a pair of Group Two races headlining a stacked undercard.

The Group Two Vintage Stakes (1,400m) features a plethora of exciting younger horses, with the O’Brien-trained Dorset set to go off favourite.

He improved from a debut second to run riot in a maiden at the Curragh last month and the second has boosted the form subsequently.

Humidity made it two wins from two with a dominant performance in the Listed Chesham Stakes (1,400m) at Royal Ascot and heads up the dangers alongside Zavateri, who also made it two from two when causing a boilover in the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket this month.

The Group Two HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes (1,400m) is a wide-open affair, with last year’s winner Audience and the 2021 and 2023 hero Kinross towards the top of the market.

Golden Eagle (1,400m) winner Lake Forest, top level-placed Jonquil, and Group Three Jersey Stakes (1,400m) winner Noble Champion are other big chances.