The Glorious Goodwood Festival begins on Tuesday, 29th July with an eight race card that features the prestigious Goodwood Cup.
Other top races on the day include the Group 2 Vintage Stakes and the Group 2 Lennox Stakes.
1.20pm – 1m2f Chesterfield Handicap
ENGLISH OAK finally returned to form last time out and can build upon his second place at Hamilton 12 days ago.
The former Buckingham Palace Stakes winner has pretty much been in the doldrums since his Royal Ascot victory in 2024, but showed some of his old self when racing in Scotland.
Christophe Soumillon is a positive booking and Ed Walker’s horse is an each-way play.
1.55pm – 7f Vintage Stakes (Group 2)
GOODWOOD GALAXY, owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group, won nicely on debut at Salisbury earlier this month and now steps up to a Group 2 on just his second start.
David Menuisier trains just around the corner, so the omens are good for a decent each-way interest.
2.30pm – 7f Lennox Stakes (Group 2)
Super solid performer KINROSS (NAP) has to be respected in a contest like this, and Ralph Beckett’s eight-year-old showed that the fire still burns bright in the John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock.
The seasoned-sprinter arrives at Goodwood on the back of a 59-day break and at odds of around 4/1 in our sports betting, he’s a very backable price.
3.05pm – 2m Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)
David Menuisier could well be the trainer to follow with his outsider SUNWAY today.
The four-year-old signed off his juvenile campaign with a valuable Group One triumph in the Criterium International over a mile at Saint-Cloud, and he has been campaigned highly since, but unfortunately without winning.
Last season he came to hand at the end of June with a superb close second to Los Angeles in the Irish Derby, and he was only beaten under two lengths by Jan Brueghel in the St Leger. His fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, gives him some sort of each-way squeak on the opening day.
3.45pm – 5f Handicap
Twenty-two runner handicaps take some unpicking at the best of times, so my tentative each-way choice is the bottom-weighted WHEELS OF FIRE for Richard Hughes.
A close third in his last couple of races over five and six furlongs, this Mehmas-colt is well worth his place in this line-up.
4.20pm – 6f EBF Maiden Stakes (Colts & Geldings)
You would like to think STELLAR SUNRISE will come on for the experience here, after placing second and third in his first two starts.
Having raced here previously, the camber of the track should come as no surprise to the youngster and he can utilise his racecourse familiarity today.
4.55pm – 1m Fillies’ Handicap
Julie Camacho’s ZAPPHIRE continues to run consistent races for the Elite Racing Club, and it is hard to see her not finishing in the money once more in this fillies’ handicap.
The 83-rated filly makes plenty of appeal at odds of around 15/2 in our horse racing betting.
5.30pm – 6f EBF Fillies’ Handicap
Trainer Richard Spencer had a big race winner on Saturday afternoon, and he can go in again with another of Phil Cunningham’s horses – SHALLOW.
The filly has already won 5 of her 13 starts and she was rather unlucky to just get touched off at Newmarket’s July meeting. She will go close again today.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
