The Most Prestigious Races At The Qatar Goodwood Festival

William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington looks at the standout races at Glorious Goodwood – but which races rank as the most prestigious throughout the five-day meeting?

The highlight of Goodwood Festival is undoubtedly the Group 1 races, comprising of Sussex Stakes, the Nassau Stakes, and the Goodwood Cup. These races attract some of the best horses in the world, which in turn leads to some of the most eagerly awaited betting heats of the week.

The Big Three:

Sussex Stakes

The Sussex Stakes is the flagship event of whole the whole Festival. The one mile Group 1 race is held on the Wednesday of the racing week, often referred to as the “Duel on the Downs,” and attracts the best milers around.

Last year’s renewal produced one of the biggest shocks in British racing history when Qirat won at odds of 150/1.

This year Bow Echo heads the betting market. He has a flawless record of five wins from five starts.

Nassau Stakes

The Nassau is a highly prestigious 1m2f Group 1 race run on the Thursday, exclusively for three-year-old and older fillies and mares.

This is Glorious Goodwood’s premier fillies and mares race, showcasing depth and quality throughout.

After dominant victories in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) and the Prix de Diane, Diamond Necklace is all the rage in the ante-post betting for this contest.

Goodwood Cup

The Goodwood Cup is run over 2 miles on the opening day of the Festival. This Group 1 feature is one of the oldest and most important long-distance flat races on the calendar and is often contested by many of those that last lined up in the Ascot Gold Cup.

In regard to this year’s renewal, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Scandinavia is the defending champion and sits at the top of the betting. He enters the Sussex Downs fresh off a his Gold Cup victory at Royal Ascot and is the one they all have to beat here.

Other Notable Group 2 and 3 Races:

King George Stakes

This thrilling five furlong Group 2 sprint showcases some of the fastest horses in Europe.

Lillie Langtry Stakes

A Group 2 race exclusively for fillies and mares run over 1m6f.

Molecomb Stakes

This is a Group 3 sprint for two-year-olds which usually throws up some names to follow for the future.

The Handicaps:

Stewards’ Cup

Always a very wide open handicap and there is always plenty of each-way value to be found in such a large field of runners.

Glorious Goodwood Ante-Post Odds 2026:

Here are the current favourites and antepost prices for each race at the time of writing.

• Goodwood Cup – Tuesday 28 July – Scandinavia EVS
• Lennox Stakes – Tuesday 28 July – Lake Forest 2/1
• Sussex Stakes –  Wednesday 29 July – Bow Echo 11/8
• Nassau Stakes – Thursday 30 July – Diamond Necklace 6/4
• King George Stakes – Friday 31 July-  Night Raider 4/1
• Stewards’ Cup  – Saturday 1 August – Binhareer / Far Above Dream 10/1

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*