EXPERT RACING TIPS: GLORIOUS GOODWOOD

RAIL: True  

Cutaway is now gone, riding the rail now a purely religious experience and takes some sort of belief in a miracle gal appearing.

Racing was first established at Goodwood Racecourse by the third Duke of Richmond back in 1802. Today, Goodwood holds 19 meetings per year, headlined by Glorious Goodwood in late July. The Goodwood Festival, commonly known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, features five days of first-class racing at Goodwood Racecourse, near Chichester (UK). The rolling West Sussex countryside provides a scenic backdrop to one of England’s, if not the world’s, most picturesque racetracks. The Group 1 Goodwood Cup, won for four years in a row (2017-2020) by superstar Stradivarius, is the highlight of the opening day. The history of the race is intertwined with the Melbourne Cup, with several winners competing in Australia’s greatest race, including Big Orange (who ran 10th in the 2016 Melbourne Cup), Brown Panther (eighth in the 2013 Melbourne Cup), Cavalryman (12th in the 2012 Melbourne Cup) and Yeats (seventh in the 2003 Melbourne Cup). For expert analysis of the time-honoured Goodwood Cup and all Goodwood tips, the Betfair Hub has you covered.            

The Goodwood Cup kicks off the Group 1 action on day one, before the Sussex Stakes headlines day two. Known locally as the ‘Duel On The Downs’, the race has been won by several champions including Frankel, arguably the greatest racehorse of his generation. The mile contest was claimed two years running by Frankel (2011-2012), who retired unbeaten after a 14-start career. The Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares is the feature on day three of Glorious Goodwood, which is designated Ladies’ Day. The Group 2 King George Stakes, won four years running (2017-2020) by Charlie Hills’ sprinting superstar Battaash, is the marquee contest on day four; before the Stewards’ Cup – a cavalry charge down the Goodwood straight – brings the curtain down on the festival. For all your Glorious Goodwood tips, look no further than the Betfair Hub.

Goodwood is an unusual racecourse, with horses competing in races on the ‘Stewards’ Cup Course’ (straight six) running uphill for the first furlong, and mostly downhill thereafter. There’s a tight right-handed loop at the far end of the straight, featuring starting points for various longer distance races. These include the 1 mile 2 furlongs (2000m) ‘Craven Course’, the 1m 4f (2400m) ‘Gratwicke Course’ and the 1m 6f (2800m) ‘Bentinck Course’. The start for the 2m 5f (4000m) ‘Cup Course’ is positioned relatively close to the winning post, with the field travelling outwards on the straight, around the loop and back. Throughout the loop there are severe undulations and sharp turns, making betting a tricky proposition. Betfair’s international experts do the hard work so that you don’t have to, delivering their Goodwood racing tips for each feature meeting.