Glorious Goodwood predictions: Best bets for thrilling week ahead
- The Racing Post bumper preview is here
- Key talking points for each day
- Best bets of the week including:
- Kinross to win the Lennox Stakes
- Nashwa to win the Nassau Stakes
The Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the undisputed highlights of the British Flat racing season.
The world famous five-day festival, known globally as 'Glorious Goodwood', presents spellbinding action and a social occasion to match, with unrivalled style and scintillating racing during an exquisite week where some of the greatest stars in horse racing are crowned as champions.
Glorious Goodwood begins on Tuesday, August 1 and runs right through until Saturday, August 5.
Here is our look at some of the key stories that might unfold across the four days, as well as a best bet for each day at Glorious Goodwood 2023.
Day 1 - Tuesday August 1
Key talking point - Frankie's farewell to start with Courage
Frankie Dettori will be riding at Glorious Goodwood for the final time and he is jocked up on Courage Mon Ami for the Gosden team in the opening day feature, the Goodwood Cup.
The 4YO defied his inexperience to win the Ascot Gold Cup in June and turns up here with an unbeaten record as he stares down the likes of Coltrane, Eldar Eldarov and Emily Dickinson once more.
That man Dettori again as he partners KINROSS for Ralph Beckett — a trainer in a rich vein of form — in the Lennox Stakes. Kinross won this in 2021 and was denied by a neck last summer. After a solid third in the July Cup at Newmarket last time, he returns to Goodwood seemingly primed once more.
Day 2 - Wednesday August 2
Key talking point - Paddington goes for Sussex glory
The Sussex Stakes is the Group 1 feature on day two of Glorious Goodwood and has often been dubbed the 'Duel on the Downs' over the years as some headline-making stars turn up to draw swords.
Paddington, winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas and Sandown's Eclipse in his last two starts, is the odds-on favourite to win this all-aged mile event for Aidan O'Brien, with the likes of John & Thady Gosden's filly Inspiral and Nostrum amongst those with designs on stopping him.
Mick Appleby's BIG EVS dispatched a good field in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and did so most impressively on only his second start. There should be plenty more in his locker and he is a major contender for this Group 3 sprint.
Day 3 - Thursday August 3
Key talking point - Nashwa defends in the Nassau
John & Thady Gosden saw Nashwa win the Nassau Stakes last summer, a hugely popular winner of the Fillies' And Mares' Group 1 under Hollie Doyle, and they will be back to defend that crown on Thursday, having roared back to form at Newmarket in July when winning the Falmouth Stakes — a first success since Goodwood last year.
French raider Blue Rose Cen has been unstoppable on home soil this season and is set to cross the English Channel to oppose her.
The Frankel filly looked to be right back on her game at Newmarket last time out and her experience of the quirky Goodwood track may be a key asset.
Day 4 - Friday August 4
Key talking point - Sprinting crown up for grabs
The King George Qatar Stakes is Goodwood's major sprint crown and the five-furlong trip at the Sussex course is considered the fastest in the world.
Battaash dominated this contest with four wins from 2017-2020 but it looks wide open this time around with the likes of Dramatised, Ladies Church, Makarova and Equilateral amongst the possible speedsters engaged.
For years this was a meeting where legendary trainer Mark Johnston sparkled and his son, Charlie, will be eager to continue that legacy having taken over the license this year. AUSTRIAN THEORY was a winner at Epsom in June and is just the typical Johnston-trained sort to thrive in this competitive and demanding contest.
Day 5 - Saturday August 5
Key talking point - Stewards' Cup one to savour
The final afternoon of Glorious Goodwood brings with it the famous Stewards' Cup handicap, a maximum field contest worth £250,000 and run over six furlongs. It is a commentators' nightmare as they come flying up the home straight, spread wide across the track looking for room, and is one of the jewels in Goodwood crown.
A son of Invincible Spirit, Juan Les Pins boasts a fine strike-rate on turf, with five wins in 17 career starts. He was last spotted finishing third in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot behind Saint Lawrence, the ante-post favourite for the Stewards' Cup, and should give his running once more if taking his chance in this frantic contest.
