Goodwood Horse Racing Betting with William Hill

Goodwood is widely regarded as the most picturesque of Britain’s racecourses and, set against a backdrop of beautiful rolling Sussex countryside, it provides the perfect setting for Goodwood's 'Glorious' meeting every August.

The five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the highlights of the Flat racing calendar, featuring 13 Group races and concluding on the Saturday with one of the biggest betting races of the year, the Stewards' Cup. Read on for a guide to Goodwood betting and odds with William Hill.

Goodwood betting – the big meetings/races

Glorious Goodwood

Lennox Stakes – With no Group 1 seven-furlong contest for older horses staged in Britain, the Group 2 Lennox Stakes assumes the mantle of being the foremost contest for older horses over the 'intermediate' trip. The best seven-furlong horses go on to compete in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret over 7f in France in October.

Vintage Stakes – A Group 2 race over seven furlongs for two-year-olds and a race that often unearths a major candidate in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes betting.

Gordon Stakes – This recognised St. Leger trial is a mile-and-a-half contest for three-year-olds and was used as a stepping stone to Doncaster glory by Conduit back in 2008.

Sussex Stakes – The showpiece race of Glorious Goodwood frequently sees the best three-year-old miler take on the best older horse for the first time that season.

Richmond Stakes – This Group 2 sprint for juvenile colts and gelding is one of the most prestigious speed events of the summer and it's a race that often throws up a genuine 2,000 Guineas candidate for the following year.

Lillie Langtry Stakes – A Group 2 staying contest for fillies and mares and a race that can produce a mover in the St. Leger betting odds if won by a three-year-old, as was the case with Simple Verse, who landed this race in 2015 before following up against the colts at Doncaster.

Goodwood Cup – One of the premier cup races of the season and the second leg of the Stayers' Triple Crown, preceded by the Ascot Gold Cup and followed by the Doncaster Cup.

Stewards' Cup – One of the most prestigious sprint handicaps of the summer and traditionally a race that attracts a huge amount of betting interest. This hugely competitive six-furlong cavalry charge is often won by a horse that goes on to compete at Pattern level.

Nassau Stakes – A prestigious Group 1, 10-furlong contest that is often the main summer target for fillies that had Oaks aspirations earlier in the year but have proved better suited by this shorter trip. It's a race that has become a happy hunting ground for the Classic generation.

Goodwood odds – impact on ante-post betting for future races

With so much quality on show during Glorious Goodwood, it is inevitable that there will be movers and shakers for many of the big autumn prizes. The Sussex Stakes winner will often assume a prominent place in ante-post Queen Elizabeth II betting lists as well as international contests like Breeders' Cup Mile betting. The seven-furlong Lennox Stakes is often won by a specialist performer at that distance but if connections make public that they intend to go up to a mile, the winner will also be quoted for those big mile races.

The Lillie Langtry Stakes has thrown up subsequent Classic winners in the past so, if won by a three-year-old, can generate a major move in the St. Leger betting odds.

The Vintage Stakes is the big two-year-old race of Glorious Goodwood and it's a race that has a serious impact on Dewhurst Stakes betting and 2,000 Guineas betting.

Goodwood's premier staying race, the Goodwood Cup, is the middle leg of the Stayers' Triple Crown so the winner will nearly see his/her Doncaster Cup odds contract.

The Group 1 Nassau Stakes has a major bearing on the big all-female contests in the autumn, with the winner often taking a prominent position in British Champions Fillies' & Mares' Stakes betting lists as well as international events like the Fillies & Mares' Turf race at the Breeders' Cup.

Goodwood course characteristics

Goodwood is a unique track that is switchback in nature and very much favours those with previous experience at the venue.

It is right handed, with two bends. All races up to a mile-and-a-quarter use the lower bend, and in excess of 11 furlongs use the top bend. Although there is a five-furlong run-in from the top bend, the turns and the pronounced downhill gradients make Goodwood essentially a sharp track, favouring handy types, particularly in the shorter-distance races.

The five-furlong course is one of the fastest in the country, meaning speedy sorts often have an advantage.

It's a notoriously tricky course, with those held up regularly meeting trouble in the straight, especially up the inside rail where traffic problems are pretty much commonplace.

Goodwood betting tips

Goodwood is a notoriously tough track for jockeys and punters alike, throwing up hard-luck stories aplenty with horses failing to get a clear run up the congested inside rail.

Given the traffic problems in behind, it often pays to be handy on the round course, especially in big fields, and backing hold-up horses at this track should come with a health warning. The downhill run around the bottom turn can often enable front-runners to steal a march on their rivals, while the bend into the home straight is very sharp, which can often lead to some horses struggling to hold their position. All of these factors point punters firmly in the direction of horses who have proved themselves at the track previously.

Stalls' position can vary on the sprint course, but when they are placed on the stands' side, it usually pays to race near the stands' rail, with those drawn low often marooned in the middle of the track. Big-field sprints like the Stewards' Cup are proper cavalry charges with horses spread right across the track, and in those circumstances it often pays to be drawn close to the pace horses.

Richard Hannon is a trainer to follow at Goodwood's main meeting, he normally targets the big two-year-old races, especially the Richmond Stakes, with his best juvenile.

Goodwood racecourse – how to get there

Address:

Goodwood Racecourse

Chichester,

West Sussex

PO18 0PS

Goodwood is located just outside Chichester, only 60 miles from London, 30 miles from Brighton and Southampton.

If you are travelling by road from London, follow the A3 (Junction 10 on the M25) south towards Guildford. About thee miles past Guildford, at the Milford turning, take the A283 to Petworth, then the A285 to Chichester for about six miles.

From the West, follow the A27 to Chichester. At Chichester, stay on the A27 bypass/ring road. After the only set of traffic lights, take the second exit at the next roundabout signposted Goodwood. At the next roundabout take the second exit.

There is a regular service from London Victoria to Chichester (one hour 40 minutes), plus the coastal service from Brighton and Portsmouth. Buses or taxis are available at Chichester Station.

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