One of the highlights of the Flat season has arrived. Glorious Goodwood gets under way with a brilliant opening card featuring the Goodwood Cup, Vintage Stakes and Lennox Stakes, while this track always throws up fascinating betting angles.
I've picked out my four strongest Glorious Goodwood Day 1 tips, with the nap of the day running in the Vintage Stakes at 2:25. Do not miss this!
Goodwood Tuesday Tips: Vintage Run from Al Hudaiba?
| Bet Type | Horse (Race) | Odds | Bookie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Al Hudaiba (2:25) | 7/4 | William Hill |
| Next Best | Trawlerman (3:35) | 9/4 | William Hill |
| Value Bet | Yabher (1:50) | 6/1 | Betfred |
| Value Bet | Qirat (3:00) | 4/1 | William Hill |
Odds correct at 12:00 BST on 27/07/26. Odds subject to change.
Way back in the day, King Edward VII coined the phrase “Glorious Goodwood” having visited this festival, calling it a garden party with racing tacked on. The vibe is always special here.
This year, the ground staff have been amazing. We have a very brown infield after some scorching days, which most of us are grateful for, but which have presented a challenge for racing. Despite the heat, the racetrack looks superb going into the meeting and conditions are perfect for my four Glorious Goodwood tips. Hats off to the team.
Godolphin rider William Buick has been handed an eight-day suspension, but that doesn’t start until next week, and he’s free to ride my Goodwood nap of the day in the Vintage Stakes. Odds for that, and my other three bets, have been provided by two of the best horse racing bookmakers, Betfred and William Hill. Full previews are below so you can check out my methods (or madness).
Don't Miss Wednesday's Exclusive Goodwood Bet
One of Tuesday's best bets won't appear anywhere on TPP. Instead, it will feature in our free Glorious Goodwood Cheat Sheet, exclusive to subscribers, landing in your inbox before racing gets underway.
Just drop your email below and make sure you don’t miss out.
If you like this type of content, subscribe…
My Glorious Goodwood Best Bet
Al Hudaiba – 2:25 (Vintage Stakes)
This is a seven-furlong Group 2 event for the juveniles. Winners of this contest invariably go on to become top class. Whoever is successful this week will be given quotes for next spring’s 2000 Guineas.
My nap of the day comes here in the shape of Charlie Appleby and Godolphin representative Al Hudaiba. Looking back at Appleby’s two winners of this race – Pinatubo improved 8lbs from his previous run to score in 2019, while in 2024, Aomori City was 11lbs better than his last start. Al Hudaiba’s sire, Dark Angel, himself improved some 14lbs from Royal Ascot to the July Stakes, which is the race my nap won last time.
Al Hudaiba is now rated 108 after scoring at Newmarket. A relatively conservative improvement of 7lbs, minus his 3lb penalty for having already won a Group 2, puts him at 112.
Aidan O’Brien runs Haffner here who beat a good field in a Newmarket maiden on the same day Al Hudaiba took down the July Stakes. He ran to a mark of about 95 that day and, while there is bound to be plenty of improvement from him, it’s asking a lot for him to get to our horse’s level.
Why I’m Backing Al Hudaiba
-
The proven class act in the race having won the July Stakes
-
Has experience but is still improving
-
Should love the track, trip, and ground conditions
Glorious Goodwood Tuesday Tips: My Next Best Bet
Trawlerman – 1:50 (Goodwood Cup)
I mentioned on our Glorious Goodwood betting page that Rahiebb was the each-way value in the ante-post markets for the Goodwood Cup. He can still reach a good level, but with conditions now known, good old Trawlerman has to be the final bet.
This two-mile Group 1 is being billed as Scandinavia v Trawlerman II after their bruising battle in the Gold Cup at Ascot. Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old just about got the better of that argument, but coming back four furlongs in trip here isn’t guaranteed to suit him. Trawlerman, though an elder statesman now, missed his prep before that race and will be spot-on for this challenge.
It’s easy to see this hardened hero turning the form around with Scandinavia now. As for the others, it was great to back Rahiebb to win the Yorkshire Cup and he could yet be top-class, but in retrospect, he beat a bunch of horses going backwards in their careers at York and he needs a big jump forward.
Look out for Trawlerman wearing his ski goggles in the paddock to protect his eyes from the sun!
Why I’m Backing Trawlerman
-
Been there and done it – very successfully
-
Needed the run at Ascot after an interrupted prep – better now
-
Top stable of John & Thady Gosden running better than 50% strike-rate in the last 14 days
My First Glorious Goodwood Value Bet
Yabher – 1:50 (Chesterfield Cup)
The competitive Chesterfield Cup gets this meeting underway, a blood and thunder handicap over a mile and a quarter. There could be some hard luck stories this week, as there often are here, with the layout of the track likely meaning some pushing and shoving against the far rail.
In fact, most of the recent winners of this race have been drawn wide, away from trouble. That’s the position Tom Marquand finds himself in aboard Yabher, who has impressive course winning form on the downs.
True, he’s gone up significantly in the handicap since winning here in May, but he’s been dropped back down 2lbs for his no-show in the John Smith’s Cup at York which doesn’t worry me. He’s generally progressive.
Why I’m Backing Yabher
-
Progressive overall profile
-
Top jockey Tom Marquand now back on board
-
Flaws in other top candidates for the race
My Next Glorious Goodwood Value Bet
Qirat – 3:00 (Lennox Stakes)
This is an interesting one, a seven-furlong Group 2. The Lennox in fact is often a Group 1 in all but name, which could prove to be the case on Tuesday.
Lake Forest is considered top level in fact, and he is the short-priced favourite for this race having reached an impressive mark of 119. In reality, he ran to a rating of about 111 when he was runner-up in this race last year, and while he has improved, his mark overestimates him.
Qirat was the value shout in my Saturday horse racing tips page at 14/1 when he won at York on June 27. He clearly loves it here too, having landed a 150/1 shock when taking the Sussex Stakes last year.
This seven furlongs actually suits him better though, and this versatile sort can move up another level ahead of Lake Forest and Marvelman, who was good at Newcastle last time and represents the bang in-form Andrew Balding yard.
Why I’m Backing Qirat
-
Last year’s Sussex winner and last-time-out Group 3 scorer
-
Loves it around Goodwood
-
Great value because of the presence of Lake Forest
Multiply Your Odds at Betfred
If you place these horses into a Lucky 15, Betfred will pay 3x the odds if you only manage one winner. I’m taking advantage of this.
No Expiry Date
