Following the weekend highlight of King George Day at Ascot, the coming week sees an explosion of action on both sides of the Irish Sea. The five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival takes centre stage with a packed schedule of Group-class action, including Field Of Gold’s next appearance, in the Sussex Stakes.
However, if longevity is the measure, the mighty Galway Festival takes top honours. Never ones to do things by halves, the Irish stretch this dual-code celebration out to a full seven days. Elsewhere, we have the second instalment of the Racing League from Wolverhampton, quality contests from Newmarket and Thirsk on Saturday afternoon, and the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester on Sunday. But for many fans, this week is all about the main events from Sussex and the Emerald Isle.
Qatar Goodwood Festival, Tuesday 29 July – Saturday 2 August
The second mid-summer five-day festival might not boast the pomp, pageantry, and Royal processions of its Berkshire counterpart, but many racegoers prefer the more laid-back vibe of this Sussex spectacular. It’s Panama hats at the ready for five glorious days in the Sussex sunshine.
Day 1: Stayers Take Centre Stage
Day 1 belongs to the stamina-laden performers in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup. At 2m, the trip isn’t anywhere near as demanding as the 2m4f of the Gold Cup at Ascot. However, the race invariably attracts many of the same runners.
Such is the case in 2025, with the second and fourth from the Berkshire showstopper set to go to post. No match for Trawlerman but too good for the rest, Aidan O’Brien’s Illinois is odds-on to go one better here. Competition arrives in the shape of improving stablemate Scandinavia, impressive Copper Horse Stakes winner French Master, and Ascot fourth Sweet William.
Day 2: Gold to Shine in Sussex Stakes
Open to runners aged three and older, the Day 2 Sussex Stakes stands tall as one of the premier 1m contests of the season. With Lockinge Stakes winner Lead Artist, 2024 Irish 2000 Guineas champ Rosallion, French 2000 hero Henri Matisse, and Queen Anne winner Docklands among the entries, the 2025 edition looks well up to scratch.
Despite that depth, the race has an overwhelming favourite in formidable shape of Field Of Gold. Hailing from the yard of John & Thady Gosden, this giant Kingman colt arrives seeking a Group 1 hat-trick, following victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas and a jaw-dropping performance in the St. James’s Palace Stakes.
Day 3: Fillies to the Fore in Nassau Stakes
The final Group 1 of the meeting sees the fillies and mares lock horns in the 1m2f Nassau Stakes. Epsom Oaks runner-up and Pretty Polly Stakes winner Whirl leads the charge for the Classic generation, followed by shock Coronation Stakes winner Cercene.
With seven wins in the past 10 years, the three-year-olds have held the edge in this event of late. However, Whirl and the rest will need to be at their best to defy an older challenge, which includes Prince Of Wales’s Stakes third See The Fire and Falmouth Stakes heroine Cinderella’s Dream.
Day 4: Aussie Ace to Bounce Back in King George?
Won in four successive years by the bullet-like Battaash (2017-2020), the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes is the sprinting highlight of the fixture. Surprise July Cup winner No Half Measures, Commonwealth Cup champ Time For Sandals, and King Charles III Stakes second Frost At Dawn catch the eye among the current entries. However, the market suggests the Australian mare Asfoora is the one to beat. The 2024 King Charles III Stakes winner finished only fifth in the defence of her crown but is expected to improve for that outing.
Day 5: Cavalry Charge in Handicap Highlight
The Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes tops the bill from a class perspective on the closing day, but much of the betting interest centres around the Stewards’ Cup Handicap. A maximum 28-runner field is expected for this 6f affair as the runners fan out across the Goodwood turf. Get It broke the track record in 2024 and is out to defend his crown, having claimed the Wokingham Stakes last time out. He boasts solid claims at a course which suits his front-running style, but the market has latched onto the unexposed Almeraq from the yard of William Haggas.
Galway Festival: Monday 28 July – Sunday 3 August
The Galway Festival can’t match the Group race highs of Goodwood, but, as ever, the craic in Ireland will be tough to beat. Scoring top marks for variety, the meeting lays on competitive contests on the flat, over hurdles, and over fences, with highlights including:
- Day 3: Tote Galway Plate – 2024 Galway Hurdle winner Nurburgring tackles the fences in this 2m6½f Handicap Chase
- Day 4: Guinness Galway Hurdle – Fred Winter winner Puturhandstogether heads the betting as the speedy hurdlers do battle over 2m
- Day 5: Guinness Handicap – Aidan O’Brien, Dermot Weld, and Willie Mullins hold entries in this competitive 1m4f flat handicap
- Day 6: Corrib Fillies’ Stakes – The pick of the flat contests for the fairer sex lights up Saturday afternoon’s action
- Day 7: Boylesports Handicap Hurdle – 2m6½f is the trip for a staying hurdle contest, claimed by the Gordon Elliott-trained The Wallpark in 2024
Two festivals, a whopping 80 races – July certainly goes out with a bang on the racing front!
