Glorious Goodwood Day Two (Sussex Stakes Preview ) Wed 29th July 2026

The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.

 The Sussex Stakes became a 1-mile race for three-year-olds in 1878. The previous version had been overshadowed by both the Goodwood Cup and the Stewards' Cup, but in its modified form it became the most prestigious race at Goodwood.

The event was opened to four-year-olds in 1960, and to horses aged five or older in 1975.

Race conditions £1,500,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ NOTE: Horses will only be eligible to run in this race provided that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday of the confirmation stage. Horses which do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or higher. Horses which have not run will not be eligible. Weights 3yo colts & geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb; 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 10lb; fillies 9st 7lb Weight for age 3yo from 4yo+ 8lb pay £4,800 Penalty value 1st £850,650.00 2nd £322,500.00 3rd £161,400.00 4th £80,400.00 5th £40,350.00 6th £20,250.00

JBB RATINGS : (1) BOW ECHO (134) (2) OPERA BALLO (130) (3) GSTAAD (128) 

The feature race of the meeting the 1.5 million Sussex Stakes first run in 1878 .

The unbeaten three-year-old colt BOW ECHO tops the ratings after winning 5 out 5 , including winning 2000 Guineas at Newmarket & St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. That St James Palace Stakes looked very messy race when just getting the better of Gstaad by short head. Obvious claims on form, though Odds around even money look short enough in such hot race.

At the prices the four-year-old colt OPERA BALLO  looks the each-way value against the short price favourite. Has excellent record on turning track, winning 6 out 6 only 3 defeats coming on straight track at Newmarket & Ascot. Produced career best when winning Bet365 mile at Sandown in May, beating 2025 Guineas runner-up Field Of Gold by 3 lenghs. Solid each-way claims at 4-1 or bigger on this turning track .

Of the others GSTAAD  looks best of the rest, yet to finish outside the first two in 9 starts , though has twice been beaten by Bow Echo , looked to get the run of the race at Ascot last time, though is consistent sort should be in shake-up . 

VERDICT : (1) OPERA BALLO (2) BOW ECHO (3) GSTAAD 

OPERA BALLO 4.10 GOODWOOD SUSSEX STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 9-2 PRICED UP 1/5 ODDS 1-2-3 

(THIRD SP 9-2 LOSS 0.10PTS)

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OPERA BALLO / BOW ECHO @ 15-2 SKYBET 0.50PT STRAIGHT FORECAST 

BOW ECHO / OPERA BALLO @ 4-1 1PT SKYBET STRAIGHT FORECAST

LOSS -1.50 PTS 

FULL RESULT : 1ST BOW ECHO 10/11 2ND GSTAAD 4-1 3RD OPERA BALLO 9-2 

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Glorious Goodwood Day One (Lennox Stakes Preview) (Tue 28th July 2026)

The Lennox Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.

The event is named after the Duke of Lennox, one of the dukedoms held by the Duke of Richmond, the owner of Goodwood Racecourse. It was established in 2000, and the inaugural running was won by Observatory. 

The Lennox Stakes was initially classed at Group 3 level, and it was promoted to Group 2 status in 2003. It was sponsored by Betfair from 2004 to 2010, and during this period it was known as the Betfair Cup. It was sponsored by Bet365 from 2011 to 2014.

The race is currently held on the opening day of the five-day Glorious Goodwood meeting.

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£200,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ Weights 3yo colts & geldings 8st 13lb; fillies 8st 10lb; 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 6lb; fillies 9st 3lb Penalties after 2025, a winner of a Group 2 race 3lb; of a Group 1 race 5lb Weight for age 3yo from 4yo+ 7lb pay £700 Penalty value 1st £113,420.00 2nd £43,000.00 3rd £21,520.00 4th £10,720.00 5th £5,380.00 6th £2,700.00

JBB RATINGS : (1) LAKE FOREST (119) (2) QIRAT (115) (3) WITNESS STAND (114) 

8 Runners declared for 7f G2 Lennox Stakes on Good/firm. 

The William Haggas trained five-year-old gelding LAKE FOREST tops the ratings after bolting up in listed company at Haydock in May, also finished creditable 1.5L fifth in G1 Jubilee stakes at Royal Ascot last month over 6 furlongs. Obvious claims returning to 7 furlongs, though was well beaten second in this race last year. Odds around even money look short enough, for horse (1 out 13) in group company .

Course specialist QIRAT should go well .Has excellent record here at Goodwood 3 out 3 , including shock 150-1 winner of the G1 Sussex stakes at this meeting last season, though has never repeated that G1 form , was tidy winner of G3 Criterion Stakes at York last month .Odds 9-2 look solid each-way value in this 8 runner contest.

Of the others last years winner WITNESS STAND looks the most interesting .Has decent record here at Goodwood , including winning this race last year by impressive 2.75 lenghs (Lake Forest well held) though has been mainly disappointing this season, did finish excellent second behind G1 winner Ten Bob Tony at Epsom in June. Will be suited returning to Goodwood.Place claims on his best form .

VERDICT : (1) QIRAT (2) LAKE FOREST (3) WITNESS STAND 

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QIRAT 3.00 GLORIOUS GOODWOOD LENNOX STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 9-2 BET365 .SKYBET .PADDY POWER

(FOURTH SP 4-1 LOSS 2.00 PTS )

FULL RESULT : 1ST LAKE FOREST 10/11 2ND ROGUE DIPLOMAT 25-1 3RD WITNESS STAND 17-2

Jerry Walks for Pancreatic Cancer UK

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— Jerry Banks (@jerryb123456) July 5, 2026

York Dante Stakes Preview (Thu 14th May 2026 )

The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards (2,063 metres) at York in May.

The event is named after Dante, the Yorkshire-trained winner of the Derby substitute at Newmarket in 1945. Established in 1958, it serves as a major trial for the Derby.^[1] The first running was won by Bald Eagle.

In total, eleven winners of the race have won the Derby. The first was St Paddy in 1960, and the most recent was Desert Crown in 2022. The 2014 Dante Stakes winner, The Grey Gatsby, subsequently won France's equivalent of the Derby, the Prix du Jockey-Club while the 2015 runner-up, Jack Hobbs, and 2021 winner Hurricane Lane, both won the Irish Derby.

The Dante Stakes is currently staged on the second day of York's three-day Dante Festival meeting.

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Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo) Winner £102,078 8 runners 1m2f56y Good ITV (STALLS Inside)

race conditions  £180,000 guaranteed For  3yo Weights  colts & geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb Penalties  after 2025, a winner of a Group 1 race 3lb Entries  12 pay £625 Penalty value  1st  £102,078.00 2nd  £38,700.00 3rd  £19,368.00 4th  £9,648.00 5th  £4,842.00 6th  £2,430.00

JBB FORM RATINGS : (1) CHRISTMAS DAY (110) (2) MORSHDI (109) (3) AL ZANATI (106)

The progressive Camelot colt CHRISTMAS DAY , should go well for inform Aidan O 'Brien stable, having landed hattrick in Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last month , that form looks very solid, having beaten 1-2-3 from Derby Trial Stakes (James J Baddock ) (Pierre Bonnard ) (Endorsement ) .Looks the type to show further improvement season.Will be suited by easy ground .Possible Derby contender .Odds around 11-4 or bigger look fair value .

William Haggas trained MORSHDI looks interesting contender , having been withdrawn last week at Chester in Dee Stakes , has shown progressive form winning 2 from 3, including winning the listed Feilden Stakes in good style at Newmarket last month, though that form has taken few knocks with 2nd,4th & 5th from Feilden Stakes all well beaten since. Step up in trip should suit , though has to be question marks about that Feilden stakes form .

Of the others WISE PRINCE looks best of the bigger price runners after finishing third in Sandown Derby trial last month , that was fair effort on only his second start.Looked in need of the race on reappearance. Should improve .Place claims .

VERDICT : (1) CHRISTMAS DAY (2) MORSHDI (3) WISE PRINCE 

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CHRISTMAS DAY 4.05 YORK DANTE STAKES 

2PTS WIN @ 11-4 PADDY POWER & BETFAIR SPORTSBOOK 

(THIRD SP 11-4F LOSS 2.00PTS) 

RESULT : (1) ITEM 11-2 (2) ACTION 4-1 (3) CHRISTMAS DAY 11-4F

Newmarket Dahlia Stakes Preview (Sunday 3rd May 2026 )

The Dahlia Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong (1,811 metres) on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in early May.

The event is named after Dahlia, a successful filly in the 1970s. It was established in 1997, and initially held Listed status. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 2004 and upgraded to Group 2 level in 2015.^[1]

The Dahlia Stakes is currently staged on the third day of the three-day Guineas Festival meeting. It is run on the same day as the 1000 Guineas.

Betfred Dahlia Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (4yo+) Winner £93,572 12 runners 1m1f Good To Firm ITV (STALLS Centre)

 race conditions  £165,000 guaranteed For  4yo+ fillies & mares Weights  9st 2lb Penalties  after August 31st, 2025, a winner of a Group 2 race 3lb; of a Group 1 race 5lb Entries  15 pay £1,650 Penalty value  1st  £93,571.50 2nd  £35,475.00 3rd  £17,754.00 4th  £8,844.00 5th  £4,438.50 6th  £2,227.50

JBB RATINGS : (1) CATHEDRAL (114) (1) SURVIE (114) (3) SAND GAZELLE (107)

Wide open looking fillies & mares group two contest over 9 furlongs .

The George Boughey trained five-year-old mare SURVIE , should go well stepping back up in trip, having found mile at Kempton too sharp last time.Had some useful form when trained in France, including winning in group two company at Longchamp .Changed hands for 1.9 million guineas in Dec 2025 .Ran her best race for George Boughey when finishing good third behind Royal Champion in the valuable G1 Neom Cup at Riyadh in Febuary.Odds 4-1 or bigger look solid each-way value .

The ultra consistent CATHEDRAL looks the main danger on form, having finished ahead of Survie last time at Kempton in 1 mile listed contest, though this longer trip not certain to suit, having shown her best form over mile .Also not the easiest horse to win with, having not won since her debut back in September 2024 .Solid place claims, though could get outstayed in closing stages 

Of the others SAND GAZELLE  looks the most interesing , having shown solid form in group & listed company last season , including winning good listed contest at York , beating two subsequent group / listed winners .Each-way claims if fully tuned up on her seasonal reappearance for inform John/Thady Gosden stable .

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VERDICT : (1) SURVIE (2) CATHEDRAL (3) SAND GAZELLE 

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SURVIE 2.20 NEWMARKET DAHLIA STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 5-1 WILLIAM HILLS (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3 )

(THIRD SP 9-2 PROFIT/LOSS LEVEL )