As key parts of the penultimate card of action from Glorious Goodwood 2025 day 4, the Golden Mile and Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes provide punters with big fields to wager on. The former is a Heritage Handicap, while the latter sees some of the best sprinters in training descend on the Sussex Downs.
Friday, 1 August also has the second-longest race held on the Flat in the UK with the Goodwood Handicap over an extended two-and-a-half miles. Also supporting the big races is the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes for three-year-old milers. One of the Qatar Goodwood Festival’s recent innovations, meanwhile, is the Bentinck Conditions Stakes over a mile and a furlong.
As individual days of racing go, this provides some of the greatest variety in terms of distances on the Flat. One thing Glorious Goodwood 2025 day 4 won’t be short of is drama, that’s for sure. Australian wonder-mare Asfoora returns to Sussex for another tilt at the King George Qatar Stakes and she faces 13 rivals including some other Group 1 winners and improving sprinters.
We keep our experts’ noses to the grindstone as they dip in and out of the form book, plus the latest prices from horse racing bookies available online in search of value. Read their analysis of all six aforementioned races below to see what the Friday fancies are and why. There’s some ultra-competitive action on the track, but that doesn’t deter them from taking a view.
Glorious Goodwood 2025 Day 4 Preview for Friday, 1 August
1:20 – 2m 4.5f Goodwood Handicap
The Rod Gaskin Garden Machinery Handicap is won well by Aggagio under Ashley Lewis for Gary and Josh Moore! 🥇@gl_racing pic.twitter.com/ISWR3R0yyU
— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) June 8, 2025
The stable also runs ZINC WHITE, who has claims off 4lb lower than when fifth in the same race. Punters should hedge on him and Sheradann. Williams isn’t the only one with two runners, however, as Hughie Morrison runs a couple. Of those, last season’s fourth Kyle Of Lochalsh could go well in this once again. Vino Victrix has less upside.
Gordon Elliott raider Mordor heads the betting, meanwhile. Although he shapes like he’ll get this extreme trip, a 9lb hike for his Killarney spring success looks severe. Mordor could only finish 10th in a Curragh stayers handicap on the Irish Derby card off his revised mark. George Baker steps Beauld As Brass up markedly in trip and he’s another interesting five-year-old.
1:55 – 1m Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes
“Wildly impressive.”@AngusMcNae is a big fan of Opera Ballo, fine winner of the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes last week #TheVerdict | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/qXGlXxIqpP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 14, 2025
Juddmonte have a big danger danger to Charlie Appleby’s charge here, however, in Cosmic Year. He wants at least a mile for Harry Charlton, based on how he shaped when runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Only 1lb separates the pair on official ratings, but Cosmic Year drops in grade after contesting a couple of Group 1s.
Of the others, Ryan Moore rides King Of Cities for Richard Hannon. He was only third to Opera Ballo at Newmarket when last in action and now meets the winner off 3lb worse terms, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. King Of Cities didn’t get a run as the race came to the boil, so he could finish closer with better luck here.
Splitting those two in the Sir Henry Cecil last time was Seagulls Eleven. He’s also 3lb worse off with Opera Ballo, but Hugo Palmer is in better form now and he may confirm the Newmarket placings with King Of Cities. The first two in the betting really look a class apart, however, and Wathnan Racing’s Diego Ventura has almost as much to find with them on ratings as the pacemaker.
2:30 – 1m Golden Mile (Heritage Handicap)
A double on the day for Ryan Moore 🙌
FIFTH COLUMN wins the Bet365 Mile Handicap 🔵 @godolphin pic.twitter.com/sFAUftEUSu
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 12, 2025
Godolphin’s runner receives a handy 7lb weight for age from all but two rivals. Fifth Column should run well in receipt of more than a stone from the favourite. Past course and distance winners inevitably catch the eye, meanwhile, and Arisaig often goes well here for the Johnston stable who do well with their runners at the meeting.
She won a fillies only here 12 months ago, while Great Chieftain takes on Ebt’s Guard and Treasure Time again after the trio met as three-year-olds in an age restricted event last season. David O’Meara has saddled the Golden Mile winner more than once and has five runners in this renewal. On that basis, none of Blue For You, Bopedro, Mirsky, Rhoscolyn or Theoryofeverything can be ruled out.
Afentiko is another of the three-year-olds tackling their elders, while rain will suit Lattam, who could be well-handicapped. Julie Camacho had a second on the opening day of the Festival as well. Of the rest, Greek Order is prominent in the betting but this easier mile won’t automatically suit. Even Fantastic Fox isn’t out of this for King Power Racing and Roger Varian.
3:05 – 5f Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes
With a UK run when fifth in the King Charles III under her belt, Henry Dwyer’s mare should now be spot on to go one better than 12 months ago. The market expects her to reverse Ascot form with Frost At Dawn and improve on dead-heating for minor honours with Kerdos. Challenging Asfoora is another horse in Big Evs’ silks in Big Mojo.
Mick Appleby tries to upset the favourite again but, unlike last term, she doesn’t carry a Group 1 penalty for Ascot. Big Mojo won the Molecomb Stakes at this meeting, so likes the track. Shock Commonwealth Cup hero Time For Sandals now takes on his elders and brings alternative form to the table. Harry Eustace’s stable star has seen the runner-up and fourth score since.
Time For Sandals also chased home subsequent Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna en route to Ascot and had Big Mojo well-beaten during the Royal meeting. He’s a threat to the market principals, but so are others in this mad dash up the sprint course. Jack Davison filly She’s Quality keeps hitting the frame, while Celandine should take a big step forward from her reappearance.
Similar comments apply to Charlie Hills veteran Khaadem, who popped up in both the Stewards’ Cup and in this race in 2022 despite being the elder statesman aged nine. Although Henry De Bromhead raider Town And Country should have no chance on ratings, it’s interesting she runs here.
3:45 – 1m 1f Class 2 Bentinck Conditions Stakes
A fantastic start to the Flat Season!
Who backed Godwinson in the Lincoln? #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/r4ggSwpXty
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 30, 2025
Besides the Wathnan runner, Karl Burke’s Liberty Lane looks a big danger. He won the Cambridgeshire over this trip in the autumn and landed a mile-and-quarter Listed race here during springtime. Liberty Lane just did enough that day, so dropping down a furlong again looks a smart move.
Suffolk Stakes and John Smith’s Cup hero Fox Legacy tries this stepping stone after two Heritage Handicap wins, meanwhile. Andrew Balding and King Power have an improver on their hands here, but his revised mark of 101 suggests he needs further progress.
Socialite is another last time out winner from Windsor, but he ran poorly at this Festival last season. Divine Knight could be anything after landing his sole racecourse start around Thirsk. Balmoral Handicap scorer Carrytheone is up there on official figures, should strip fitter for his reappearance and Christophe Soumillon reprises their partnership from British Champions Day for Michael Bell.
4:55 – 1m 3f Class 3 Handicap (0-90)
Yabher looks value to beat Varian duo Ride The Thunder and Munsif with the market preferring the latter. He didn’t appear to get home at York and this race is another furlong or so in distance. Push The Limit and Sea Of Kings are lightly-raced rivals, but maidens on turf and have other things to prove.
Ammes for James Owen is interesting, meanwhile. A mile-and-three-quarters was beyond him stamina wise, so dropping three furlongs in trip could be more like it. Ammes wasn’t disgraced when sixth in the King George V during Royal Ascot. Trends show most recent winners of this had ratings in the mid-80s, which helps eliminate plenty.
