Last but not least from Glorious Goodwood 2025 is a day 5 card that contains the Stewards’ Cup and Summer Handicap. Group races from the Sussex Downs track on Saturday, 2 August see fillies and mares tackle the Lillie Langtry Stakes and older middle-distance horses run in the Glorious Stakes.
As the curtain falls on another memorable edition of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, these events form a major part of the ITV Racing coverage on the day. Heavy and thundery showers on Thursday may have changed conditions at the course, but the track could also dry out in the subsequent 48 hours. It may suit some, but not others.
Later on the Glorious Goodwood 2025 day 5 card, there are a couple more handicaps, but nothing like the cavalry charge of the Stewards’ Cup. Both are over specialist distances of seven furlongs and the even rarer nine. These sit either side of the Golden Mile taking place on Friday, but without the prestige attached to it.
We’ve worked our experts hard this week and, for one last time at this Festival, they took a good look through the form book. Combining such study with value prices on horse racing betting sites is their MO and it’s yielded winners during the meeting once again. Don’t rule out a final flourish from our experts as they give their selections and reasons why they fancy them below…
Glorious Goodwood 2025 Day 5 Preview for Saturday, 2 August
1:20 – 1m 4f Group 3 Glorious Stakes
Meydaan is first past the post in the British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes ridden by Harry Davies for @SimonCrisford & @edcrisford 🏆 pic.twitter.com/E4snWme6XF
— Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) May 25, 2024
As he also ran the 113-rated Liberty Lane within a neck here at a mile-and-a-quarter in the spring, Meydaan appeals as a bit of value against the Haggas pair. Connections mean business too with Ryan Moore booked for the ride. Andrew Balding steps Mount Atlas out of handicaps, but this isn’t a gentle introduction to Pattern races for him by any means.
Godolphin’s Arabian Crown didn’t stay this trip at Newmarket last time out and is a difficult horse for Charlie Appleby to place as he’s hasn’t run much since an injury last season. Ambiente Friendly placed in both the 2024 Epsom and Irish Derby, but hasn’t reproduced that form and is now a gelding. He could end up over jumps like so many of his owners’ horses.
1:55 – 1m 6f Summer Handicap
Two against the field are AERONAUTIC and HALLELUJAH U. The former meets familiar foe Barnso (switched to Alan King out of Ireland since Royal Ascot) off better terms than previous encounters for Joseph O’Brien. Aeronautic caught the eye when fifth in the Duke Of Edinburgh off the same mark last time and now has Colin Keane taking the ride.
A three-year-old won the Summer Handicap 12 months ago, so Hallelujah U could follow in those hoofprints. James Owen’s charge receives a handy 10lb weight for age allowance all-round. His Queen’s Vase sixth and Bahrain Trophy third read well as the form of both has been franked by Scandinavia coming out and landing the Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.
Plenty more have claims, however, and David O’Meara runner Stressfree should be more comfortable now stepped back up in trip. Locally trained Master Builder could also go well for David Menuisier. Ian Williams’ Dancing In Paris has one of these staying handicaps in him and placed over course and distance this spring, while Sam Hawkens seeks a hat-trick.
2:30 – 1m 6f Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes
Goodie Two Shoes continues her recent purple patch with a gutsy Group success in the @DarleyStallions Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes, ridden home by Dylan Browne McMonagle 🔥@JosephOBrien2 | @IrishEBF_ pic.twitter.com/2g2X7E94DU
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) July 9, 2025
With stamina assured, she should confirm form with fellow Emerald Isle raider Royal Entry from the Paddy Twomey stable. The mare that split them at Fairyhouse ran a blinder next time when third in the Curragh Cup, so the form looks solid. Last year’s winner Term Of Endearment returns to defend her crown, but hasn’t reproduced her best since joining Haggas.
Sueno and Allonsy were both behind her in the Bronte Cup over this trip at York, however, and look open to more improvement. The latter represents Kirsten Rausing, who does really well with the middle-to-long-distance fillies she breeds. Sueno is the pick of two John & Thady Gosden fillies in the line-up, because Danielle hasn’t had a run this season.
Receiving 10lb weight for age from all but one rival is dark horse Waardah. Owen Burrows’ charge ran on well to land a Listed race over a mile-and-a-quarter here in June and this looks like it’s been the plan ever since. Given her stamina laden pedigree, Waardah should get the extra four furlongs, but will also need to with Goodie Two Shoes landing a two-mile event in notching a hat-trick.
3:05 – 6f Stewards’ Cup Heritage Handicap
Massive draw bias anxiety notwithstanding, something drawn middle-to-high has won the Glorious Goodwood 2025 day 5 feature in recent years. Cases can be made for a ton of these sprinters, but CIRCE jumps from a high gate in stall 23 and could be tailor-made for this six-furlong cavalry charge. Richard Hannon books Moore for the ride, which may be a tip in itself. Circe has won three of her last four, so is a filly in form.
If the low numbers aren’t the place to be, then that has scuppered a number of horses re-opposing with last year’s winner Get It from the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. He’s 6lb higher than 12 months ago and has 4lb more for his latest big race success. Hopefuls from that form line drawn low are Completely Random and Purosangue, who ran fifth and ninth six weeks ago. Both are better off with the winner.
Splitting those were Apollo One and Korker, who have higher gates with the former (runner-up in this last season) alongside Get It; but, even by sprinters’ standards, they’re difficult to catch right. Away from Ascot form, others potentially struggling from a low draw are the fancied Elmonjed and Hammer The Hammer. A number in the field are quickly turned out and that hasn’t been a problem in the past with Two Tribes one to note.
Also from this category, last year’s sixth Strike Red could go well for Richard Fahey. Brian Meehan books Keane for the ride on Toca Madera, meanwhile, and he caught the eye when fourth at Ascot (that place again) last Saturday. From a high-ish draw, Jakajaro might fare best of the three carrying Dr Jim & Fitri Hay’s pink and green colours despite last running on the opening card on Tuesday.
3:45 – 7f Whispering Angel Handicap (0-105)
Yah Mo Be There is a big talking horse towards the top of the weights, yet now concedes 9lb to old rival Andesite who beat him in their juvenile days. Eve Johnson Houghton has had a good meeting at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, meanwhile, so Spirit Of Farhh could outrun his odds. Also of interest is James Ferguson’s lightly-raced Montpellier, who makes just his fourth career start.
Elsewhere, Ralph Beckett duo El Matador and Consolidation have claims. The former looks to complete a hat-trick, while the latter knows what it takes to win over course and distance. Placed on this track and trip in the Vintage Stakes last term was Wolf Of Badenoch, who has Keane taking the ride. Shout has a shout for the Crisfords, if punters ignore his latest Ascot effort.
4:55 – 1m 1f Class 3 Handicap (0-95)
Gladius seals the deal ✉️ to take his record to 2 wins from 3 starts!
Congratulations to our partners David Howden & @Qatar_Racing 👏👏
Thank you Andrew Balding & @oismurphy 🤝 https://t.co/fB7nzDJWy7
— China Horse Club (@Chinahorseclub) June 14, 2025
Gladius is up 7lb for Sandown success over this specific distance, but connections now book William Buick for the ride. With Treasure Time among those fancied for the Golden Mile, he’d pose a threat if running here but Haggas has his eyes on that bigger prize. Course winners Alpha Crucis and Toimy Son, who won the big Friday handicap off 5lb lower at this meeting 12 months ago, command respect.
Boyfriend shaped nicely when placed here over a mile last season, meanwhile, and now meets Dutch Decoy off 10lb better terms from Newmarket. Hannon again has Moore in the saddle, so the top jockeys stay right to the end of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Other in-form horses aren’t exactly crowding this race, apart from recent winner Indalo for Varian.
