2024 Goodwood Festival Review

The historic Goodwood Racecourse played host to five days of enthralling racing last week, and here we shall review all of the action from Glorious Goodwood 2024.

The iconic Qatar Goodwood Festival is over for another year, with Goodwood Racecourse hosting another five days of enthralling horse racing action. There were some big surprises in some races, whilst in others horses and their jockeys proved why they were favourites before their races even got underway.

Day One took place back on Tuesday 30th July 2024, with the following eight races taking place across the day: Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap, the HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes, the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes, the Coral Racing Club Handicap, the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes, Ridgeview Fillies’ Handicap and the HKJC World Pool British EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

The Chesterfield Cup saw Ben Coen on board Take Heart, trained by Johnny Murtagh, emerge victorious ahead of pre-race favourite Enfjaar in second place, as well as Tony Montana and Max Mayhem who had to settle for a third and fourth place finish respectively once this race had officially concluded.

William Buick and pre-race favourite Aomori City were able to emerge victorious in the 2024 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes, which were the second race to take place on the Goodwood Festival’s opening day. It was not a straightforward win though, as there was some stern competition from the likes of runner-up Wolf Of Badenoch and Cool Hoof Luke, who finished in third place.

The HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes came next, and it was Robert Havlin on board winner Audience who came out on top, whilst the pre-race favourite came in third place, whilst it was Art Power who was the runner-up.

The latest renewal of the iconic Goodwood Cup came next as the fourth race of the opening day, and Kyprios not only won the race, he broke the course record for the fastest time with 3 minutes and 21.25 seconds. This was no less than 6.37 seconds faster than Soldier in Action, who possessed the previous record of 3 minutes and 24.86 seconds – this had been set in September 2018.

Tatterstall then won the latest running of the Coral Racing Cub Handicap, whilst it was the pre-race favourite Jouncy, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Jockey Oisin Murphy, who came out on top in this race, which was the sixth of the day.

The seventh race of day one was the Ridgeview Fillies’ Handicap, which was won by Arisaig, coming ahead of Surveyor in second place and Strutting in third overall. The eighth and final race then came in the form of the HKJC World Pool British EBF Fillies’ Handicap, which was won by Jason Watson on board Kitai, who held off some stern competition from the likes of Katey Kontent as well as pre-race favourite Dance And Romance, who finished in second and third place respectively.

Day two of action at Glorious Goodwood then swiftly arrived with a further seven races taking place, which were as follows: The Coral Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap, Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes, Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes, Qatar Sussex Stakes, British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap, British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes, and the HKJC World Pool Handicap.

The opening race of the second day, the Coral Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap, saw the pre-race favourite French Duke, ridden by Jockey James Doyle, come out on top by living up to some lofty expectations. Lord Of Love and Gallantly were to settle for a second and third place finish respectively in the end.

This enthralling race was then shortly followed by the 2024 renewal of the Visit Qatar Oak Tree Stakes. Jim Crowley on board Raqiya came away victorious, whilst pre-race favourite Jabaara finished as their closest competitor as runner-up. The result did have to be confirmed thanks to a steward’s inquiry.

Race three was the Jaeger-Lecoultre Molecomb Stakes, Silvestre De Sousa’s Big Mojo came out on top after a tremendous race that saw Aesterius, the pre-race favourite narrowly lose out on the win in the end. Mr Lightside then rounded off the top three in this race with a third place finish.

William Buick secured his second race win of the 2024 Qatar Goodwood Festival on board Notable Speech in the Qatar Sussex Stakes, beating Tom Marquand’s Maljoom in second place, whilst Facteur Cheval came in third. Pre-race favourite Henry Longfellow, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore had to settle for fourth place.

Al Anoud then won the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap, which was followed by the latest running of the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes, which saw pre-race favourite Coto De Caza victorious, ridden by Jockey Harry Davies.

The HKJC World Pool Handicap was the final race to take place on the second day, and in the end, it was David Probert and Blue Prince who came out on top, beating stern competition from Billyjoh, the pre-race favourite, and Racingbreaks Ryder in second and third.

Day Three of Glorious Goodwood took place on Thursday 1st August 2024. The following races took place: the Coral Kincsem Handicap, the Markel Richmond Stakes, the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes, the Qatar Nassau Stakes, the Jaeger-Lecoultre Nursery Handicap, the Buccellati Handicap, the Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and the HKJC World Pool Handicap.

Action on Thursday began with Tom Marquand winning the Coral Kincsem Handicap on board a William Haggas trained Approval, who was closely followed by runner-up Brioni and the pre-race favourite, Midnight Gun, in third place in the end.

Then came the Markel Richmond Stakes, which saw an intense and entertaining race end in a win for Dylan Browne McMonagle and Black Forza, who finished ahead of pre-race favourite The Strikin King in second and Intrusively in third place.

Jan Brueghel then maintained what has been an incredible unbeaten run when Ryan Moore rode the Aidan O’Brien trained horse to victory as the pre-race favourite in the 2024 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes, with Bellum Justum and Sayedaty Sadaty rounding off the top three in second and third place respectively.

Another win for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore came in the famous Qatar Nassau Stakes, the fourth race of the day. Moore rode Opera Singer to victory following an intense race but still managed to fend off all competition from runner-up See The Fire and Sparkling Plenty, whilst the pre-race favourite, Emily Upjohn, finished down in 6th place overall.

Rossa Ryan and Mr Chaplin were then victorious in the Jaeger-Lecoultre Nursery Handicap, with Tom Marquand riding Shagraan to victory in the race that immediately followed it, the Buccellati Handicap, finishing ahead of second place To Love A Grey and third place Toca Madera.

It was an incredible day for both Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, who secured yet another win through Dreamy. The pre-race favourite was followed by Bouvier and Tundra Rose in the top three, finishing in second and third place respectively in the end.

The final race to take place on day three was the latest iteration of the HKJC World Pool Handicap. Joe Fanning on board Great Chieftain was victorious, beating runner-up Ebt’s Guard and third place Spanish Blaze to the triumph in the race that rounded off the action on Thursday.

Then came the fourth and penultimate day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival 2024 on Friday 2nd August. The seven races that took place throughout the day were as follows: The Coral Goodwood Handicap, the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes, the Coral Golden Mile, the King George Qatar Stakes, the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes, the Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap and the Coral Play Racing-Super-Series For Free Handicap.

It was a strong victory for Charles Bishop on board Master Milliner in the opening race of the day – the Coral Goodwood Handicap. The margin of victory stood at a length and a quarter, with Premiere Ligne, Single, and Kyle Of Lochalsh filling out the final three spots in the top four. Pre-race favourite Temporize came in 8th.

The pre-race favourite once again failed to come out on top in the next race, the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes. Instead of Al Musmak, who finished in 6th place, it was Kieran Shoemark on board Lead Artist who came away victorious, with King’s Gamble and Task Force coming in second and third place respectively.

Toimy Son was the winner of the Coral Golden Mile, beating the likes of runner-up Dutch Decoy and Holloway Boy in third place to victory, whilst fourth place, in the end, was filled by Darkness.

A pre-race favourite then finally came out on top in the following race, which was the King George Qatar Stakes. The winner, Big Evs, managed to see off the challenge presented by Asfoora to come out on top, with the latter having to settle for second place, with Believing coming in third place.

Race Five on Friday was the latest running of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes, which was won by the Hamad Al Jehani trained Haunted Dream, ridden by Jockey James Doyle. Pre-race favourite My Prospero came in third, whilst Cairo came away as the runner-up.

The 2024 Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap then arrived as the penultimate race, where an enthralling race saw Artagnan come out on top, followed by runner-up Cayman Tai and pre-race favourite Rare Change, who came in third. Ardennes came in fourth.

The fourth day of the latest Qatar Goodwood Festival concluded with the Coral Play Racing-Super-Series For Free Handicap. Pre-race favourite Wafei had to settle for a second place finish, with Oisin Murphy riding Assailant to victory.

The fifth and final day of Glorious Goodwood 2024 took place back on Saturday 3rd August 2024. The seven races that were run were the Coral Glorious Stakes, the Coral Summer Handicap, the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, the Coral Stewards’ Cup, the Whispering Angel Handicap, the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes, and finally the Coral We’re Here For It Handicap.

There was a surprise winner of the Coral Glorious Stakes, with Jim Crowley leading Al Aasy to a tremendous victory ahead of Relentless Voyager in second place, whilst Phantom Flight came in third. Aimeric, the pre-race favourite, came in 4th.

The Coral Summer Handicap came next, and it was Align The Stars who won thanks to a superb performance from Jockey Joe Fanning. Fairbanks was just behind in second place, whilst it was Great Bedwyn who came in third overall.

It was then Term Of Endearment’s turn to taste glory, by winning the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes, whilst it was Night Sparkle and River Of Stars who rounded off the top three spots in second and third place respectively.

Then came the ever famous and iconic Coral Stewards’ Cup. In 2024, it was won by Get It who came away victorious following what was an enthralling race – Apollo One, Billyjoh, and Mostabshir came in second, third, and fourth place, whilst the pre-race favourite Purosangue had to settle for a 21stplace finish.

Witness Stand then won the Whispering Angel Handicap, which was then followed up by a win for Hott Shott in the 2024 edition of the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

Action for the 2024 Qatar Goodwood Festival then officially came to a close with the Coral We’re Here For It Handicap. Race winner Paradias managed to defy top weight to win a sensational race ahead of pre-race favourite Native Warrior in second place, and Rowayeh in third.

Excitement will already be building ahead of the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2025, which will of course be taking place at Goodwood Racecourse once more.

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