Glorious Goodwood

Five days of top-level Flat racing on the South Downs, known as much for its setting - the course sits high above Chichester with sweeping views out to the coast - as for the quality of racing, which rivals any summer meeting outside Ascot.

What makes it different

Goodwood's switchback layout, with a stiff climb to the highest point on the course before a sweeping downhill run to the line, makes it one of the more distinctive tests in Flat racing - it rewards horses that handle undulations and can quicken off a false pace, which means Goodwood form doesn't always read straight across from flatter, galloping tracks.

Key races

The Sussex Stakes is the week's marquee mile Group 1, regularly pitching the best milers in Europe against each other. The Goodwood Cup is the feature staying race, and the Nassau Stakes is the top all-aged fillies' and mares' contest of the meeting.

Betting angle

Proven course form is a real edge at Goodwood given how unusual the track shape is - horses that have handled the undulations before are worth extra credit over ones with big away-track form but no Goodwood experience. Fast ground is common in late July, so recent form on quicker surfaces is worth weighing more heavily than normal.