Goodwood Cup Tips 2026
The Goodwood Cup is one of the longest-standing races in the calendar and the Group 1 forms the middle part of the Stayers’ Triple Crown. Our experts have delved into the state of affairs in this year’s renewal of the 2m contest, producing expert insight and tips to help you find the winner.
2026 Goodwood Cup Tips
Our team will provide their best bets for the Goodwood Cup when Glorious Goodwood begins.
Goodwood Cup Tip
Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia can frank the Ascot Gold Cup form with victory over Trawlerman by landing the Goodwood Cup for a second time on Tuesday.
2026 Goodwood Cup Odds
Check out the latest betting for the 2026 Goodwood Cup…
15:35 Goodwood
GoodAl Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1)
- Flat Turf
- Turf
- 2m 0f 0y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
- Win time: 3m 23s
- First Prize: £283,550
6/5 (Won)
- Win: £2.20
- Place: £1.10
prominent, pushed along when led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, went further clear inside final furlong, readily
13/8
- Place: £1.20
anticipated start, led, slightly hampered by loose horse over 6f out, against far rail when badly hampered by loose horse over 2f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out
14/1
- Place: £2.65
in touch with leaders, switched left and bumped rival 3f out, soon some headway on outer but edged left, went third 2f out, kept on but not pace to challenge
33/1
took keen hold, in rear, dropped to last over 6f out, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong (jockey said gelding was slowly away)
25/1
in touch with leaders, carried head awkwardly over 2f out, soon weakened
80/1
slowly away, held up in rear, headway over 6f out, on outer when bumped 3f out, soon hampered and weakened (jockey said mare was very slowly away)
18/1
took keen hold, prominent, lost position over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, eased inside final furlong
14/1
ducked left start, prominent as rider caught his leg on the stalls and became unbalanced and unseated
+o+e Betting Returns
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £4.40 |
| Straight Forecast | £3.24 |
| Tricast | £13.92 |
| Trifecta | £19.40 |
Selections
The Times:
ScandinaviaHow to Pick a Goodwood Cup Winner
The Goodwood Cup on day 1 forms the second part of the Stayers Triple Crown and shock results in the race are few and far between in recent years. Five winners in a row went off as favourite between 2018-2022, but Quickthorn provided the first upset for many a year when slipping the field for his 16/1 success in 2023. Kyprios soon returned the favourites to winning ways by coasting home in 2024, though Scandinavia was only second favourite behind stablemate Illinois when winning last year.
Colts and geldings have been the go-to in this race down the years, with Allegretto (2007) the last filly to land the Goodwood Cup, she was the first filly to win the Goodwood Cup since 1958.
Experience tends to count for plenty in the race. Stradivarius became the first 3yo winner since Lucky Moon (1990) when landing the race in 2017, and he went on to land the next three renewals, with his four Gold Cups making him the most successful horse in the race’s history. However, Scandinavia provided another win for the Classic generation in 2025.
All About The Goodwood Cup: Past and Present
The Goodwood Cup was dropped to its current length of 2m in 1991, and four years later the race was assigned Group 2 classification. The Goodwood Cup was promoted to a Group 1 race in 2017. Al Shaqab, the Arabian horse breeding operation, currently holds sponsorship of the Goodwood Cup.
With the Goodwood Cup run in late July or early August, the ground tends to be either good or good to firm but there are exceptions. Trueshan won the prize on soft ground 12 months ago with the late defection of Stradivarius on account of the slow surface aiding his cause significantly.
Stradivarius’s four Goodwood Cups make him the most successful horse in the race’s history, but in terms of human performance, John Scott remains the most successful trainer in the Goodwood Cup, having landed seven renewals from 1836-1860. Six jockeys are currently tied on five wins in the Goodwood Cup, with Frankie Dettori the only one of those still currently riding.
How Do Horses Qualify For the Goodwood Cup?
The Goodwood Cup is open to horses aged 3yo and older, whilst there are no restrictions in terms of sex. There is no qualification system currently in place for the Goodwood Cup, but the race tends to attract runners from the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, and a number of horses have completed the double down the years.
What is the Goodwood Cup Prize Money in 2026?
When the Goodwood Cup was promoted from a Group 2 to a Group 1 in 2017 the race’s purse was increased from £300,000 to £500,000, which it remains to this day. The Goodwood Cup winner receives £283,550, with the second taking home over £100,000.
Goodwood Cup Past Winners
| YEAR | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2025 | Scandinavia | Aidan O’Brien | Wayne Lordan | 4/1 |
| 2024 | Kyprios | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore | 8/13F |
| 2023 | Quickthorn | Hughie Morrison | Tom Marquand | 16/1 |
| 2022 | Kyprios | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore | 6/4F |
| 2021 | Trueshan | Alan King | Hollie Doyle | 6/5F |
| 2020 | Stradivarius | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 4/7F |
| 2019 | Stradivarius | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 4/5F |
| 2018 | Stradivarius | John Gosden | Andrea Atzeni | 4/5F |
| 2017 | Stradivarius | John Gosden | Andrea Atzeni | 6/1 |
| 2016 | Big Orange | Michael Bell | Jamie Spencer | 11/4F |