Our Sussex Stakes tip is unbeaten BOW ECHO to beat old rival Gstaad for a third time in the 16:10 at Goodwood, the Group 1 feature of Day 2.
George Boughey’s colt has already outpointed the Ballydoyle runner in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, and with his improvement showing no sign of topping out, he can win the “Duel on the Downs” again. Below is our full Sussex Stakes verdict, plus best bets across all seven races on the Wednesday card.
Sussex Stakes 2026: Quick Verdict
| Race | Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1), 1m |
| Time | 16:10 Goodwood, Wednesday 29 July 2026 |
| Our tip | Bow Echo |
| The story | Bow Echo v Gstaad, round three — 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace rematch |
| Live on | ITV |
Odds correct at the time of writing and subject to change. 18+. GambleAware.org.
16:10 Goodwood — Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1)
Unbeaten BOW ECHO and Gstaad go head to head again, and George Boughey’s star can thwart his old rival once again.
The Night Of Thunder colt beat Gstaad to land the 2000 Guineas on his seasonal return and confirmed that form when outpointing the Ballydoyle runner to land the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, although he was made to dig deep to land a narrow verdict.
He travelled the best into the race, posting the quickest furlong of the race when swooping into the lead; however, he had to dig deep when Gstaad came back at him, although he showed his mettle to hold off the challenge.
This is a strong renewal, but he looks as if his improvement hasn’t hit its ceiling just yet and he can land another Group One victory here.
Why the Sussex Stakes is the race of the day
The Sussex Stakes is Goodwood’s championship mile — the “Duel on the Downs” — and this year it delivers the head-to-head the whole season has been building towards. Bow Echo has beaten Gstaad twice already, but never by much: a narrow call in the 2000 Guineas, then a hard-fought St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot where Gstaad came back at him inside the final furlong. Round three over the same trip, on a track that rewards a horse that travels and quickens, is the tie-break. For a betting angle beyond the win market, the closeness of their first two meetings makes this a race where taking an early price matters — if you fancy Bow Echo, use a firm offering Best Odds Guaranteed.
The rest of Wednesday’s card
ITV shows the first five races from 13:50, with the Charlton and World Pool handicaps completing the card afterwards. Here are our selections for the supporting races.
13:50 Goodwood — Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap
HATTEEN showed improvement for the step up to this trip when successful at Doncaster earlier in the month, and Andrew Balding’s charge can double up.
The Lope De Vega colt showed some promise as a juvenile last term, and he returned this campaign with back-to-back runner-up finishes at Nottingham and Newbury before his breakthrough victory latest, where he readily saw off According To Mark.
However, the form of his previous runner-up over ten furlongs at Newbury in May looks solid; the winner of that race has since finished fourth in the Queen’s Vase and won the Group Three Bahrain Trophy; the third has also won since in a Newcastle handicap.
Now stepping into the handicap ranks himself, he could prove well treated off an opening 88, while he’s unexposed at this distance and may have further improvement to come.
14:25 Goodwood — EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes
WILD BLOSSOM ran much better than the bare result when finishing down the field in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, crossing the line in tenth having raced up with the pace before being hampered and taken off her racing line.
She was beginning to send out distress signals by that point, and she weakened in the last half-furlong behind Victorious although, all things considered, it certainly wasn’t a bad effort, especially given the runner-up won a Group Two next time, while the fifth landed a French Listed race on his next start.
An impressive winner on debut at Carlisle, this doesn’t look quite as strong a contest as that Ascot outing and while she does take on some promising sorts it might be worth chancing the Mehmas filly to bounce back here.
15:00 Goodwood — Rolls-Royce Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3)
DASH OF AZURE (EW) might be worth chancing as the Blue Point filly looks to get off the mark for the season.
Ralph Beckett’s charge won twice last term, scoring over this trip at Kempton and Thirsk, and she acquitted herself well in defeat in several runs, including here and when denied by a short-head in an Ascot Listed race.
In need of her reappearance, she found a Group Two at Royal Ascot too much, although she has since bounced back with a brace of runner-up finishes in Listed company at Chester, most recently beaten only a neck by Northern Champion earlier in the month.
This will be a tough ask, but she arrives in form and handles the track, so a big run wouldn’t come as a surprise, and she can make the frame.
15:35 Goodwood — Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes (Group 3)
Course and distance winner PERSHAADA outran her big odds when finishing fourth in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes and Richard Hannon’s charge can get back to winning ways quickly.
Placed twice on the all-weather in each of her first two runs, she ran out a comfortable winner on her turf debut here in May, beating Kentucky Rain in a race where the first five home finished strung out. The Persian Force filly latterly finished fourth at big odds behind Victorious at Ascot, and that form has been significantly boosted both by the runner-up and the fifth horse home.
She has plenty of scope to improve further and winning form here is always a positive so she gets the vote to quickly get back on a winning track.
17:00 Goodwood — Coral Charlton Handicap
Recent Salisbury winner SUPREME KING (EW) has been knocking at the door to a return to winning ways on his last couple of starts, and David Evans’ charge could oblige here.
The Kingman gelding won four times on the all-weather around the turn of the year, and after a series of solid runs in defeat in the first half of the year he struck at Salisbury in June, beating Arantes Nascimento by a neck in soft ground.
However, he doesn’t need cut in the ground to produce his best, and he’s since finished runner-up on all three subsequent outings on quicker ground between 6-7 furlongs, latterly at Chester when beaten just a neck by Top Juggler.
The third horse home in that race has won since to give the form a boost and racing off an unchanged mark it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see him competitive again here.
17:40 Goodwood — HKJC World Pool Handicap
Course and distance winner SILVER GHOST (EW) may have been amiss when disappointing at Newmarket last time out, finishing last of ten; Emma Lavelle’s charge had been in decent form prior to that run, however, and the Phoenix Of Spain filly could be worth chancing to bounce back in the finale.
A dual-winner last term, scoring at Newmarket and here over this distance with a defeat of Miss Nightfall, she largely acquitted herself well in some valuable handicaps and even had a tilt at Pattern company in the Group three Oak Tree Stakes on this card twelve months ago.
She had finished a close runner-up on her penultimate run, beaten a neck by Superposition, and that form was boosted when the third won next time out. Her latest run came in a Class 2 contest, but this represents a drop back in grade, and off the same mark she can do better.
Where to bet on the Sussex Stakes
Prices on the Sussex shorten through the morning, so an early price matters — especially in a two-horse market where Bow Echo and Gstaad dominate the betting. A bookmaker offering Best Odds Guaranteed pays you at the starting price if your selection drifts. If you’re opening an account for the festival, our best horse racing betting sites guide covers the strongest options.
Disclosure: Thatsagoal is an affiliate partner of the bookmakers featured on this page and may earn a commission if you open an account through our links. This does not affect our editorial view. 18+. GambleAware.org.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tip for the Sussex Stakes 2026? Bow Echo, the unbeaten George Boughey colt, to beat Gstaad again in the 16:10 at Goodwood on Wednesday 29 July.
What time is the Sussex Stakes? 16:10 at Goodwood on Wednesday 29 July 2026, live on ITV, as the Group 1 feature of Day 2.
Why is Bow Echo favourite over Gstaad? Bow Echo has beaten Gstaad in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes this season, and is unbeaten with more improvement expected.
How many races are live on ITV on Goodwood Day 2? Five, from 13:50 to 16:10, including the Sussex Stakes. Racing TV covers the full seven-race card.
What is our NAP for Goodwood Day 2? Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes is our headline selection on the Wednesday card.
More racing tips and guides: Glorious Goodwood dates & times · Best Odds Guaranteed explained · Best horse racing betting sites
Odds and selections were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Tips are the opinion of the author and are not guaranteed. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.
Brian joined the team a couple of years ago but he has a long background in writing horse racing content and betting tips. Having worked for a number of publications in the past, such as RacingTips, Brian made the move to thatsagoal and is the main content writer across flat and National Hunt racing.
