Goodwood Cup 2026 runners, odds and betting guide
The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup takes place at 3.35pm on Tuesday 28 July. It is the main race on the opening day of Glorious Goodwood and will be shown live on ITV1, ITVX and Racing TV.
Goodwood Cup 2026 race details
Confirmed Goodwood Cup 2026 runners and odds
Scandinavia and Trawlerman account for most of the betting market. The other six runners are all priced at 11/1 or higher.
Odds checked on 26 July 2026. Prices can change before the race.
Who is the Goodwood Cup favourite?
The four-year-old has won six consecutive races. His sequence includes last season’s Goodwood Cup and St Leger, followed by a dramatic victory over Trawlerman in the 2026 Ascot Gold Cup.
Scandinavia needed every yard of Ascot’s 2m4f trip to catch Trawlerman, but there should be no concern about dropping back to two miles. He won this race over the same course and distance in 2025, and Ryan Moore retains the ride.
Goodwood Cup 2026 runner-by-runner guide
Scandinavia – 10/11
Scandinavia brings the strongest combination of recent form, proven stamina and course experience. He returns as the defending champion after becoming one of the few three-year-olds to win the Goodwood Cup last season.
Since then, he has added the St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup to his record. His Ascot victory was narrow, but he showed determination to get past Trawlerman after the pair had pulled clear of the field.
The case for Scandinavia is straightforward. The only genuine question is whether a price shorter than evens offers enough value in a race containing Trawlerman.
Trawlerman – 2/1
Trawlerman came agonisingly close to defeating Scandinavia at Royal Ascot. William Buick controlled the race from the front and was only caught in the final stages.
The shorter Goodwood distance could work in his favour. If Buick secures another uncontested lead and dictates a steady early pace, Scandinavia will have less time to wear him down.
Trawlerman is eight years old, but there was no sign of decline at Ascot. His form before that defeat read four consecutive victories, including the 2025 Ascot Gold Cup. He is comfortably the biggest danger to the favourite.
Rahiebb – 11/1
Rahiebb finished behind Scandinavia in last season’s St Leger before making an impressive winning return in the Yorkshire Cup. He travelled strongly at York and beat Al Nayyir by two and a quarter lengths.
His eighth place in the Ascot Gold Cup was disappointing, although the extreme 2m4f distance may have stretched his stamina. Dropping back to two miles should suit him better.
Rahiebb still needs to improve to beat both market leaders, but his Yorkshire Cup performance gives him a stronger chance than the double-figure price might suggest.
Amiloc – 16/1
Amiloc is already a two-time Goodwood winner and produced high-class performances when second in the Irish St Leger and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last season.
His 2026 campaign has been less convincing. He finished sixth as a short-priced favourite in the Yorkshire Cup and filled the same position in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The step up to two miles is not an obvious problem, but Amiloc must return to his best form. The change from Rossa Ryan to Hector Crouch is also worth noting.
Lazy Griff – 20/1
Lazy Griff is the most intriguing of the less-exposed stayers. Having finished second in the Derby and placed in the Irish Derby as a three-year-old, he has started to establish himself over longer distances.
He earned this opportunity by winning the two-mile Coral Marathon at Sandown, beating Lady Vivian by two and three-quarter lengths. This is a considerable rise from Listed company to Group 1 level, but he arrives in better form than several of the outsiders.
With Oisin Murphy booked, Lazy Griff is one to consider if bookmakers continue to offer three each-way places.
French Master – 25/1
French Master was only beaten a neck by Illinois in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot. That performance proved his stamina over almost 2m6f, but the Goodwood Cup will require more speed as well as endurance.
He is a previous Goodwood winner and is trained by a team with an outstanding record in staying races. However, he needs a sizeable career best to trouble Scandinavia and Trawlerman at Group 1 level.
Illinois – 33/1
Illinois finished second to Scandinavia in the 2025 Goodwood Cup and therefore has stronger course-and-distance form than his price suggests.
He subsequently won the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, narrowly defeating French Master, but was only fifth in the Curragh Cup on 19 July. The nine-day turnaround is another concern.
His recent defeat explains the 33/1 price, although last year’s performance means he cannot be dismissed completely. He is Aidan O’Brien’s second runner and will be ridden by Wayne Lordan.
Miss Alpilles – 100/1
Miss Alpilles is the only mare in the field and receives a three-pound allowance. She has also won over the Goodwood course and this distance.
Her fifth place in the Ascot Gold Cup was respectable, but she finished well behind Scandinavia and Trawlerman. Even with the weight allowance, a major improvement is required for her to win.
Goodwood Cup 2026 betting guide
Most likely winner: Scandinavia
That does not automatically make 10/11 a good bet. Backing an odds-on favourite leaves very little margin for an awkward start, a tactical race or an inspired front-running ride from William Buick.
Main danger: Trawlerman
Trawlerman is the only runner who has recently shown that he can compete with Scandinavia on equal terms. The reduction from 2m4f at Ascot to two miles at Goodwood could make him even harder to pass.
At 2/1, he offers a more attractive price than the favourite, although Scandinavia’s age, current winning sequence and previous Goodwood Cup victory remain powerful arguments against him.
Bigger-priced contender: Lazy Griff
Lazy Griff has more improvement to find than Rahiebb, but his 20/1 price reflects that uncertainty. His Sandown win confirmed that he stays two miles, and he remains relatively unexposed in this division.
How will each-way betting work?
The Goodwood Cup currently has eight declared runners. Standard UK each-way terms for a non-handicap with at least eight starters are normally:
- One-fifth of the win odds
- Three places
- Separate win and place stakes
A £5 each-way bet therefore costs £10 in total.
These terms can change if there is a non-runner. Should the field fall from eight horses to seven, standard terms would normally be reduced to two places at one-quarter of the odds. Always check the terms displayed on the bet slip.
You can compare operators, racing markets and available promotions through our guide to the best UK betting sites.
Recent Goodwood Cup winners
Favourites have won 12 of the last 20 editions. Eleven winners during that period arrived after competing at Ascot, underlining the relevance of Scandinavia and Trawlerman’s Gold Cup form.
Aidan O’Brien has trained five Goodwood Cup winners in the last 20 renewals, while John Gosden has four. Between them, the two teams responsible for Scandinavia and Trawlerman have dominated the race’s recent history.
VisitWhere to watch the Goodwood Cup 2026
It will be broadcast free-to-air on ITV1 and ITVX. Racing TV will also show the race as part of its complete coverage of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
