You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.
2026 Summer Handicap Preview
The Summer Handicap is run on the final day of the Glorious Goodwood festival, which is run in late July or early August. The race is a Class 2 handicap, which is run over one mile and six furlongs. The race is open to runners who are aged three or older.
Summer Handicap Information:
To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Goodwood tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Races Covered at Glorious Goodwood section for links to these.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Summer Handicap market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2020, when the race had an over-round of 114%. The race in 2007 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 126%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Summer Handicap, the over-round has been 121%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £121 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Summer Handicap Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Summer Handicap Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Summer Handicap races over the last 20 renewals:
- Sir Chauvelin (2:58.34) in 2018
- Lord Van Percy (2:58.50) in 2014
- Elidor (2:59.33) in 2016
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Summer Handicap next time out, then you would have backed a total of 2 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -7.00. Whilst we wait for the 2026 Summer Handicap, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the expert tipsters on the racing predictions page.
Over the last 20 renewals, it was Sir Chauvelin, trained by Jim Goldie and ridden by Robert Winston, who set the fastest winning time in the Summer Handicap. That runner won the race in a time of 2:58.34 in 2018. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer John & Thady Gosden and jockey Robert Havlin with Sweet William who set the slowest winning time; the race-winning time was 3:17.60 in the 2023 renewal.
What the expert says...
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Summer Handicap Past Winners
Here are the Summer Handicap past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. Also detailed is the stall from which the horse came and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Summer Handicap are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 3:07.55 | Sam Hawkens (IRE) 4yo 8-10 (8 of 14) 4/1F | Tom Marquand William Haggas (GB) |
| 2024 3:04.57 | Align The Stars (IRE) 3yo 8-12 (10 of 13) 100/30F | Joe Fanning Charlie Johnston (GB) |
| 2023 3:17.60 | Sweet William (IRE) 4yo 9-6 (2 of 11) 9/4F | Robert Havlin John & Thady Gosden (GB) |
| 2022 3:00.85 | Trawlerman (IRE) 4yo 9-2 (13 of 13) 6/1 | Benoit De La Sayette (5lbs) John & Thady Gosden (GB) |
| 2021 3:13.74 | Prince Alex (GB) 4yo 8-9 (7 of 12) 13/2 | Rossa Ryan Michael Bell (GB) |
| 2020 3:01.62 | Hochfeld (IRE) 6yo 8-12 (4 of 9) 15/2 | Harry Bentley Mark Johnston (GB) |
| 2019 2:59.58 | Kings Advice (GB) 5yo 9-10 (14 of 13) 7/2F | Joe Fanning Mark Johnston (GB) |
| 2018 2:58.34 | Sir Chauvelin (GB) 6yo 9-2 (7 of 13) 12/1 | Robert Winston Jim Goldie (GB) |
| 2017 3:10.25 | Soldier In Action (FR) 4yo 9-10 (2 of 13) 11/1 | Silvestre De Sousa Mark Johnston (GB) |
| 2016 2:59.33 | Elidor (GB) 6yo 9-10 (8 of 14) 16/1 | Silvestre De Sousa Mick Channon (GB) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Summer Handicap have been based:
- GB: 20 winners with an additional 39 placings from 255 runners
- IRE: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 3 runners
- FR: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
- HK: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner
Summer Handicap Trainer Statistics
There are two leading trainers in the Summer Handicap over the last 20 renewals, with both William Haggas and John & Thady Gosden, who have both won the race twice. William Haggas's winners have been with Harris Tweed (2013) and Sam Hawkens (2025). John & Thady Gosden's winners have been Trawlerman (2022) and Sweet William (2023). One trainer has not had the best of times in the Summer Handicap; Amanda Perrett has sent a total of 12 runners to the race without recording a win.
Here are some of the top Summer Handicap trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Haggas | 4-2-2 | +16.00 | +9.25 |
| John & Thady Gosden | 3-2-2 | +7.25 | +4.10 |
| Andrew Balding | 9-1-4 | +0.00 | +3.45 |
| Alan King | 9-1-1 | -3.00 | -4.87 |
| Saeed bin Suroor | 7-1-1 | +1.00 | -1.62 |
| Jim Goldie | 5-1-3 | +8.00 | +8.00 |
| Michael Bell | 5-1-3 | +2.50 | +3.46 |
| Sir Mark Prescott Bt | 4-1-1 | +2.50 | +0.44 |
| Charlie Johnston | 3-1-1 | +1.33 | +0.08 |
| Amanda Perrett | 12-0-1 | -12.00 | -10.75 |
Summer Handicap Jockey Statistics
There are multiple leading jockeys in the Summer Handicap over the last 20 renewals, with Ryan Moore, Joe Fanning, Silvestre De Sousa, and Kerrin McEvoy having all won the race twice. Ryan Moore's winners have been with Sanbuch (2008) and Manyriverstocross (2009). Joe Fanning's winners have been with Kings Advice (2019) and Align The Stars (2024). Silvestre De Sousa's winners have been Elidor (2016) and Soldier In Action (2017). Kerrin McEvoy's winners have been with Soulacroix (2006) and Scriptwriter (2007).
Here are some of the top Summer Handicap jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Moore | 17-2-4 | -3.50 | -5.25 |
| Joe Fanning | 14-2-4 | -5.17 | -5.48 |
| Silvestre De Sousa | 7-2-5 | +22.00 | +18.31 |
| Kerrin McEvoy | 2-2-2 | +10.33 | +6.46 |
| Jim Crowley | 12-1-2 | +1.00 | -1.00 |
| William Buick | 6-1-2 | +15.00 | +9.00 |
| David Probert | 6-1-1 | +3.00 | +0.00 |
| Tom Marquand | 6-1-1 | -1.00 | -2.50 |
| Luke Morris | 4-1-1 | +2.50 | +0.44 |
| Harry Bentley | 3-1-1 | +5.50 | +2.50 |
2026 Summer Handicap Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1, 2, 6, 1, 5, 6, 1, 6, 2, (3, 7), 11, 3, 2, 1, 6, 2, (2, 4, 9), 1, (1, 2), 1
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (78%) - Not in a G2/Cl4/Cl6 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Achieved an RPR of 96+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Held an OR of 81+ (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Within the first 10 of the market
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Highest Placed is not G1/G3/Cl4
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Achieved a TS of 67+ (Class)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - No bigger than 20/1
- 20 / 20 (83%) - Achieved a TS of 43+ (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - In a field of 7 - 16 (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Achieved a TS of 81+ (Career)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Had 4 - 18 placings (Career)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Beaten no more -13½l (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Ran over 1m4f - 2m½f (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Not in FRA/IRL/ZAF/URY/USA (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Fewer than 2 placings (Course)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Goodwood racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Summer Handicap. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Summer Handicap by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
2026 Summer Handicap Runners & Shortlist
The runners and the final trends shortlist for the 2026 renewal of the Summer Handicap will be added once the final declarations are confirmed, which are usually 48 hours before the race.
Summer Handicap Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +40.75, is when runners had 1 career start over further.
❌ The worst-performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners ran in a Class 4 when last winning; when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-53.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2025: Winner in 8 (9,3) [14 Runners]
- 2024: Winner in 10 (9,8) [13 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 2 (4,3) [11 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 13 (2,10) [13 Runners]
- 2021: Winner in 7 (4,3) [12 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the Summer Handicap is Newmarket (July); there have been a total of 5 winners of this race who ran at Newmarket (July) last time out. The next best course, which has produced the second most winners, is Ascot; there have been a total of 3 winners of this race who ran at Ascot last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 252 runners, while female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 8 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Summer Handicap:
- Cape Cross (4 Wins)
- Sea The Stars (2 Wins)
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Summer Handicap despite multiple attempts:
- Dansili (0 Wins from 9 runners)
- Montjeu (0 Wins from 9 runners)
- Rock Of Gibraltar (0 Wins from 6 runners)
- Halling (0 Wins from 5 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Blue Wave in 2015, winning for Mark Johnston at odds of 20/1 under the guidance of William Buick. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 7 winning favourites in the race. Whilst we wait for the 2026 Summer Handicap, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the top racing tipsters on the best racing tipsters page.
Route to the Summer Handicap
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Summer Handicap. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Sam Hawkens Hamilton - 1st of 11 (3/1) | Sky Bet, For The Fans Handicap |
| 2024 - Align The Stars Haydock - 1st of 13 (7/1) | bet365 Handicap |
| 2023 - Sweet William Newbury - 1st of 13 (5/2) | Mettal UK Handicap |
| 2022 - Trawlerman Newmarket (July) - 10th of 16 (9/2) | Betway Trophy |
| 2021 - Prince Alex Newmarket (July) - 10th of 15 (13/2) | Betway Trophy |
| 2020 - Hochfeld Sandown - 4th of 7 (4/1) | Hampton Handicap |
| 2019 - Kings Advice Newmarket (July) - 1st of 17 (10/1) | Betway Trophy |
| 2018 - Sir Chauvelin Newbury - 7th of 16 (14/1) | JLT Cup |
| 2017 - Soldier In Action Musselburgh - 3rd of 6 (11/4) | Tilecraft And Dimension Conditions Stakes |
| 2016 - Elidor Pontefract - 9th of 9 (11/2) | totepool Pontefract Castle Stakes |
Races Covered at Glorious Goodwood
Here is the schedule for the five-day Glorious Goodwood festival for races which we cover with blogs. Each race will be linked to the race blog, and details of last year's winner are in the table below.
Tuesday at Glorious Goodwood
Part of the British Champion Series, the Goodwood Cup is the highlight on the opening day, a marathon over two miles where stamina is key.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield Cup Handicap | Westridge (FR) 4yo - 6/1 | John & Thady Gosden Billy Loughnane |
| Vintage Stakes | Zavateri (IRE) 2yo - 8/1 | Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop |
| Lennox Stakes | Witness Stand (GB) 4yo - 25/1 | Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Hollie Doyle |
| Goodwood Cup | Scandinavia (USA) 3yo - 4/1 | A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan |
Wednesday at Glorious Goodwood
Run over a mile, the Sussex Stakes is the main race on the second day; this Group 1 is also part of the British Champion Series.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Tree Stakes | Saqqara Sands (GB) 3yo - 16/1 | Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan |
| Molecomb Stakes | Lady Iman (IRE) 2yo - 11/8 | G M Lyons Ryan Moore |
| Sussex Stakes | Qirat (GB) 4yo - 150/1 | Ralph Beckett Richard Kingscote |
Thursday at Glorious Goodwood
The Group 1 Nassau Stakes is the highlight on Thursday, contested over 1m2f and restricted to only fillies and mares, the race is part of the British Champion Series.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Kincsem Handicap | Best Secret (FR) 3yo - 7/2 | S Wattel James Doyle |
| Richmond Stakes | Coppull (GB) 2yo - 5/1 | Clive Cox David Probert |
| Gordon Stakes | Merchant (IRE) 3yo - 6/5 | William Haggas Tom Marquand |
| Nassau Stakes | Whirl (IRE) 3yo - 6/5 | A P O'Brien Ryan Moore |
Friday at Glorious Goodwood
Friday features a couple of decent handicaps, with the Goodwood Handicap a stamina-testing race and the Golden Mile, which is a heritage handicap. The highlight of the day is the King George Stakes, a sprint run over five furlongs.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Goodwood Handicap | Kyle Of Lochalsh (GB) 5yo - 5/1 | Hughie Morrison Oisin Murphy |
| Thoroughbred Stakes | Seagulls Eleven (IRE) 3yo - 11/4 | Hugo Palmer Oisin Murphy |
| Golden Mile Handicap | Rhoscolyn (GB) 7yo - 11/2 | David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope |
| King George Stakes | Jm Jungle (IRE) 5yo - 14/1 | John & Sean Quinn Jason Hart |
Saturday at Glorious Goodwood
Saturday is the day of one of the biggest handicaps on the flat, the Stewards Cup, 20+ runners over six furlongs compete in this heritage handicap.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Glorious Stakes | Al Aasy (IRE) 8yo - 13/8 | William Haggas Jim Crowley |
| Summer Handicap | Sam Hawkens (IRE) 4yo - 4/1 | William Haggas Tom Marquand |
| Lillie Langtry Stakes | Waardah (IRE) 3yo - 7/2 | Owen Burrows Callum Rodriguez |
| Stewards Cup | Two Tribes (GB) 4yo - 11/2 | Richard Spencer David Egan |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Summer Handicap Preview are Andy and James. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for Flat racing.
James Banting
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at Goodwood Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Goodwood racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
