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Ahead of Glorious Goodwood, OLBG chats with Kindred’s Head of Racing, Ed Nicholson, about the festival. We discuss how the festival compares to the other major race meets of the season, what Unibet will be offering this year, and if they’re taking on any of the big favourites.
OLBG: How did Glorious Goodwood go for Unibet last year?
EN: Glorious Goodwood comes at a time of the year when the weather either shines wonderfully or rains relentlessly – and that is exactly the same for us trading on the event. Sometimes it's a punter’s paradise, but every now and again the favourites and fancied horses sink without trace. It's very volatile. Last year, for example, results weren't good for us early in the week. The Wednesday was described to me in a report by our Head of Trading as a "bloodbath". But then we won heavily on both the Friday and Saturday meaning we made a small profit over the week. But to put it in context, we made more money at the Brighton Races Festival the following week.
OLBG: What do Unibet have planned for Goodwood this year?
EN: Glorious Goodwood remains an extremely popular meeting with owners, trainers, jockeys, racegoers and punters and we always offer the full suite of promotions and offers that are available to us to utilise in order to provide our customers the very best service for the week.
Our trademark promotion - money back as cash if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd in the race – will be offered on at least one race each day from 9am on the day of that race, and we are aiming to have this promotion on the first race of each day of the five day meeting to ensure consistency. Our Head of Trading has also assured me that Unibet will be offering at least one extra place in every handicap where there are 12 or more runners; it's highly likely we'll be going two extra places in Saturday's Stewards' Cup, a race we have sponsored on four occasions.
Each day we'll advertise a race on which we'll be offering industry Best Price from midday until the off, so you won't get a better price on any horse in those races from 12 noon. We'll also have daily jockey, trainer, favourite markets and both Superboosts and Uniboosts available each day – where each runner will be the next price on the price ladder; effectively reducing the overall betting margin on the event.
Also we have our trail-blazing Same Race Multi bets available throughout the week. This is like a racing version of a bet builder where you can add lines to a bet such as choose a horse to win and another two to place.
OLBG: From an operator perspective, do you think Glorious Goodwood gets overlooked compared to other major festivals?
EN: I don't think so. Maybe from a punter perspective as so much media attention (and advertising spend) is given to Cheltenham, Aintree and Royal Ascot earlier in the calendar year. The quality of the racing over the five days has improved greatly over the years, whereas each day used to have two or three good races and three or four average to poor ones, it's more like five to six good races each day now. It's something the Epsom Derby Festival should take a look at. It's also important to remember it is in the same week as Galway – which in Ireland is more popular than Goodwood – so the week has double importance to operators who trade in both.
In terms of betting turnover and interest it's the fifth biggest festival behind Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot and the York Ebor meeting.
Glorious Stakes Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Glorious Goodwood)
OLBG: Will you be doing anything on course?
EN: Unfortunately not. Unibet were the official betting partner of the Qatar Goodwood Festival (Glorious Goodwood) for many years, which was great fun, especially as our Unibet ambassador, trainer Richard Hannon, always enjoyed the week with us at his local course. He or his dad have been Glorious Goodwood Champion Trainer on numerous occasions.
We also have a special Glorious Goodwood Richard Hannon Stable tour to view. We also had the opportunity to invite guests, customers and competition winners to some of the best locations on the racecourse, such as the Secret Garden restaurant.
OLBG: Are there any specific horses or races that you think you'll take on more than others?
EN: We've already got a few big liabilities in our ante post books. The Lion in Winter is a loser in the Sussex Stakes having been backed with us at big prices. Jonquil was laid at 7/1 for the Lennox Stakes on the Tuesday and we are now 3/1. We will be bigger on Kinross to get money balanced on the day. Illinois has been backed by big hitters at 4/6 for the Goodwood Cup and is now 4/7, while Urban Lion seems the big handicap blaster – we laid 20/1 and all rates down to 8/1 for the Golden Mile. He is our biggest loser of the entire week at this stage, while Greek Order has also been backed in the same race from 33/1 down to 10s.
OLBG: What makes Goodwood unique compared to other big festivals?
EN: The handicaps are ultra-competitive, the rain can change the going very quickly which in turn can cause havoc to bets and odds from the 48 hour stage, the draw in big field handicaps – especially around the turns – can have enormous ramifications to betting markets, odds and results. And the biggest difference from many of the other festivals is that you need even more luck than normal as there isn't much room to manoeuvre, and the downhill nature of the straight and that final dog leg. There are always a few hard luck stories during the week.
OLBG: From a personal point of view, are there any races, or horses, that you're particularly looking forward to watching over the week?
EN: Field of Gold versus Rosallion. I remember watching Frankel win the Sussex Stakes where he is said to have shown a stride of 27.1 feet due to his size, scope and the topography of the course. I think we might get to see an equally impressive stride and performance on Wednesday as he'll have to be at his best to beat Rosallion who, I am told by Richard Hannon, is working well.
Ed Nicholson (centre) at Glorious Goodwood.
OLBG: Do you have a favourite Goodwood memory from previous years?
EN: My first memory of Goodwood, and Glorious Goodwood, was when I travelled with a friend to specifically back a filly called Wind In Her Hair in the Nassau Stakes. We travelled three hours from London, backed the filly with the rails bookmakers, saw her finish only 5th, and went home immediately. She had previously finished 2nd in the Epsom Oaks and 4th in the Irish Oaks. I remember thinking how beautiful the course was, even if the result wasn't quite as pleasing to the eye.
I have since been to the course on many occasions. My very good friend Chris Johnson was an annual member and lived in the next village to the course. We spent many a great day there, he, his wife and daughter were my guests at the ball which is held in Goodwood House each year, and as he sadly passed away a few years ago a week after the Glorious Goodwood meeting, I always remember and raise a toast to his memory on the Tuesday of the festival.
Finally, on a more upbeat note, while we were official betting partners of the week, I drew the balls out for the Unibet Stewards' Cup which I enjoyed while Nico de Boinville, Nicky Henderson with his wife Sophie were my lunch guests on a few occasions.
Nicky was watching the Sussex Stakes in a restaurant area and as that year's winner Alcohol Free went past the winning post someone who didn't know him, but was watching the race next to him and myself, asked Nicky if he had backed the winner. He doesn't bet, but he also famously likes a drink so he quickly quipped: “If you knew me, you'd know I wouldn't back a horse with that name!"
OLBG: Finally, have you got a Goodwood tip for us?
EN: If the ground remains on the fast side (with firm in the description) I like the chances of Great Chieftain in the Golden Mile handicap on the Friday. He's currently 16/1 with Unibet but, as ever, will need a low draw and luck in running.
I also think Jonquil should take a lot of beating in the Lennox Stakes on Tuesday over 7 furlongs. He is currently 3/1 with Unibet – we are the shortest price on him.
