Molecomb Stakes Betting Guide

Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) (5f)

The last group race on day one of Glorious Goodwood is the Molecomb Stakes over the sprint trip of 5 furlongs. It’s a race for the speediest two year olds we have seen on the track this season and takes under a minute to run. It was a race for fillies only until 1981 when the Colts and Geldings were allowed to run.

Favourites have generally fared well over the years with Richard Hannon winning the 2009 and 2010 races with well backed jollies. It was a welcome return to the winners enclosure for the trainer, well known as the maestro of the two year olds but oddly hadn’t won the race since 1993. the 2012 winner was less fancied however, when Mick Channon's Bungle Inthejungle won at 14/1.

Irish trainers seemed to have boycotted the event in recent years but David Wachman saddled Requinto to victory in 2011.

Only one horse has made their racecourse debut in the Molecomb, mainly due to the course really needing an animal with a bit of experience, because these youngsters tend to struggle with Goodwood's undulations. This is supported by the fact that eleven of the last sixteen winners had ran four or five times already. The majority also having a run within a month of Goodwood also suggests they need to be absolutely spot on for this speed test.

There’s no doubting this race is a stern examination for a young horse and the only the best of them will come out on top and it’s no surprise that many go on to better things the following season.