Molecomb Stakes

The Molecomb Stakes is a Group 3 race for two-year-olds over five furlongs at Glorious Goodwood.  

The Molecomb Stakes takes place on Wednesday 2nd August 2023.

The brilliant Marwell won here in 1980 and other notable winners include other leading sprinters in Risky (1993), Kachy (2015) and Fleeting Spirit (2007).

Find out more about the Molecombe Stakes:

Molecomb Stakes

Race Overview – The Molecomb Stakes

The Molecomb Stakes is a flat horse race for two-year-olds held on day two of the Glorious Goodwood Festival.

The Markel Molecomb Stakes takes place on Wednesday 27th July 2023 at the Goodwood Racecourse.

The Group 3 flat race is run over a distance of 5-furlongs.

If you are looking to place any bets on the Markel Molecomb Stakes we strongly advise you to check out all the latest Glorious Goodwood Free Bets on offer in June 2023.

Check out our Markel Molecomb Stakes for the latest betting odds, tips and history of the famous race.

Molecomb Stakes Odds 2023

Here are the latest odds for the Molecomb Stakes in 2023:

  • There is no open book of odds in the ante-post market for this event yet

Molecomb Stakes Tips 2023

Here are some tips for Molecomb Stakes in 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Some of the horses in the Molecomb Stakes will run in other events later in the year. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

Molecomb Stakes Previous Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time
1980MarwellLester PiggottMichael Stoute
1981Prowess PrinceLester PiggottEric Eldin
1982KafuGreville StarkeyGuy Harwood
1983PrecociousLester PiggottHenry Cecil
1984Absent ChimesPhilip RobinsonDavid Thom
1985HotbeeTyrone WilliamsJohn Bridger
1986Gemini FireSteve CauthenPaul Felgate1:01.15
1987Classic RulerJohn ReidCharlie Nelson0:59.33
1988Almost BlueJohn CarrollJack Berry1:01.16
1989Haunting BeautyPat EdderyJimmy Etherington1:00.15
1990Poets Cove [a]John ReidWally Carter0:57.53
1991Sahara StarJohn ReidMichael Stoute0:59.14
1992MillyantMichael RobertsRae Guest0:57.58
1993RiskyWalter SwinburnRichard Hannon Sr.1:00.77
1994Hoh MagicMichael HillsMichael Bell0:57.75
1995AlmatyKevin DarleyCon Collins0:58.17
1996Carmine LakeJohn ReidPeter Chapple-Hyam0:58.32
1997Lady AlexanderPat ShanahanCon Collins1:00.12
1998Inya LakeRichard QuinnMick Channon0:59.96
1999Misty MissJohn EganDavid Evans0:58.37
2000Misty EyedLee NewmanNerys Dutfield0:58.48
2001WhitbarrowBasil MarcusRod Millman0:58.25
2002Wunders DreamMicky FentonJames Given0:58.28
2003Majestic MissileMichael HillsWilliam Haggas0:58.83
2004TournedosTed DurcanMick Channon0:58.54
2005Strike Up the BandAdrian NichollsDavid Nicholls0:58.36
2006EnticingMichael HillsWilliam Haggas0:59.19
2007Fleeting SpiritJohnny MurtaghJeremy Noseda0:57.96
2008FinjaanRichard HillsMarcus Tregoning0:57.88
2009Monsieur ChevalierRichard HughesRichard Hannon Sr.0:58.24
2010ZebedeeRichard HughesRichard Hannon Sr.0:58.49
2011RequintoWayne LordanDavid Wachman0:57.51
2012Bungle InthejungleMartin HarleyMick Channon0:58.22
2013Brown SugarPat DobbsRichard Hannon Sr.0:59.30
2014Cotai GloryGeorge BakerCharles Hills0:57.30
2015KachyRichard KingscoteTom Dascombe0:58.55
2016YaltaJames DoyleMark Johnston0:57.14
2017Havana GreyP. J. McDonaldKarl Burke1:00.89
2018Rumble InthejungleTom QueallyRichard Spencer0:58.22
2019Liberty BeachJason HartJohn Quinn0:58.88
2020Steel BullColin KeaneMichael O'Callaghan0:58.59
2021ArmorRyan MooreRichard Hannon Jr.0:59.26
2022TrilliumPat DobbsRichard Hannon Jr.0:56.58

Molecomb Stakes 2022 Result

Famous Molecomb Stakes Winners

The Molecomb Stakes, named after a house on the Goodwood Estate, was first run in 1829 with victory going to Convert.

The race was restricted to fillies between 1932 and 1981 before colts and geldings were once again allowed to compete.

The 1980 renewal was won by Sir Michael Stoute’s Marwell, ridden by Lester Piggott. She was a brilliant filly, winning ten of her thirteen career starts including the Cheveley Park Stakes (1980), King’s Stand Stakes (1981), July Cup (1981) and Prix de l’Abbaye (1981). She was also fourth in the 1000 Guineas before reverting successfully to sprinting. She was retired to the paddocks and her offspring included multiple Group 1 winning filly Marling and Irish National Stakes winner Caerwent.

1983 winner Precocious was trained by Henry Cecil and was retired to stud unbeaten as a two-year-old due to injury. He also won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Gimcrack Stakes at York before injury intervened. The best of his progeny was dual King’s Stand Stakes winner Elbio.

The best winner of the Molecomb Stakes in modern times was Fleeting Spirit in 2007, trained by Jeremy Noseda and ridden by Johnny Murtagh. She was a daughter of Invincible Spirit and would go on to win the Flying Childers Stakes (2007), Temple Stakes (2008) and Group 1 July Cup (2009). She beat a truly International field which included Takeover Target and Scenic Blast from Australia and JJ the Jet Plane from South Africa. Fleeting Spirit did run around once she hit the front and had to survive a stewards’ enquiry. She was only beaten a neck by Total Gallery when attempting to follow up in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Key Molecomb Stakes Trials

The most informative trial for the Molecomb Stakes in recent years has been the Dragon Stakes at Sandown Park. Three of the last twelve winners ran and won that race on their previous outing. Half of those recent winners had been successful last time out.

The last Molecomb Stakes winner to follow up successfully was Zebedee (2010) who won the Tattersalls Millions at Newmarket.

Havana Grey (2017) finished runner-up in the Prix Morny at Deauville next time while Liberty Beach (2019) filled the same spot in the Lowther Stakes at York.

Other targets include the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. Two winners of the Molecomb contested each of those contests without success, although Cotai Glory (2014) was very unlucky when unshipping his rider close home in the Flying Childers.

Molecomb Stakes Betting Trends

Favourites have a moderate record here in recent years.

Liberty Beach won in 2021 for John Quinn and Jason Hart to become the first winning favourite in the Molecomb since Zebedee in 2010. He was immediately followed by Steel Bull, the 2-1 market leader in 2020.

There have been six winning second favourites in the past twelve seasons.

The longest-priced winner during that period was 14-1 chance Bungle Inthejungle in 2012, trained by Mick Channon and ridden by Martin Harley.

Of those juveniles which had an official rating, Armor (2021) was rated lowest on 95.

Cotai Glory (2014) was the highest officially rated winner for Charles Hills and George Baker off a mark of 104.

Molecomb Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Richard Hannon Senior won this race four times, the best of them being the prolific winner Risky in 1993. He later won it with Monsieur Chevalier (2009), Zebedee (2010) and Brown Sugar (2013).

Richard Hannon Junior has kept up the tradition for speedy juveniles with recent victories for Armor (2021) and Trillium (2022).

The leading trainers of all time in the Molecomb Stakes are John Barham Day (1834-1852) and John Porter (1877-1895) who trained seven winners apiece.

The late Lester Piggott tops the all-time jockey standings in this race with eight victories. His successes came with Abelia (1957), Smooth (1966), Flying Legs (1968), Lady Rowley (1974), Hayloft (1975), Marwell (1980), Prowess Prince (1981) and Precocious (1983).

Pat Dobbs (2013 and 2022) is the only rider to have won the race more than once since 2010.

Betting on the Molecomb Stakes

The Molecomb Stakes always produces an exciting race with some of the fastest juveniles in training hurtling down the Goodwood sprint track.

Favourites have a modest recent record but it often pays to look just beyond the obvious with second favourites doing especially well.

A typically thrilling spectacle at the Glorious Goodwood Festival meeting in late July/early August.

Summary of Molecomb Stakes

With some amazing 2-year-old racehorses competing in the Markel Molecomb Stakes, the horse racing fans love to watch the race live on ITV Racing or Racing UK. It often produces a shock result but also a horse that goes on to prove themselves in their career.

The fiercely anticipated race is on the second day of the 5-day Glorious Goodwood Festival 2023.

Popular Questions

Where is the Molecomb Stakes held?

The Molecomb Stakes is held at Goodwood Racecourse.

Resources

Other Glorious Goodwood Related Articles

If you have enjoyed this Glorious Goodwood race, here are some other articles related to Glorious Goodwood betting you may also like:

Related August Articles

As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.