2023 Sussex Stakes Tips & Predictions

Our guide to the Sussex Stakes will go live when the field has been finalised.

Paddington has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom this season. Following handicap and Listed victories, Aidan O'Brien's star claimed Classic glory at the Curragh, won the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and completed a stunning five-timer with victory over Emily Upjohn in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Sitting closest to the odds-on favourite in the market is John and Thady Gosden's filly Inspiral, who was narrowly beaten by Triple Time on her reappearance at Royal Ascot. Lockinge winner Modern Games could only manage fourth in the Queen Anne, but could still return to the Sussex Stakes, having finished a good second to Baaeed at Goodwood 12 months ago.

Sir Michael Stoute has entered up talented three-year-old Nostrum, despite stating that the Jacques Le Marois was his preferred target. Ralph Beckett could be represented by Kinross, while Chindit could fly the flag for Richard Hannon.

Other possible Glorious Goodwood runners include William Haggas' Aldaary, Berkshire Shadow for Andrew Balding, Roger Varian's three-year-old Charyn, and French raider Facteur Cheval.

The first running of the Sussex Stakes was in 1841 and there have been 14 walkovers since, but it has since become the biggest race at Goodwood.

Having previously played second fiddle to the likes of the Goodwood Cup and Stewards' Cup, the Sussex Stakes quickly rose to fame and it's now one of the most popular betting races in the UK.

Only one horse has scored multiple wins in the Sussex Stakes when Frankel won in 2011 and 2012. Which also gave Sir Henry Cecil his sixth and seventh wins in the great race.

He's currently the leading trainer having also trained the likes of Wollow, Kris and Distant View.

Aidan O'Brien is getting closer on five wins. His most recent came with The Gurkha in 2016 and he has lined up thoroughbred champions Giant's Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar, Henrythenavigator and Rip Van Winkle.

Those champions have since become stars in the breeding barn and there's no doubting the impact the Sussex Stakes has on their stud value.

One of the most impressive wins came from Frankel in 2010 when the unbeaten colt scorched 15 lengths clear of the field halfway through the race. The great champion scored by eight lengths in one of the most dominant feats in modern day history.

Frankel would repeat the effort a year later, winning by six lengths at miniscule odds of 1/20.

Only four runners competed in 2014 when Kingman scored by a length. The stake money wasn't as big then but the field was disappointing none-the-less.

Despite being a highly-regarded race, field numbers are extremely low. Frankel defeated only six rivals over his two-year reign.

Seven-year-olds claimed back-to-back wins in 2017 and '18, with Here Comes When and Lightning Spear beating the youngsters. Too Darn Hot claimed a win back for the three-year-olds the following year, before Mohaafeth scored an impressive win in the 2020 Sussex Stakes.

Andrew Balding's filly Alcohol Free took down 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare to win the Sussex Stakes in 2021.

Here Comes When caused an upset in 2017 when winning at 20/1, but the race had been dominated by favourites for the previous nine years.

Since 2008 when Henrythenavigator won at 4/11, there has been seven favourites win the Sussex Stakes and one second favourite (Toronado at 11/4).

It's the best record for favourites in any British race and it is why punters love betting into the markets.

Odds-on favourites have won six of the last nine races and it typically takes a champion to win the race, hence the short odds.

The small fields also make it easier for the dominant horses to win and even Rip Van Winkle was the favourite after going winless in three previous runs that season.

All but three winners from the last 12 years had been successful at Group 1 level. Rip Van Winkle, Toronado and Here Comes When were all first-time winners at Group 1 level, but all three had won in group grade.

Most of the recent winners had 43 days in between runs, so punters should look for this in the betting guides.