Molecomb Stakes 2023 Betting Guide: Odds, Tips & Prediction

Despite its relatively lowly Group 3 status, the five-furlong Molecomb Stakes remains one of the highlights of the Glorious Goodwood festival. Open to two-year old colts and fillies, it has showcased runners with some outstanding potential down the years, while it’s scheduled to take place on Wednesday 2nd August at 15:00 GMT this time around. In this comprehensive Molecomb Stakes prediction, I’ll take a closer look at the latest odds while offering some expert and insightful horse racing betting tips.

💯 Molecomb Stakes Betting Odds

There has been plenty of speculation regarding the 2023 Molecomb Stakes, especially in terms of which runners will participate. Molecomb Stakes betting can now begin in earnest, however, with 18 runners having been confirmed including Richard Hannon’s promising gelding and recent KKA Studio Novice Stakes winner Baheer. Here’s a glimpse at the latest Molecomb Stakes betting odds, which I’ll continue to update as the race draws closer.

Sportsbook
Alabama	TBC	TBC	15.00	17.00	17.00	TBC
Baheer	5.00	TBC	13.00	13.00	11.00	5.00
Barnwell Boy	10.00	TBC	10.00	11.00	11.00	TBC
Big Evs	3.40	TBC	3.50	3.75	3.50	3.00
Dapperling	TBC	TBC	21.00	26.00	26.00	TBC
Flora of Bermuda	TBC	TBC	15.00	15.00	17.00	TBC
Graceful Thunder	TBC	TBC	21.00	17.00	21.00	TBC
Hackman	21.00	TBC	26.00	34.00	26.00	TBC
Juniper Berries	TBC	TBC	26.00	26.00	26.00	TBC
Kylian	4.00	TBC	4.00	3.25	3.75	3.50
Lady Pink Rose	TBC	TBC	33.00	26.00	33.00	TBC
Markakol	51.00	TBC	34.00	34.00	34.00	41.00
Mon Na Slieve	TBC	TBC	13.00	13.00	17.00	TBC
Purosangue	8.50	TBC	9.00	9.00	8.00	8.00
Seven Questions	TBC	TBC	26.00	26.00	21.00	TBC
Shagraan	13.00	TBC	7.50	8.00	9.00	12.00
Thanksbutnothanks	TBC	TBC	81.00	67.00	67.00	TBC
Ziggy’s Dream	TBC	TBC	34.00	34.00	34.00	TBC

🏇 Molecomb Stakes Betting Preview

Ahead of my Molecomb Stakes prediction for 2023, I’m going to appraise the three most likely winners while considering their recent form and ability to compete over the five-furlong distance.

Kylian

Kylian is priced at around 3.25 to win the 2023 Molecomb Stakes, making him the joint ante post favourite alongside Big Evs. This Karl Burke-trained colt is certainly one of the more experienced and consistent runners in the field, having placed in the top three in all four of his career starts since debuting in March.

He has also won on his last two starts, including the Class 1 Dragon Stakes (Listed Race) at Sandown in July. This made for an impressive debut at C1 level, with jockey Ryan Moore guiding Kylian superbly as he edged right and went clear one furlong out. This race was contested a shade over five furlongs too, so there’s no doubting his ability to succeed over the distance and in good company.

Kylian has also earned an Official Rating (OR) of 105 for his recent efforts, which is impressive for a two-year-old colt. His June win in the Royal Ascot On Sky Sports Racing EBF Novice Stakes at Newcastle may also stand him in good stead in the Molecomb Stakes, as while this was a Class 3 outing, he fared well in the type of sodden and soft going that’s likely to besiege Glorious Goodwood this year.

• 3.00 at Betway
• 3.50 at BoyleSports
• 2.75 at William Hill

Big Evs

Michael Appleby’s Big Evs is another who will arrive at Goodwood on the back of Class 1 success, with the colt having prevailed impressively in the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race) at Royal Ascot last time out. This was despite his distant starting price of 21.00, as he edged right a little over four furlongs out before pulling clear 110 yards from home.

Prior to this, Big Evs had only contested a single Class 4 race at Redcar, with the Celebration Of Tom Hamilton's Life EBF Restricted Novice Stakes ultimately seeing him finish second and ½ a length behind the winner (Hala Emaraaty). So, he has improved quickly and also demonstrated his ability over the distance, making him a worthy ante post favourite ahead of the race.

Unlike Kylian, Big Evs has only ever raced in good-to-firm going, so it has yet to be seen how he fares on softer ground. Kylian’s trainer Karl Burke also has a superior record to Appleby in the Molecomb Stakes, fielding one winner and two placed finishes from a total of six runners since 2003.

• 3.50 at Betway
• 3.00 at BoyleSports
• 3.75 at William Hill

Barnwell Boy

While Clive Cox’s colt Shagraan and the recent C4 KKA Studio Novice Stakes (IRE Incentive Race) winner Baheer are also key contenders in the 2023 Molecomb Stakes, it’s Barnwell Boy who arguably represents the best outside or each-way pick.

This may seem strange, especially as the Charlie Johnston-trained colt placed 11th on his Class 1 debut in the same Windsor Castle Stakes won by Big Evs at Royal Ascot last time out. Here, he was in touch with the leaders until two furlongs out, before he weakened in the final 110 yards and fell 9½ lengths behind his Molecomb Stakes.

He actually raced quite well here, while he’s already proven his ability to compete over five furlongs with a debut win at Goodwood in the William Hill / British EBF Novice Stakes on May 26th. Sure, this was only a Class 4 race, but it afforded him crucial experience at Goodwood and exposed him to good rather than firm conditions. Interestingly, debuting in a Class 4 race is also the trend factor that has produced most Molecomb Stakes winners during the last 20 iterations, so ante post odds of 11.00 for Barnwell Boy appear to offer genuine value.

• 11.00 at Betway
• 9.00 at BoyleSports
• 11.00 at William Hill

🔮 Molecomb Stakes 2023 Prediction

There are two clear ante-post favourites for the 2023 Molecomb Stakes; namely Big Evs and Kylian. The former will certainly arrive at Goodwood on the back of a superb run at Royal Ascot last time out, where the Michael Appleby-trained colt defied a starting price of 21.00 to win the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race).

Impressively, this was Big Evs’ Class 1 debut, while it followed a second-place finish in the Class 4 Celebration Of Tom Hamilton's Life EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at Redcar barely two months before. Both of these races were contested over the Molecomb Stakes distance of five furlongs, so he’s more than capable of leading the field here and winning a second successive C1 event.

As for Kylian, this Karl Burke-trained colt will also arrive at Goodwood on the back of a Class 1 win, which came in the form of the Dragon Stakes (Listed Race) at Sandown on July the 7th. Kylian has also placed in the top three in all four of his career outings to date, while he has already achieved an official rating (OR) of 105 (not every Molecomb Stakes runner has been awarded an official rating at the time of writing).

Interestingly, Kylian also has the distinction of having won in soft going at Newcastle on June 21st, in the Royal Ascot On Sky Sports Racing EBF Novice Stakes. This wouldn’t usually be relevant at Glorious Goodwood (where conditions are typically firm or good-to-firm), but the recent deluge of rain in West Sussex is likely to create much softer ground for runners to contend with.

Outside of the favourites, Charlie Johnston’s colt Barnwell Boy offers noticable each-way value at around 11.00. After all, he won on his debut over six furlongs at Goodwood in May, and while he finished 11th in the C1 Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot and a whopping 9½ lengths behind Big Evs, he performed relatively well before fading 110 yards from home.

Baheer represents another potential outside punt or each-way pick, despite his lack of experience at Class 1 level. Priced as high as 13.00 with Unibet, this Richard Hannon-trained gelding won last time out in the C4 KKA Studio Novice Stakes (IRE Incentive Race) at Newbury in July, while this followed as runners-up finish in the Starlight Charity Remembers Christopher Hanbury Maiden Stakes at the same venue on debut.

In truth, each of these runners offer value as an each-way bet, but I’d argue that Kylian represents the best outright ante-post pick. Remember, he’s proven over the distance and already has a Class 1 win to his name, while his ability to race well in soft going could well give him a decisive edge over his rivals in the 2023 Molecomb Stakes.

⚡ The Best Molecomb Stakes Betting Sites

Betinireland has compiled comprehensive bookmaker reviews of the best Molecomb Stakes betting sites, enabling you to access the highest value odds and most lucrative free bets. As part of this detailed Molecomb Stakes betting guide, I’ve listed six of the best operators and provided direct links to each site below!

🔍 Molecomb Stakes Betting Tips

Before you compare the ante-post odds in detail and start to engage in Molecomb Stakes 2023 betting, it’s important to understand the Goodwood racecourse and this race’s most prominent trend factors. So, here are some insightful betting tips to help you better select your most likely Molecomb Stakes winners from the listed runners.

Consider Historic and Recent Trainer Form

Several seasoned trainers have produced a duo of winning runners during the last 20 renewals of the Molecomb Stakes, but two in particular stand out. The first of these is Mick Channon, who has fielded eight runners in total since 2003 and also earned five place finishes during this period.

However, Channon hasn’t fielded a Molecomb Stakes winner since 2012, when Bungle Inthejungle was ridden to success by jockey Martin Harley. More recently, it’s Richard Hannon who has dominated the race, winning in 2021 and 2022 (with Armor and Trillium respectively) and earning a further four places in eight rides since 2003.

Interestingly, Channon isn’t represented in the 2023 renewal of the race, but Hannon is in the form of the aforementioned Baheer and the 26.00 shot Dapperling.

While this trend factor would appear to be in favour of Hannon’s runners (and Baheer in particular), Kylian’s trainer Karl Burke also has a favourable record in the Molecomb Stakes. More specifically, he has fielded one winner (Havana Grey in 2017) and achieved two placed finishes in the last 20 years, despite only entering six runners in total during this period. So, he boasts an impressive rate of success in this race, and this must be considered before you start wagering.

Look Out for Runners That Debuted in Class 4

Interestingly, the trend factor that has the best Level Stakes Profit (LSP) since 2003 is when runners debuted in a Class 4 race.

This has actually produced in excess of 10 winners and an LSP of +11.25 during the last 20 Molecomb Stakes renewals, which makes it the most telling and impactful trend factor when attempting to make your own Molecomb Stakes prediction.

But who does this trend factor favour? Well, it certainly favours Big Evs, who debuted in the Class 4 Celebration Of Tom Hamilton's Life EBF Restricted Novice Stakes on May 29th and finished second behind Hala Emaraaty. Both Baheer and Barnwell Boy also made their debuts in Class 4 outings, with the latter doing so at Goodwood in the William Hill / British EBF Novice Stakes on May 26th (winning by a comfortable 4½ lengths from Richard Hannon’s Packard in the process).

However, Kylian debuted at a much higher level, debuting in the Class 2 British EBF 40th Anniversary Novice Stakes at York on 17th May. So, this particular factor counts against the ante-post front runner, and you’ll need to decide how much weight you give to this as a punter.

Review Current and Historic Weight

The weight carried by runners has also proved to be an insightful trend factor in the Molecomb Stakes, with 77% of all winners since 2003 having carried between 8st 10lbs and 9st 5lbs (or 122lbs and 131lbs) during their previous outing.

A further 73% of winners during the previous 20 renewals carried between 8st 11lbs and 9st 5lbs (123lbs and 131lbs) during their last win, hinting at an optimal handicap over five furlongs at the Goodwood course.

Typically, the maximum weight that can be carried by a horse during a flat race is 9st 10lbs, whereas the lowest is around the 8st mark. So, the above ranges would typically affect talented capable horses who aren’t favourited and don’t possess the very best race records within the field, and this may also explain why only six starting favourites have won the Molecomb Stakes in the last 20 renewals (and only two in the previous 10).

Ultimately, it’s important to consider the weight carried by competing runners before you place your bets, as favourited runners with the highest handicaps tend not to prevail in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.

Think About the Ante-Post and Starting Odds

It’s a given that you’ll compare the odds of all Molecomb Stakes runners before you start wagering, as this is a key element of responsible sports betting. However, it’s also important to do so in the proper context and with an understanding of historical performances and price trends, at least if you’re to bank a viable return on your stake amount.

For example, the starting favourite rarely wins the Molecomb Stakes, with this particular outcome occurring just six times in the last 20 race iterations. However, 57% of the previous 20 winners were priced at 15.00 or under when the race commenced. In the last 10 years, no horse bigger than 9.00 has prevailed in the Molecomb Stakes, with 2022 winner Trillium (8.00) the highest priced victor since Yalta (9.00) back in 2016.

But what do these particular trends tell us? In short, these findings reaffirm the idea that while Molecomb Stakes winners usually aren’t favourited, they’re relatively short priced and hotly tipped as viable each-way wagers prior to the race. In theory, this counts against both Big Evs and Kylian, while potentially favouring Shagraan, Baheer, Barnwell Boy and Purosangue.

Regardless, it makes sense to look beyond the starting favourites as part of your own Molecomb Stakes preview, while paying particular attention to runners priced between 6.00 and 14.00 in the ante-post marketplace. In this instance, it means carefully analysing all runners referenced above, while you may also want to consider each-way betting to improve your chances of banking a return.

🎁 Top Free Bets Offers for the Molecomb Stakes

Despite being a Group 3 race, the Molecomb Stakes is an undoubted highlight of Glorious Goodwood betting and the festival as a whole, as it showcases some of the most promising two-year-olds in the sport. So, if you want to bet on this race and optimise the value that you receive for your stake money, I’d recommend checking out the best Molecomb Stakes betting offers below.

Betting Site	Offer	Claim
	Get €20 in free bets when you wager €5	Visit Ladbrokes Sports
	Earn up to €30 in free bets when you place a qualifying wager of €5	Visit Betway
	Earn a 100% Profit Boost up to €400	Visit Luckster Sports
	Bet €10 and earn €40 in free bets (plus a €10 casino bonus)	Visit Unibet
	Bet €10 and get €50 in Free Bets	Visit BoyleSports
	Bet €10 and earn €30 in Free Bets	Visit William Hill

📆 Molecomb Stakes 2023 Schedule

The Molecomb Stakes will take place on day two of the 2023 Glorious Goodwood festival, which falls on Wednesday, 2nd August. This is one of seven races scheduled to take place between 13:50 and 17:20 GMT, with the Markel Molecomb Stakes runners coming under starters orders at 15:00 GMT. It’s the second most prestigious race of the day too, while it immediately precedes the €1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes (which gets underway at 15:35 GMT). The winner here will bank more than €42,532 on behalf of their owners, from a total prize fund of around €75,000.

📆 Molecomb Stakes 2023 Format

The Molecomb Stakes is Group 3 flat race that’s run on turf and over a straight, five-furlong section of the Goodwood Racecourse. It’s accessible to two-year-old fillies and colts, and has been ever since male runners were once again permitted to compete after a 49-year hiatus in 1981. When it comes to weight restrictions, a 5lb penalty is incurred by any competing G1 or G2 winners, while previous Group 3 winners will have 3lbs added to their loads. The 2023 iteration of the race will be sponsored by the Markel Insurance brand.

📊 Molecomb Stakes Winners

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the Molecomb Stakes Betting

✒️ Lewis Humphries – Horse Racing Betting Expert

Lewis Humphries is an experienced sports writer and tipster from the UK. He writes regularly about horse racing festivals, football events, and other competitions, regularly delivering expert match predictions and betting insights.