Hugo Palmer: My Goodwood team

Goodwood Stable Tour: Hugo Palmer horse-by-horse guide to his team

Horse Racing
Sun July 26, 2026 · 1d ago

Top trainer Hugo Palmer talks Vicki Gibbins through his team for next week's Qatar Goodwood Festival.

With Seagulls Eleven showing his best form as a four-year-old and juvenile Adaay Of Scarlett producing consistent results in Group company, Cheshire-based trainer Hugo Palmer is currently sitting 18th in the trainers’ championship table with accumulated prize money of £801,527 – ahead of where he finished the 2025 season.

Based at Manor House Stables, the Classic-winning trainer is keen to send out a first Group 1 from his new base and will be represented by Seagulls Eleven in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.

“You’re only going to win Group 1s by running in them,” said Palmer. “It takes a glass half full person to think that Seagulls Eleven could win the Sussex Stakes, but strangers things have happened and he’s in the form of his life.”

Palmer will enter Glorious Goodwood with a strong team of candidates for success throughout the week, including the well-fancied Stewards’ Cup hopeful Dubai Bling and We’re Gooses, drawn on the wrong side of the track in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“It’s a deliberately big team because the prize money is good and we need to be there.”

TUESDAY

Ardisia – HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes

“He’s going to need cut in the ground and is probably more likely to go to Chester.”

Savage Mariner – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes

“He ran second on debut to Libertango [subsequently won the Albany Stakes] at Leicester, but stepped on his shoe in the Norfolk and injured his foot. He ran on firm ground with a sore foot, so you can put a line through the Ascot run. I’ve been pleased with him since and I think we should have a good chance.”

Brigid’s Well – Bolney English Wine Fillies Handicap Stakes

“She definitely needs cut in the ground and is likely to be a non-runner.”

Ruby’s Angel – World Pool Bet With The Tote EBF Fillies’ Handicap Stakes

“She will run and has enjoyed a good year. She didn’t quite stay seven furlongs at Newmarket last time but has danced every danced. Goodwood should suit her.”

Seagulls Eleven wins at Epsom from Persica

WEDNESDAY

Sale Shark – Veuve Clicquot Molecomb Stakes

“He won his side in the Windsor Castle Stakes and ran fine from a very unpromising position in the Rose Bowl at Newbury last week. I think he’s better than that – Kieran Shoemark got off him and said ‘this horse feels all speed, come back to five furlongs and let him roll’, which is what we’re going to do. I think the Molecomb will be a big field and a competitive race.”

Seagulls Eleven – Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes

“We’re going to have a go. He’s better than ever this year and has produced a career-best every time he’s raced in 2026. He will need to run considerably better again to win, but it’s going to be interesting to see where the three-year-olds measure up to the older horses.

“I don’t feel we have much to find with Opera Ballo. We very nearly beat Zeus Olympios at Ascot two weeks ago and Zeus Olympios has beaten Opera Ballo. When we faced Opera Ballo on a straight track, we finished second beaten two lengths and a straight track wouldn’t suit Seagulls Eleven. We don’t have to find much to bridge the gap.

“It could be that the three-year-olds are a stone better than the older horses, or they could be a stone worse. The great thing that Seagulls Eleven has, is that he’s entirely versatile on different ground. He loves Goodwood, the turning track and the small fields.”

Adaay Of Scarlett makes an impressive winning debut

THURSDAY

Lion Of Alba – Coral Kincsem Heritage Handicap

“Lion Of Alba is out of a Galileo mare and we’re looking forward to seeing him step up in trip. He ran a mighty race in the Brittania Stakes at Ascot and seems in really good form.”

Adaay Of Scarlett – Markel Richmond Stakes

“He must have a solid form chance. We don’t know what’s going to turn up, but the horses that have beaten him will have penalties and he wasn’t beaten far by any of them.

Whispering Angel Nursery Handicap Stakes

“We will definitely run something in the nursery – it could be High Hazard or Mia Fantasia."

HKJC World Pool Handicap Stakes

“Mr Seagull could run in the HKJC World Pool Handicap Stakes, another one of the Seagull Eleven partnership’s horses. Phantom Watch could also go, if he got in.”

FRIDAY

Wild Terrain – Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap Stakes

“He was an impressive winner on debut and didn’t really turn up in the Woodcote at Epsom or at Ascot. He’s been gelding since and it’s turned him inside-out – his work has been really pleasing and is only rated 76. I think he’s well ahead of the mark without being a superstar.”

Laureate Crown – Coral Golden Mile

“He’s picked up an injury and won’t go.”

SATURDAY

Dubai Bling – Coral Steward’s Cup

“When Billy Loughnane was narrowly beaten by Roman Dragon at the Chester May meeting, he got off and said ‘this is a Group horse’. You probably need to be a Group horse to win the Steward’s Cup and especially off a mark of 104, you need to have plenty in hand. Jack Callan will ride and take off the three pound penalty he received for Ascot.

"I thought he was criminally unlucky in the Wokingham Handicap: to be beaten two lengths without coming off the bridle in a race of that magnitude is agony. He made amends in a valuable race the other day which gives him the penalty but I think he’s right up there with some of the best sprinters I’ve trained. We won this race with Gifted Master off a mark of 11 a couple of years ago and Dubai Bling is a very lightly raced horse. Dubai has meant he’s been lightly raced and he’s got the rest of his career ahead of him – this horse could really go well, for all the Steward’s Cup is one of the hardest races to win.”

We’re Gooses – Phase Eight Handicap Stakes

“We feel he will stay a mile but yet to prove it. He was wildly impressive over seven furlongs at Newmarket in May and started 3/1 favourite for the Brittania Stakes, but was drawn on the wrong side even if he had run a good race.

Speyside – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes

“He’s a brother to Lion Of Alba and Wolf Of Badenoch, who was second in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood two years ago."

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