15:50 Goodwood

Virgin Bet Handicap Stakes (gbbplus Race)

2m · Flat · Class 2 · Good · 5 runners · £12,885 · Tuesday, 8 September 2026

E/W terms2 places at 1/4 odds in a 5-runner field — the place half of an each-way bet has historically returned −14% to −22% at these terms· the study →

Furlong's verdict

Reading the form…

AI-written, grounded in our data on this race. May be wrong. Verify before staking. Opinion, not advice.

Top rated

Synergism

No. 2 · score 67.0 · +12.8 clear of next best · best 9/2·5.70

Drawn 3, inside the favoured middle third at this course and trip.

Best value vs consensus

Sax Appeal

16.5·16.50 Betfair Exchange · +22% vs fair (consensus 13.56)

One book stands out from the de-overrounded consensus of 28 bookmakers. A price check, not a tip — the market can be wrong about a horse.

Pundit corner

Racing Post · third-party

Pundit pick: ManxmanDiffers from our pick

Manxman may sit a couple of pounds behind the top-rated Bahadur on paper, but his progressive profile and sharper fitness edge make him the more appealing proposition over this extended trip at Goodwood, and he is preferred on those counts. Bahadur remains the chief danger given his rating advantage, with Fireblade and Synergism also capable of making their presence felt if the pace suits. Manxman is our selection.

Editorial from Racing Post analysts via the Racing API — not generated by Racing Alpha. Formbook forecast prices are estimates, not market prices.

Why the model rates this top

Synergism

Luke Morris · Sir Mark Prescott Bt · 4yo

Top-rated of 5

score 67.0 · +12.8 clear of next best (54.2)

Scores compare runners within this race only

The Racing Alpha rating combines four signals. Below is the breakdown — components driving this pick first.

Freshness10% weight
85very strong
46d since last run (fresh)
Trainer20% weight
80very strong
Sir Mark Prescott Bt: 8/25 winners last 14d (32%)
Form20% weight
61average
Last 6: 5-3-1-3-4
Ratings50% weight
61average
OR 91

MarketBest price 5.70 (Matchbook) · 2nd in the market of 5.

v1.3 rating — a field-relative score, not a win probability; for market-derived value see the Fair column in the runners table. Weights and method on /about. Tips are opinions, not advice.

Pace map

inferred from last 6 runs

Shape: Mixed shape — pace likely to be honest but not lightning.

Front-runners(2)
2Synergism 5Sax Appeal
Prominent(1)
3Bahadur
Mid-division(1)
4Fireblade
Hold-up / closers(0)—
Unknown(1)
1Manxman

Bucketed from the opening clause of each past run's comment. Front-runner / prominent / mid / hold-up — the classic race-shape framework. Unknown = no usable comments parsed.

Draw bias — Goodwood 2m

full course data →

Strong: middle favoured (IV 1.29).

Low (1–2)

IV 1.04

Mid (3–4)

IV 1.29

High (5–5)

IV 0.70

Today: Synergism (draw 3) and Bahadur (draw 4) get the bias; Manxman (draw 5) is in the least-favoured band.

IV = impact value: 1.00 is neutral, above it a stall band wins more often than its share of runners predicts. 43 qualifying races at this course and trip, 3-year window.

Runners · sorted by AI score

Fair price = de-overrounded market consensus · green best price = beats fair

No.	Horse	Form	Wt	OR	RPR	TS	AI	Fair	Best
2	SynergismPick J: Luke Morris · T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt · draw 3 · combo 19/88 (22%) 4yo · G · bpFT POnly runner	53134	9-11	91	—	—	67.0	4/1·5.09	5.7·5.70 Matchbook · +12% vs fair Compare 28 books ▾ Matchbook5.7·5.70Smarkets5.7·5.70SmarketsSBK9/2·5.50 Betfair Exchange5.5·5.50 Midnite7/2·4.50Hollywood Bets7/2·4.50SportingIndex7/2·4.50 Paddy Power7/2·4.50 BetMGM7/2·4.50 7Bet7/2·4.50 Betano7/2·4.50 Betfred7/2·4.50 Boyle Sports7/2·4.50 Ladbrokes7/2·4.50 William Hill7/2·4.50 Dragon Bet7/2·4.50Betfair Sportsbook7/2·4.50BetWright7/2·4.50 Spreadex7/2·4.50 Quinn Bet7/2·4.50 Bet Victor7/2·4.50 Coral7/2·4.50 Star Sports7/2·4.50 BetTom7/2·4.50 LiveScore Bet10/3·4.33Virgin Bet10/3·4.33Unibet10/3·4.33 Bet36510/3·4.33
3	Bahadur J: Cieren Fallon · T: S Woods · draw 4 · combo 5/8 (63%) 4yo · C · bC&DOnly runner	510579	9-11	91	—	—	54.2	5/1·6.22	5/1·6.00 Bet365 · -4% vs fair Compare 28 books ▾ Bet3655/1·6.00Matchbook5.9·5.90Betfair Exchange5.8·5.80Smarkets5.6·5.60Hollywood Bets9/2·5.50Midnite9/2·5.50 BetMGM9/2·5.50 BetTom9/2·5.50 SportingIndex9/2·5.50 Spreadex9/2·5.50 Boyle Sports9/2·5.50 Quinn Bet9/2·5.50 SmarketsSBK9/2·5.50 Star Sports9/2·5.50 Paddy Power9/2·5.50 Unibet9/2·5.50 Bet Victor9/2·5.50 Betano9/2·5.50 Coral9/2·5.50 Ladbrokes9/2·5.50 7Bet4/1·5.00Betfair Sportsbook4/1·5.00BetWright4/1·5.00 Betfred4/1·5.00 Dragon Bet4/1·5.00 William Hill4/1·5.00 LiveScore Bet7/2·4.50Virgin Bet7/2·4.50
4	Fireblade J: Saffie Osborne · T: Dylan Cunha · draw 2 · combo 0/9 (0%) 5yo · G · bOnly runner	44230	9-07	87	—	—	52.1	7/1·7.91	7.4·7.40 Matchbook · -6% vs fair Compare 28 books ▾ Matchbook7.4·7.40Betfair Exchange7.4·7.40Smarkets7.2·7.207Bet6/1·7.00 Midnite6/1·7.00 BetWright6/1·7.00 Coral6/1·7.00 Ladbrokes6/1·7.00Hollywood Bets6/1·7.00Unibet6/1·7.00 William Hill6/1·7.00 Bet3656/1·7.00 BetMGM6/1·7.00 Betfred6/1·7.00 Boyle Sports6/1·7.00 Dragon Bet6/1·7.00 Quinn Bet6/1·7.00 SportingIndex6/1·7.00 Spreadex6/1·7.00 Star Sports6/1·7.00 Paddy Power6/1·7.00 SmarketsSBK6/1·7.00 LiveScore Bet11/2·6.50 BetTom11/2·6.50Virgin Bet11/2·6.50Betano11/2·6.50 Bet Victor11/2·6.50Betfair Sportsbook11/2·6.50
1	Manxman J: William Buick · T: Simon & Ed Crisford · draw 5 · combo 0/13 (0%) 6yo · G · bvOnly runner	10035	9-13	93	—	—	49.5	5/4·2.26	11/10·2.10 Bet365 · -7% vs fair Compare 28 books ▾ Bet36511/10·2.10 BetTomEvens·2.00 SportingIndexevn·2.00Hollywood Betsevn·2.00Spreadexevn·2.00 Quinn BetEvens·2.00 7Betevn·2.00 Coralevn·2.00 Bet Victorevn·2.00 Betanoevn·2.00 Boyle Sportsevn·2.00 William Hillevn·2.00 Ladbrokesevn·2.00 Star Sportsevn·2.00 Betfredevn·2.00 UnibetEvens·2.00 BetWrightevn·2.00 Dragon Betevn·2.00 Betfair Exchange2·2.00Matchbook2·2.00Smarkets1.95·1.95Midnite10/11·1.91 LiveScore Bet10/11·1.91Virgin Bet10/11·1.91Paddy Power10/11·1.91Betfair Sportsbook10/11·1.91BetMGM5/6·1.83 SmarketsSBK5/6·1.83
5	Sax Appeal J: Callum Shepherd · T: Charlie Johnston · draw 1 · combo 2/29 (7%) 6yo · G · b	365333	9-04	84	—	—	47.9	12/1·13.56	16.5·16.50 Betfair Exchange · +22% vs fair Compare 28 books ▾ Betfair Exchange16.5·16.50Smarkets16·16.00SmarketsSBK15/1·16.00Matchbook16·16.00Betfair Sportsbook12/1·13.00Paddy Power12/1·13.00 Betano12/1·13.00 Midnite12/1·13.00 Bet Victor12/1·13.00 Boyle Sports12/1·13.00 BetMGM11/1·12.00 7Bet11/1·12.00 Quinn Bet11/1·12.00 BetWright11/1·12.00 Dragon Bet11/1·12.00Hollywood Bets10/1·11.00LiveScore Bet10/1·11.00Virgin Bet10/1·11.00SportingIndex10/1·11.00 Coral10/1·11.00 Ladbrokes10/1·11.00 Betfred10/1·11.00 Star Sports10/1·11.00 William Hill10/1·11.00 Unibet10/1·11.00 BetTom10/1·11.00 Spreadex10/1·11.00 Bet36515/2·8.50

OR = official rating · AI = model score (0–100) · form reads oldest → latest · Fair= the market's own consensus: median price across 28 bookmakers per horse with the 13% overround stripped out. A green best price pays above that consensus — a price check, not a tip: the market can be wrong about a horse, this only tells you when a book stands out from it.

Frequently asked questions

What time is the Virgin Bet Handicap Stakes (gbbplus Race)?

The Virgin Bet Handicap Stakes (gbbplus Race) is off at 15:50 on 8 September 2026 at Goodwood (Great Britain).

What is the field size and distance of the 15:50 Goodwood?

2m, Class 2, Flat, 5 runners declared.

What is the going for the 15:50 Goodwood?

Going is reported as Good on Turf.

What is the Racing Alpha AI top pick for the 15:50 Goodwood?

The AI top-rated runner is Synergism (score 67.0, best price 5.70). Methodology: ratings combine OR, RPR, TS, trainer 14-day form, days since last run and going.

Who is the favourite for the 15:50 Goodwood?

The market favourite is Manxman at a best price of 2.10. The Racing Alpha AI top pick is a different horse — Synergism.

Best price shown is the highest decimal price across bookmakers we track. Odds update every few minutes; settle at SP if unavailable. 18+ only · Bet responsibly · BeGambleAware.org