Westridge Storms to Coral Chesterfield Cup Glory at 2025 Qatar Goodwood Festival
Coral Chesterfield Cup 2025 winner Westridge took a commanding step forward in his racing career with an emphatic victory at the 2025 Qatar Goodwood Festival, giving John & Thady Gosden a dream start to the week. Ridden by Billy Loughnane in his first-ever ride for the Gosden stable, the four-year-old son of Blue Point surged clear of a competitive 18-runner field to land the 10-furlong contest with ease.
Backed into 6/1 by race time, Westridge glided into contention on the far side and responded powerfully when asked to quicken. He streaked over three lengths clear of 28/1 outsider Naqeeb, with Defiance and Bolster rounding out the minor places. The result brought up the Gosden yard’s 50th win at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and marked Loughnane’s first at the iconic Sussex venue. It was a dominant performance that fully justified his market support in the Coral Chesterfield Cup 2025.
Speaking after the race, John Gosden praised both horse and jockey. “Westridge enjoyed the space around him today, and Billy gave him a lovely ride,” he said. “This is a dream come true for Glen Manchester, who co-owns Westridge with my wife and Nicholas Wrigley. He was briefly entered in the July Sales but we took him out just in time—and thank goodness we did.”
The trainer revealed Westridge wore a sheepskin noseband “because he’s easily distracted,” joking that “he’d be looking for low-flying seagulls otherwise.” A potential next stop is York, though plans remain open.
Loughnane, understandably thrilled, credited the ride to preparation and sound advice. “Mr Gosden said to keep him in daylight, and when I did that, he really picked up,” said the young jockey. “It was a genuine surface today—lovely ground. Westridge was professional and gave me everything.”
There was no shame in defeat for runner-up Naqeeb, a half-brother to Baaeed trained by Julie Camacho, who was upbeat about the performance. “The winner trotted up, but we were giving him nearly a stone. It just went wrong at York for Naqeeb, but this confirmed he’s a proper 10-furlong horse.”
Camacho’s assistant Steve Brown hinted at possible targets: “The Shergar Cup is under consideration—it’s good money and only ten runners. He’s had a tough campaign, but he’s taking it well.”
Defiance, trained by Roger Varian, produced a strong finish from a tricky draw. “He’s crying out for a mile and a half,” said Varian. “We’ll look at three options for him on Ebor weekend—at York, Hamilton, or back here at Goodwood.”
The Coral Chesterfield Cup 2025 has long been a proving ground for rising middle-distance handicappers, and Westridge’s performance suggests he may soon outgrow this grade. His turn of foot at Goodwood was not only visually striking but also tactically superior, with Loughnane timing the run to perfection. With a possible step up in class or distance on the cards, connections will be eyeing York or even a Listed opportunity before season’s end. The race also reaffirmed the depth of this year’s festival handicaps, as many runners behind Westridge—especially Naqeeb and Defiance—look capable of landing strong races with better draws or luck in running.
Few performances on the day matched the polish and authority that Westridge displayed in the Coral Chesterfield Cup 2025. He is a gelding on the rise, blending raw ability with improving focus, and clearly has more to offer as the summer unfolds.
The day belonged to Westridge, though—a progressive gelding who has now firmly announced himself on the big stage. With versatile tactics, a willing attitude, and an upward career curve, he could be one to follow as the season heats up.
Coral Chesterfield Cup 2025 Result
- 1 Westridge (Mr & Mrs Manchester & N Wrigley) – John & Thady Gosden – 4-8-08 – Billy Loughnane – 6/1
- 2 Naqeeb (N O’Keeffe) – Julie Camacho – 5-9-07 – Ryan Sexton – 28/1
- 3 Defiance (Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – Monet) – Roger Varian – 4-9-01 – Silvestre de Sousa – 9/1
- 4 Bolster (Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum) – Karl Burke – 5-9-12 – Pierre-Louis Jamin – 18/1
- 18 ran. 7/2F Castle Cove finished 6th.
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