Glorious Goodwood odds: Latest betting odds for Glorious Goodwood 2025
With 37 races spread across five days, it's a feast of flat racing for bettors and we've got all the best Goodwood odds from betting sites for each and every race of this unique festival.
An unusual, quirky racecourse compared to many around the world, Goodwood does not have a complete circuit, with a series of loops helping to create the races longer than sprints.
Races of six furlongs or less are contested on the straight course, which climbs for the first furlong or so before being mostly downhill from that point.
The meeting has strong links to summer fashion and is set in the beautiful scenery of the Sussex Downs, with the south coast in view from the back of the main grandstand.
There are three Group 1 races during the week, with the Sussex Stakes, contested over one mile, being the centrepiece. The Goodwood Cup and the Nassau Stakes complete the trio of top races, while there are numerous other Group races across the five days and the Stewards Cup, a prestigious six-furlong sprint handicap, contested annually on the final day.
You'll find Goodwood racing odds for all those feature races and more from licensed and regulated horse racing betting sites on this page.
Glorious Goodwood Odds
Glorious Goodwood 2025 begins on Tuesday 29 July and runs until Saturday 2 August on the Sussex Downs.
Bettors can find odds for each and every race at Glorious Goodwood using our live odds tracker, which pulls in odds from online bookmakers and displays the best prices for each runner.
The Goodwood horse racing odds above are live and updated in real time, so make sure to bookmark this page to stay up to date with the latest prices.
Glorious Goodwood Races Guide
Glorious Goodwood Day 1
A fabulous five days of action begins on Tuesday, 29 July with the Group 2 Lennox Stakes. The feature on the opening day is the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes.
Contested over two miles, this race has seen some of the best stayers ever to have raced involved, including recent favourites such as the four-time winner, Stradivarius.
Glorious Goodwood Day 2
Day two takes place on Wednesday, 30 July and places an emphasis on speed. The traditional feature is the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, contested over one mile. First run in 1841, this race features the pick of the nation's milers aged three and upwards.
In recent history, the brilliant Baaed won this race in 2022, while Frankel, who many believe to have been the greatest horse of them all, lifted the prize in both 2011 and 2012. There's also a chance to see some stars of the future with the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes open to two-year-old speedsters.
Glorious Goodwood Day 3
Day three is Ladies Day. There'll be some fabulous fashions to enjoy and the pick of the action on the track is the featured Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes over a mile and two furlongs.
This race was first run in 1840 and has been run over its current distance since 1911, while being promoted to Group 1 status in 1999. The magnificent Midday won this race three years in succession from 2009-2011 under jockey Tom Queally.
The Richmond Stakes is another classy Group 2 sprint race for two-year-olds over six furlongs. We'll have all the Goodwood odds from online bookmakers and betting apps for the Nassau Stakes, the Richmond Stakes, plus all the other races on day three.
Glorious Goodwood Day 4
Day four at Goodwood puts speed front and centre again. The feature race is the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes, worth over £170,000 to the winner.
This five-furlong sprint has featured many of the fastest horses ever to have raced, including the wonderful Battaash, who won the race in four successive years from 2017 to 2020, under jockey Jim Crowley.
The supporting cast on Friday isn't bad either, with bettors able to find Goodwood odds for the Coral Golden Mile and the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
Glorious Goodwood Day 5
The curtain comes down on Glorious Goodwood on Saturday, when the feature race is the Stewards' Cup, a valuable big field sprint handicap over six furlongs.
This cavalry charge has proved an incredibly difficult race to win but the Michael Dods-trained Commanche Falls holds the rare distinction of winning it two seasons in succession, in 2021 and 2022.
Glorious Goodwood Odds Explained
The odds on each horse at Glorious Goodwood, just like at any other horse race meeting, are determined based on market confidence and not on predictions. Bookies will set the initial odds on a horse based on what they think its chance is of winning the race. The better the chance, the shorter the odds.
Those deemed less likely to win are priced accordingly, with bigger odds. Once the betting market has open, the odds then fluctuate according to market confidence, so if more people bet on a horse, its odds will shorten. If fewer people bet on a horse than the bookies expected, its odds can increase.
Ante-post odds are odds that bookies offer in advance of the day of the race. Just like odds offered by bookmakers on the day of the race, ante-post odds can also change frequently.
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Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
CALUM McCLURKIN: Field Of Gold reversal proves there are no guarantees in this volatile game as 'Glorious' Goodwood turns into an almighty grind
We've all been there as punters. 'This can't be beaten. 'A nailed-on certainty. 'The banker of all bankers.' These are all buzz words and phrases that are commonplace in the world of racing punting. It's a vote of maximum confidence but nothing can be guaranteed. We saw a fair few seismic shocks at the Cheltenham Festival this year. Galopin Des Champs beaten in the Gold Cup and Majborough suffered the same fate in the Arkle Novices' Chase. And not many had Golden Ace on their Champion Hurdle radar this year. It happens. Much more often than most of us punters think. And small value plays on outsiders are far less expensive losers than going all-in and ultimately having misplaced confidence on the jolly. Those are the kinds of decisions punters must make. Either that or avoid it all together. Sometimes we just don't learn our lessons. Ground, tactics, bad luck and mistakes can all be contributing factors in high-level athletes losing a race or a match. Sometimes they can just flat out underperform on the big day. That's what, mainly, happened to Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at 'Glorious' Goodwood this week. Sent off a warm 1-3 favourite, Field Of Gold could only manage fourth and lost to 150-1 shot Qirat. You'd have been forgiven in thinking the winning horse's name was Pacemaker Qirat. He was there to set the fractions but was given too much rope on the front end and his finishing speed of 107 per cent in the last two furlongs proved that. Only rated 102 pre-race, there was a widespread assumption that Qirat would just come back to the field that contained Rosallion, Henri Matisse and Field Of Gold. The trio were all rated at least 17lb superior than Qirat but market principals were all caught out watching each other. Rosallion got to within a neck but Qirat managed to hold on. It was steal of the century stuff from Juddmonte's second string who was there to set the fractions, a pace that probably wasn't strong enough for Field Of Gold in the end. But trainers of Field Of Gold John and Thady Gosden revealed that the favourite was lame behind and he certainly didn't travel or pick up with any urgency like he did in his previous four races this season. The trainer was also quick to note that he became unbalanced around the bend. There will be other days for Field Of Gold and perhaps the next port of call will be a step up to 10 furlongs for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. In truth, you could be forgiven for dubbing 'Glorious' Goodwood as 'Inglorious' Goodwood at times. Thursday's feature being run over a flag start was nothing short of embarrassing. Challenging conditions or not with lightning in the area, the Nassau Stakes really ought to have been delayed until the lightning was cleared to use the stalls or simply postponed until the Friday. Perhaps the ITV scheduling factor forced the hand of Goodwood but a flag start for a Group One isn't just unsatisfactory as most have labelled it, it is unacceptable mickey mouse stuff. And if it's going to happen at least try to start the field in some semblance of a line. What added insult to injury was Whirl was given a good six lengths at the start by being the only horse galloping into the start as main market rivals in the five-runner race Bedtime Story and See The Fire blew it by comparison. It was all over inside 10 seconds as jockey Ryan Moore admitted after the race. Whirl was going to dictate – and probably win – anyway but this was essentially a gift-wrapped Group One in a monsoon with her market rivals being minded out the back for future targets in York and France, respectively. It's weather that Goodwood isn't alien to after the last three races in 2023's final day were called off and Here Comes When floored Ribchester in the Sussex Stakes in similar biblically wet conditions in 2017. The ground was then changed to heavy on a whim after the Nassau Stakes when times said it was soft, an error the clerk of the course admitted to. Then there was a seven-yard strip of fresh ground introduced on Friday that if you were further than three horses off the rail then you couldn't win. Every horse that won that day was well positioned on the inside in the closing stages, the winner of the King George feature was berthed in stall one. And let's not forget the good few horses, Noble Champion springs to mind in the Lennox Stakes, that lost their action on the watered good ground in the first couple of days of the festival when the main story was a deeply upsetting one in the loss of wonderful veteran stayer Trueshan, who trainer Alan King paid an emotional, moving tribute to. Look, fatal fractures can happen anywhere and nobody was to blame but it was an upsetting sight and left a dark cloud hanging over the rest of the meeting that, generally speaking, was wholly inadequate in tricky conditions. Seeing decent times despite horses regularly kicking the top off the ground is just visually odd. It happened at Newmarket's July meeting as well. The going was given as good to firm but all the winning times were outside standard. Punters have little chance and no wonder liquidity is markedly down. Who can genuinely bet with confidence on this? 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Hopefully, this can provide British racing with the leadership it desperately craves as the fight to 'Axe The Racing Tax' seeps deeper into the British political consciousness. Reform Leader Nigel Farage voiced his support in axing the tax that would see betting on racing align with gaming and casino products from 15 per cent to 21. Reform Leader Nigel Farage at Goodwood this week and backed the 'Axe The Racing Tax' bid Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is also on board but, the last time I checked, it's Labour who are in power and it's people within government that racing must persuade. The BHA have already said a tax would cost the sport up to £66million a year. More independent number crunching has spelt out further dangers to the sport this week if the Treasury press ahead with their plans. This included the revelation that 2,752 jobs are at risk following proposed tax hikes, according to new independent research. 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Some will simply be unable to forgive Murphy after the most serious misdemeanour on his lengthy charge sheet but his talent is never in question. Put simply, he gave a tactical masterclass on the Friday of Goodwood when riding a treble and being one of few jockeys alert enough to utilise the fresh strip of ground and control races from the best position. On idiosyncratic tracks such as Goodwood, good jockeyship is imperative to success and Murphy was the best of the bunch all week.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why Scotland is going full throttle for tractor sports
Early roots MHAIRI grew up under the watchful eye of her dad Ewan Cameron, an agricultural engineer whose five British championship titles between 2003 and 2019 set the bar high. 'Dad started in a Fordson Major in 2003, then Smokey II came along in 2005. He drove it to five British titles – three of those back to back,' she said. She would help in the family workshop from an early age, handing tools to her dad as he tweaked carburettors or re jetted the turbo. She explained: 'You've got to understand the machine inside out if you want it to perform – the drag can achieve the equivalent of 100t.' Passing the helmet WHEN she turned 17, Mhairi officially took over Smokey II. 'I should have started at 16, but lockdown held everything up,' she said. Since then, she's finished third in the British championship every year. 'It's getting tougher as teams are putting more money into tractors,' she added. 'We run on standard Shell V Power diesel. We tried race fuels but found they corroded the fuel pump if it was left in.' Under the hood sits a 6.6 litre six cylinder Ford engine, breathing through a custom-built turbo. A TW gearbox transfers torque to a 97/TW rear end, all Ford made parts. Over winter, the Camerons re jigged the intercooler for better airflow and installed a higher flow turbo. 'We skipped Scorton this spring rather than haul 300 miles and risk testing new parts under pressure,' said Mhairi. At BA Stores in Aberdeenshire in late June, wet Friday conditions meant no grip off the line. 'I just couldn't get traction – these conditions are out of our control though,' she recalled. Saturday brought a drier track and a podium finish. 'We placed third, and I was chuffed. It shows our winter changes work.' (Image: Rob Haining) A tight knitted crew IT'S a true family operation. Ewan drives their 2012 Iveco articulated lorry, which doubles as a mobile workshop and living area when at events. Mhairi's brother James, 30, assists with mechanics; sister Anna, 24, handles track side logistics; and mum Wendy sorts logistics, meals and morale. Family friend Eric Robertson has engineered the most recent clutch and helped for the past five years. 'We're up at dawn on event days, prepping, checking tyre pressures, topping up,' said Mhairi. 'Between events, the tractor might never leave the transport lorry. We'll inspect seals and look for leaks. Prevention is better than cure when you're on the track.' Off season and between events, Mhairi works at a neighbouring arable farm. She's on her way to getting a shot of driving the combine harvester this year. Bringing in the next generation MHAIRI is passionately committed to widening the sport's appeal. At Brechin – her favourite venue – the public can wander right up to Smokey II in the pits. 'Kids see the tractors up close and their eyes light up,' she said. 'They run 'garden pullers' for ages 8-12 on ride on mowers, limited to 350kg. From age 12, they graduate to 600 kg compact diesels – think car engines in little tractor frames.' She's clear about the barriers newcomers face. 'People look at the cost – frames, engines – and bail before they even begin. But you can start small, learn the ropes, and build up. The community's welcoming – there's always someone ready to help you out.' As the lone woman in Scotland's pulling circuit, Mhairi encounters occasional underestimates. 'Often people judge you initially but when they see you out on the track, they realise it doesn't really make any odds that you're a woman,' she admitted. She hopes her presence will encourage more women to suit up. 'We need diversity out here. I think more people, including women, need to be introduced to the sport. Women, men, kids – it's all about the tractor in the end.' Tech on the horizon LOOKING ahead, Mhairi expects tractor pulling to embrace advanced analytics: 'In the future, I see the sport including a lot more data handling and technology being used to identify issues sooner and workout where things need improvement. It will make it a lot more competitive and allow more people to attend the events,' she said. Xtreme Force KEVIN Carnegie's foray into tractor pulling is rooted in a lifetime of farming and family enterprise. 'I left school at 16 and went to Elmwood College in 1986 to study agriculture,' he recalled. 'When I left college, I went and worked on the family farm under the DM Carnegie name, based here at Brechin.' By 21, Kevin had secured his HGV licence and spent five years driving a fuel tanker for the family firm, Carnegie Fuels. 'Then, at the age of 25, I took on the running of Carnegie Fuels. At the start we only had two lorries delivering fuel and today we have 13. We also run Carnegie Transport and farm 40 pedigree Highland cows, with around 120 in total including youngstock at Balrownie Farm.' His passion for tractor pulling grew over two decades, but everything changed in 2018. He said: 'I knew of a tractor for sale in Holland which we now call Xtreme Force – originally it was called Red Impact. In my first season with Xtreme Force in 2019, I ended up winning the British Super Sport 4.5 tonne Championship, so we were off to an absolute flyer.' Under Kevin's guidance and with performance tweaks, Xtreme Force became a powerhouse. 'My son Ryan now drives that tractor and this will be his third season. Last year, Ryan was 2024 Super Sport British Champion with Xtreme Force so we have had good success with it.' Introducing Xtreme Green THE team's second machine, Xtreme Green, competes in the Pro Stock category. 'We purchased it in December 2022 from Holland – originally it was called Neighbours Nightmare,' explained Kevin. 'I was crowned British Pro Stock Champion with it in my first season in 2023,' he added. The tractor pulling season typically kicks off in May and wraps up at the end of August. At the most recent BA Sports Scottish Championship Tractor Pull in late June, the team put in a staggering effort. During the first British championship points round at Scorton, Kevin put a conrod through the engine block and, alongside his crew, tore down, rebuilt and reassembled the engine in just 28 hours. 'We only had around five hours' sleep that night,' he laughed, 'but by Friday afternoon we were up and running again, competing that evening.' Operating under the banner of the Xtreme Tractor Pulling Team, Kevin's right hand man is his son Ryan: 'Ryan is heavily involved in day to day running of Carnegie Fuels and I'm more in the background assisting him. We both drive the tractors.' Youngest son Dylan (26) also plays a vital role, 'helping to get the tractors ready on the day of pull events'. Martin Ross of Ross Agri Services Ltd, a long time fixture in the sport and director of both the British Tractor Pulling Association (BTPA) and the Scottish Tractor Pullers Club (STPC), has been 'a big part of my success' by sharing technical know how. Bruce Birnie serves as head mechanic, while mechanics Ryan Irvine, Rhys Bailey and John Allison keep the machines in peak condition. Long time Carnegie Fuels driver Alan Adam doubles as a mechanic and tyre pressure guru. 'Even with the sun, tyre pressures change, Alan also takes the sledge to the events with our articulated lorries under the name Carnegie Transport.' Between the pulls MAINTENANCE between pulls is a finely-tuned ritual. 'Depending on how the tractor performs, we may need to replace parts, most of which come from Holland,' said Kevin. Each between pull service involves topping up fuel, refilling the water injection tank and intercooler with 100 litres of cool water, and changing three to four litres of engine oil – a process that takes around 30 minutes. On Xtreme Green, which features unlimited RPM, engine over revving is a constant risk, as with any pulling tractor. After every pull, Kevin emphasised: 'We take off the oil filter to check for metal filings. If I find any, that's game over for the day.' How far it's come 'EVERY year the sport develops,' Kevin reflected. 'This is our seventh season with Xtreme Force and that tractor probably produces 400-500hp more than when we started, but everyone's doing the same. We're limited only by litre capacity – how you tune the tractor, the size of the turbo, tyre pressures, weight distribution… those are the secrets.' Track conditions add another layer of complexity: clay circuits are watered and rolled to be hard yet pliable, with no pulling allowed in rain. Events often span two days to accommodate weather delays, but 'we go there with the intention of winning the British Championship'. A real community TRACTOR pulling thrives on camaraderie. 'The Scottish Club, run by Martin Ross and Alex Rearie, is very approachable and keen to encourage new entrants,' Kevin noted. 'While it's fierce competition on the track, everyone helps each other off it. The more competitors we have, the sweeter the win.' He praises Martin's ambassadorial role and believes the sport has a 'great family feel' – an outlook echoed by every team member who pitches in. Jim Whitecross caught the bug for tractor pulling back in 2016 when he and partner Suzanne attended the Eurocup finals at Great Eccleston. What started as a day out quickly became a life-changing obsession. 'I'm no engineer on paper, but I've been modifying things all my life – cars, motorbikes, quads, you name it,' said Jim. 'That's what drew me in – this sport is very much about modifying.' By the time they'd driven home, he was hooked. 'We had to give this a go,' he recalled. With nothing suitable for sale in the UK, he spotted a listing in Denmark. 'Within a month of spectating, we were on our way to Denmark to buy our first tractor.' The tractor had 2 RR meteor engines running on alcohol, so Suzanne named it Gator, after Burt Reynolds' moonshine-running character in the film of the same name. From 2016 to 2021, Jim developed Gator, changing the fuel and ignition systems and gradually improving performance. His efforts paid off as he and Suzanne won the British Championship title at the end of the 2021 season. From tanks to turbines HIS current machine, Gator 2 Lynx Edition, runs in the Light Modified class. 'They call it 'light' based on weight, not modification,' Jim explained. 'There are three categories: Light Modified (2500-2700kg), Modified (3500-3700kg), and Heavy Modified (4000kg). Some of the heavy modifieds can generate over 10,000hp.' After their 2021 championship win, Jim sold off the old tractor – much of it went to Germany – and began his most ambitious project yet: building a turbine-powered tractor from scratch. 'When I first decided to build a jet engine tractor, I knew I wanted four engines, though I hadn't even picked which ones yet,' he said. 'Everything on this build is bespoke. I did all the drawings and calculations myself.' The result: four Rolls-Royce Gem turboshaft engines, originally developed for the Westland Lynx helicopter in the 1970s until decommissioned in 2019. The four engines are linked through two custom-designed gearboxes. The gearboxes components were manufactured by Ross Agri Services and Philip Engineering machined the gearbox casings based on Jim's own specs and drawings. 'I sourced the engines from Harry at Jet Engine Trader in Derbyshire,' he explained. Once the military decommission an aircraft they sell off the spare engines. This gave Jim the chance to purchase engines which cost £1 million when new – reliability is key. 'And using Rolls-Royce engines doesn't get any better.' Each engine weighs around 220kg. For safety, the turbines are encased in 30 layers of Kevlar, as mandated by the rulebook. 'It's the same material used in bulletproof vests. If anything goes wrong, the casing contains potential debris.' It took Jim two-and-a-half years to complete Gator 2 Lynx Edition. 'I just don't understand why more people don't build something like this. Most people are gobsmacked when they see it, but for me it's just normal.' Helping at the events are Jim's son Kevin; turbine specialist Marc Buchan who refurbishes jet engines professionally; and Rob Ingles and Harry Thomson, who handle all the electronics. 'Once a tractor is built, the next challenge is improving performance and reducing weight to create movable weight to improve balance,' Jim said. Testing on track HE describes 2024 as his 'training year', running the tractor at about 94% power while learning the start procedures. 'We're on a timer. Most tractors get three minutes from the nod from the track marshal to be hooked and ready to pull. Turbines get six, but we do it in just over three. We don't like the crowd waiting,' he added. To streamline the process, Jim starts one engine in the pit and uses it to drive on to the track, then once hooked to the sledge he starts the other three. 'The day before the opening 2024 event at Scorton in Lancashire, none of the engines would start – turned out all the circuit boards were fried,' he recalled. 'I had a black-tie event that night. Once I got back late, I threw the boilersuit back on, and the next morning we set off early to Harry who made the boards, got them fixed, and made it to the event just in time.' Once scrutineers gave the green light, Jim managed a couple of steady runs. 'There's no way to practise beforehand. We can't simulate the sledge – it's not like you can just drive this near 5000hp machine down the road! 'So the first time I drove the tractor was in front of the Scorton crowd.' Surprisingly, he didn't have to put a spanner on the tractor all season. 'That's unheard of in this sport. Reliability-wise, it's been great.' Tyres last about two to three years, depending on wear. 'I sharpen them before every event – the treads are small to allow for high wheel-speed friction. If I used standard tractor tyres, I'd just shear the drivetrain.' Much of the fabrication was done locally. Ross Agri Services produced components, and Philip Engineering in Elgin machined the gearbox casings. Tractor pulling may be a hobby, but it ties closely with Jim's family business. 'We love competing in Scotland – Brechin and BA Stores are favourites because we get to catch up with locals and customers,' said Jim, who runs Power Washing Services Ltd Laurencekirk alongside sister Liz. The business was started by their dad, Jack, in 1983. Today Jim's children – Nick, Kevin and Rebecca and Liz's son Callum – are also involved. Jet-fuelled ambitions LOOKING ahead, Jim sees a bright future for the sport nationally, and with increased spectator numbers at every Scottish event, the Scottish Tractor Pullers Club events are the favourite ones on the calendar for most competitors.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why Andy Farrell is favourite to lead the Lions again despite letting golden opportunity slip
After plenty of good, and a little bit of bad, the ugly arrived for the British and Irish Lions in the third Test. On a wretched night, it was a wretched performance, the tourists beaten in just about every area by an Australian side better adjusting to conditions of a kind that few involved had ever seen. And so a golden opportunity has been missed – confirming many of the assumed truths about this Lions crop. Andy Farrell had set the lofty goal of going unbeaten in Australia and completing the first series sweep since 1927, a scenario that looked likely after edging the second Test at the MCG. But Lions tours are tough. The Wallabies have plenty of talent and showed real fighting spirit. By contrast, Farrell's men looked tired at times, while the easing of the stakes with a series secure may have been a factor. 'I hope not,' Farrell said on that front. 'Otherwise we are not being true to ourselves in everything we talked about this week. I certainly hope not. Subconsciously I guess I will never know the answer to that question.' So the 2025 Lions are a good side, but not a great one; a team capable of fantastic highs and passages of thrilling rugby but without an 80-minute showing to really be proud. They threatened to run rampant in the first half in Brisbane, but thereafter, with Will Skelton back amongst things, Australia won four of the five remaining 40-minute periods in the series. Overmatched opposition they were not. The Lions, though, set high standards and asked to be judged on them - in that context, they did not succeed, and they will be disappointed to go out on a damp squib. Those facts should not at all take away from what the Lions have achieved in Australia. It is a real feat to secure a series with a game to spare – this was only the second time it had occurred in the professional era. Given the limited opposition the Lions faced in the warm-up fixtures, the intensity they found in that first Test was impressive, with Farrell's bold selection calls backing up his faith. The brutal toll of Sydney was clear for all to see but the Lions had already experienced some rough luck on this tour, from the loss of captaincy contender Caelan Doris on the eve of the squad naming through to the Garry Ringrose situation before Test two. It has been not been perfect by any means but Farrell and his staff merit huge credit for the way they have kept the Lions squad together. It remains quite the logistical feat that the tour ran so smoothly – even a broken bus on the day of the third Test only delayed the Lions by a couple of minutes. The wider team beyond the rugby coaching and playing unit were highlighted by Farrell as a key part of the Lions' success. 'Not only are they fantastic at their jobs but they are bloody good people who muck in,' Farrell said. 'Everyone knows the logistical nightmare that this tour could have been but these boys think that it is easy because of the people that we've had on tour. Not just the coaching staff, every single member of the staff has been a pleasure to work with.' While he has slightly dodged the question, the thought is that Farrell will probably desire the head coaching role again in four years' time in New Zealand. His love for the Lions has been clear throughout this trip, and the Englishman is exceptionally well liked by his players and members of the hierarchy. A Lions cycle is a long time in a fast-moving sport threatened again by behind-the-scenes noises made by proposed breakaway league R360 but it would be stunning to see Farrell's stock plunge in the intervening period, even if there are a few niggling concerns over an Ireland side coming out of a glorious peak. This Lions team should probably have won this series 3-0, yes, but speak to his squad and the admiration they have for Farrell is clear. 'He doesn't treat you like a schoolteacher in any way,' Tadhg Furlong said. 'He treats you like a man. He gives you responsibility, and it's up to you to take it. He gives you a freedom, and it's up to you to be a good man within that, or a good teammate within that. That's what I respect about him. You look up to Faz.' The ability to instil collective buy-in has been a theme of the tour. Farrell has a natural presence and charisma, not necessarily needing to say much to inspire. Players who haven't featured in the Tests have beamed their pride nonetheless; those not involved have done all they can to help out the side. 'He's been really good at getting everyone closer,' Huw Jones explained. 'I don't really know how he's done it but it's worked. 'He's very calm and relaxed a lot of the time and when he's on, he's pretty intense. He sees everything so he's prepared to call you out in the middle of the session if something's not good enough. He sees it all and he'll then have it clipped up and you'll see it in reviews. There's no hiding place, his standards are so high. He knows exactly what he wants from everyone.' Selection criticism is a natural by-product of a venture like this but much of Farrell's work in that regard looks strong in retrospect. He may reflect that he could have refreshed his pack, particularly, for the affair in Sydney but those involved had earned the chance to go again. Tadhg Beirne, something of a surprise selection for the first Test, was named player of the series; the impact made by a beefed up bench at the MCG was pivotal. The arrival of Owen Farrell, too, added an extra competitive edge and experienced head to a squad that probably needed it - though his third Test showing was not his best outing. Suggestions of an Irish bias do not necessarily stand up to real scrutiny given how strong the men in green have been over the last few years and how many of them stood up in the heat of battle. It is impossible to avoid such an accusation, anyway. The idea of a neutral coach plucked from outside of the coaching staffs of the four unions in a neat one in theory, yet the international and club games are vastly different. Of those currently coaching the unions, Steve Borthwick is tracking well and, like Farrell, has the benefit of a Lions tour as an assistant. A strong next two years and World Cup with England, which looks increasingly within reach, would see him really press his candidacy. But much the same could be said of the man in possession, and right now it would be a surprise if it is not Farrell coaching the Lions in New Zealand. 'Everyone knows what I think about this concept,' he said late on Saturday night. 'I love everything that the Lions is about and I've thoroughly enjoyed the last eight weeks. There's always ups and there's always downs but the inner circle is a special place to be. 'We all know how hard it is to be successful on a Lions tour against a good side like Australia. When we get a bit of time to ourselves we will be unbelievably proud of what we have achieved. Lions tours are tough. The legacy for us is in that changing room. The togetherness of the whole group has been an absolute delight.'
