Racing fans have five British and Irish pattern-class contests to look forward to this coming weekend, headlined by the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes from Newbury on Saturday afternoon. However, for top-tier Group 1 action, we must turn our attention to Deauville for the 2026 edition of the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
First run in 1921 and held over the straight mile, this €1m contest boasts a roll of honour littered with international stars. The brilliant Miesque won back-to-back editions in 1987 and 1988, as did the John Gosden duo of Palace Pier (2020, 2021) and Inspiral (2022, 2023).
In recent years, the Jacques Le Marois has provided a tale of British and Irish dominance, with the Brits winning five and the Irish three of the last eight renewals. With 10 runners remaining in the 2026 field, there is every chance that hot streak will continue.
Precise the Pick of the Irish Duo
No surprise that Aidan O’Brien provides the strongest Irish challenge. Having won the race for a second time with the four-year-old colt Diego Velazquez in 2025, this year the Group 1 world record holder relies on the three-year-old filly, Precise.
Following back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies’ Mile, this daughter of Starspangledbanner was the most highly touted of the O’Brien Classic fillies. She failed to deliver on the hype when only seventh in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket but bounced right back to claim the Irish 1,000 Guineas in grand style. She backed that up in the Coronation Stakes but arrives on the back of successive defeats at the hands of the Andrew Balding four-year-old Blue Bolt. The most recent of those losses came over this track and trip in the Prix Rothschild on 2 August.
It was initially thought that this might come a bit soon after that half-length defeat, but O’Brien suggested she will take her place in the line-up, stating, “she came out of her last race very well so it’s very possible she’ll run on Sunday.” With no Blue Bolt to worry about, Precise is vying for favouritism ahead of the race.
The Irish challenge is completed by a horse who will always hold a special place in the heart of County Tipperary handler Tommy Stack. While enjoying his share of success since starting out as a trainer in 2017, Stack had never previously won a Group 1 contest. Thesecretadversary put that right when making all the running to upset True Love and Rayif in the Prix Jean Prat over 7f at this track in July. He’s zero from three over a mile but was unlucky in running in two of those defeats and arrives at the top of his game.
Thunder Ready to Rumble for Haggas
Like Ireland, Britain looks set to send a potent two-pronged attack into battle. Last sighted finishing first and fourth in the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot, the Karl Burke and William Haggas duo of Zeus Olympios and More Thunder may resume their rivalry in France.
Karl Burke is no stranger to Group 1 success at Deauville, having won the Prix Jean Romanet, Prix Morny, and Prix Rothschild. Zeus Olympios has come up short in two previous Group 1 outings but hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck. A win for the Night Of Thunder colt would provide a welcome boost for owners, the executors of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, in the week that Bow Echo was forced into retirement.
William Haggas has 10 French Group 1 wins to his name, but his only previous top-level success at Deauville came when landing the 2009 edition of the Prix Maurice de Gheest with King’s Apostle. Sharing a sire with Zeus Olympios, More Thunder is also yet to strike in Group 1 company. However, he has come pretty close – finishing second in the Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes in 2026, with Zeus Olympios behind him on both occasions. Given his dramatic late-running style, the slow pace was all against him at Ascot last time, and he could go close granted a truly run race.
French Guineas Hero Leads Home Defence
Given his Group 1-winning exploits on British shores, it is a little surprising to learn that Chantilly handler Francis-Henri Graffard has never won the Jacques Le Marois. This year, the man behind the brilliant Calandagan relies on the three-year-old Rayif.
Sporting the same Aga Khan silks as Calandagan, Rayif’s excellent juvenile form took a slight dent when only third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on his final start at two. However, he bounced right back when claiming the Poule d’Essai Des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) on his seasonal return. A slight setback saw him miss his St James’s Palace Stakes assignment, and he looked in need of the outing when only fifth behind Thesecretadversary last time. He will need to step up on that, but a return to his Longchamp form would bring him right into contention.
Dreamliner, No Lunch, and Sir Tommy Chen may also represent the hosts, but all are priced at 33/1 or bigger and need to improve on all known form.
The Japanese duo of Sixpence and Strauss complete the potential line-up at the four-day stage, with Sixpence boasting the strongest claims on the back of his win in the Yasuda Kinen.