Jaysella’s & Marie-Francoise’s Saturday Selections for 15th August 2026

Jaysella’s Saturday Selections from Newbury & Ripon, and Marie-Francoise’s Deauville Picks

Newbury

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3) 1.25
Dubai Honour
Well, you just gotta be hot on Dubai Honour’s chances in this Group 3 Geoffrey Freer. A previous winner of three Group Ones, William Haggas’s globetrotting star is obviously the pick of this lot, and I’m finding it hard to go against him. For all that, he’s been off the track for a bit since a December run at Kempton on the all-weather, so that could be taken as a negative point, but I can’t see who might beat ‘im if he’s coming out of the Somerville Lodge yard fully tuned up. An appearance in the Irish St Leger is next in the diary, and I’ll take Dubai Honour to lay down a claim for that Classic with a win here, probably upsides of the progressive Mount Atlas.

Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) 3.10
Extremely Zain
It’s a pretty hot Hungerford Stakes here, but I reckon a wide open one too, so I’ll take my chances with Extremely Zain. I do like the way that William Haggas’s Hello Youmzain colt has been finishing his races, and he’s shown both here and at York that this is the type of track to suit ‘im, while last time out in the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at Ascot, a more prominent run under Tom Marquand didn’t quite work out. Tom’s gonna be fully aware of the hold-up tactics of Cieren Fallon from those Newbury & York wins, so watch this space! Meanwhile, there’ll be loads of support for Andrew Balding’s Never So Brave, but for me he can often find one too good, so Clive Cox’s Coppull and Charlie Appleby’s Symbol Of Honour rate the dangers from my view. Yeah, a pretty red hot race, so don’t miss it, but I’m extremely warm on Extremely Zain, with Symbol Of Honour likely to be thereabouts.

Ripon

William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap 3.25
Fast Track Harry
Yep, I’m gonna go with Clive Cox’s Fast Track Harry for the Great St Wilfrid. This Harry Angel gelding looked back to his old self when second to Amazing Journey at Ascot last month, but that form got well franked when Amazing Journey rocked up in the International Handicap back there three weeks ago, and that’ll do for me. David O’Meara’s Dark Cloud Rising is a course and distance winner, so has gotta be on anyone’s list, while Nigel Tinkler’s Lord Roxby also won here last time out, so could figure again. There’s often a big-priced gamble for those of you that love your each way angle, so for you lot, Tim Easterby’s I’m Next looks super value from my chair. Fast Track Harry and Dark Cloud Rising to battle out the win, I’m Next if you fancy the gamble!!

Deauville

JRA Prix Alec Head (Prix de Pomone) (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) 12.58
Rabbit’s Foot
‘Ere we are back at Deaville-La Touques for the third weekend of the Meeting de Deauville Barriere. And on this weekend it is the Prix Jacques le Marois, which is a very very important race, but on Saturday my choices begin with Rabbit’s Foot in the Prix Alec Head, who must be on the top of your list after winning the Prix Pawneese Longines in June, and she can be ahead of Zakharova and Karla Jet. Oui, this is a Group 2 contest, but it is Rabbit’s Foot that can be making this step up in grade, in this small field.

Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Group 2) 1.33
Montreal (nap)
Oolala! What a race this is, the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano! It must be that Montreal and Daryzan can be the ones to make this a battle, but I think that their positions in the Prix de Jockey Club at Chantilly cannot be reversed here with the soft ground non? It was Aidan O’Brien’s Montreal that was third in that Classic, the Prix du Jockey Club, but Daryzan was in seventh, 2 lengths behind Montreal, and though Daryzan was even better the last time in the Prix de l’Aire Cantilienne at Chantilly, ‘e was a very very big favourite for that race, so must be needing more to win this. Christopher Head’s Proof can also step forward here, non? but I must have Montreal to win in front of Daryzan.

Darley Prix de Lieurey (Group 3) (Fillies) 3.25
Narissa
Oh yes, I must be following Francis-Henri Graffard’s Narissa for the Prix de Lieurey, but maybe Hassaleh and The Prettiest Star can make this a good race non? It was Narissa who was very very good in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp in May, coming fourth to the brilliant Diamond Necklace, and it is that Group One form that is very strong for this Group 3 contest. D’accord, but The Prettiest Star was fourth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, so has to be considered if this ground is good for her, and it is Hassaleh, the winner of the Listed Prix Amandine here in July that can also be involved, Oui? Charlie Appleby’s Hassaleh was so so impressive non? in that Prix Amandine, where the far side group filled four of the first five places, so I must have much respect for her, though this time Mickael Barzalona is on Narissa, being an Aga Khan filly, so, maintentant, Christophe-Patrice Lemaire is her jockey. Maybe Herve-Alex Pantall’s Fortuna Diamond can also be mentioned, and Brian Meehan’s Esna, but I think it is Narissa they must all beat.

Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Group 3) 4.00
Cualificar (nb)
Oh yes, you must all know now how much I do love Andre Fabre’s Cualificar, and I think he can be winning this Group 3 contest. Of course, Cualificar has been competing at the highest level, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October and the Prix d’Harcourt and Grand Prix de Chantilly this year, both the Group 2 contests, so this is very much the easier task non? But, also I think this is his very best trip, this 2,000 metres, so if he can be ahead of Jean-Claude Rouget’s Leffard, I think he must win this Group 3 race. Andre Fabre’s Nitoi won the La Coupe in June, and the Wathnan Racing pair of Map Of Stars and First Look must be on your list, but Oolala!! I cannot wait to see Cualificar win again.