The Jubilee Stakes is one of the great sprint races of the British flat season, and the 2026 edition has the added dimension of a genuine international challenge.
An Australian mare heads the market, a Japanese horse is second favourite, and there are runners from France and Japan rounding out a field of 19. With a prize fund of over half a million pounds and the Royal Ascot crowd behind them, this race has everything.
The Favourite: Joliestar
Joliestar, trained in Australia by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, arrives at Ascot with five Group 1 wins to her name, including her last two starts at Randwick this spring over six and a half furlongs and six furlongs on good to soft ground. She is sent off at 13/8 and it is not hard to see why.
Waller is one of the most respected trainers in world racing, and McDonald is a proven big-race jockey on both sides of the globe. Australian sprinters have a strong record when they make the trip to Europe, and Joliestar has the form figures to suggest she is at the top of that particular tree right now.
The going at Ascot is good to firm, which is quicker than what she has been running on in Australia, and that is the one genuine question mark. She has not raced on fast ground before. Whether that matters or not is something only the race itself will answer.
Second Favourite: Satono Reve
Satono Reve, the seven-year-old Japanese horse trained by Noriyuki Hori and ridden by Ryan Moore, is available at 11/4 and is no stranger to this race. He finished a clear second here twelve months ago on the same good to firm ground and has taken the same prep route this time, finishing second to the Hong Kong phenomenon Ka Ying Rising in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in April.
Two-time Japanese Grade 1 winner, proven at Ascot, proven at the trip, proven on this ground. Moore is as good as it gets. If Joliestar is below her best, Satono Reve is the most obvious beneficiary.
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The Main Contenders
Overpass (18/1) has not won in nine starts since landing an Australian Group 1 over 6 furlongs in November 2024, but several of those runs have been highly creditable. He was a fine third in Tuesday’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over 5 furlongs here. Trainer Bjorn Baker and jockey Joshua Parr will have learned plenty from Tuesday. Each-way claims at 18/1.
Lake Forest (9/1), trained by William Haggas and ridden by Cieren Fallon, was runner-up in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over this course and distance back in 2024. He spent the following 18 months campaigning over 7 furlongs and a mile, and returned to action at Haydock in May following a gelding operation, winning a Listed race impressively. Big-race trends point firmly in his direction. At 9/1 he is well worth an each-way interest.
Kind Of Blue (25/1), trained by James Fanshawe and ridden by William Buick. Most recently second in the Group 2 Minster Stakes at York last month. A course and distance winner who landed the Group 1 British Champions Sprint here last October. At 25/1, he is worth second look.
Comanche Brave (12/1), the four-year-old trained by Donnacha O’Brien and ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, dropped back to 6 furlongs this spring and the move has paid dividends. He ran fifth in a hot Group 1 at Sha Tin in April and then followed up with a two-length win in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last month. Boudot is a top-class rider. Each-way interest.
Dark Horses Worth Noting
Flora Of Bermuda (25/1) finished third in this race twelve months ago and third in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock in September. Andrew Balding’s five-year-old mare returned last month with a Listed win at Newmarket over 6 furlongs on good to firm ground. James Doyle takes the ride. Each-way player.
Powerful Glory (28/1) landed a shock 200/1 win in the British Champions Sprint over this course and distance last October. He was well beaten on his reappearance at the Curragh last month, but Group 1 course and distance winners do not come along every day. Trained by Richard and Peter Fahey, ridden by Jamie Spencer. Hard to ignore entirely at 28/1.
Almeraq (28/1) Had a setback with a fall at York, and then returned with a Listed win at Salisbury in May. He was below form on his only run on fast ground, and good to firm today is a potential concern.
Sajir (20/1), trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Oisin Murphy, won the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last August over 6.5 furlongs. He has beaten twice at odds-on in Listed company this season before winning a Group 3 at Chantilly latest. He needs to find his best form, but in a big field with a strong pace, Murphy is not a jockey you write off easily.
The Verdict
Joliestar is a worthy favourite and will take plenty of beating if she handles the good to firm ground. But the one to be on is Satono Reve. He was an unlucky second here twelve months ago, knows the track, has the ground form, and arrives via an identical prep.
Of the each-way market, Overpass catches the eye at 18/1 after his encouraging King Charles III third on Tuesday and the return to his best trip. Lake Forest meets all the big-race trends criteria and is well worth including at 9/1.
Selection: Satono Reve to win. Overpass and Lake Forest each-way.
Betfred are enhancing the Jubilee Stakes with four places each-way at 1/5 odds, instead of the standard three. Enhanced odds are also available on selected bets. Terms and conditions apply. New and existing customers should check the Betfred website for full details.
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Odds quoted are correct at time of writing and subject to change. Always check with your bookmaker for the latest prices before placing a bet.
