2026 Prix Jacques le Marois Tips - Burke's raider to make Group One breakthrough

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 14 Aug 2026 14:54

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Zeus Olympios is our top tip for the 2026 Prix Jacques le Marois
British and Irish horses dominate recent renewals; French hope Rayif has questions to answer
Zeus Olympios is well positioned and in strong form after winning at Ascot

Sam James (Yellow silks) riding Zeus Olympios wins the Juddmonte Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot. (Getty)

Flat racing fans are in for a real treat on Sunday, as many of the best milers in the sport will lock horns in the Prix Jacques le Marois. This Group One was first run at Deauville in 1921, and has been won by greats like Dubawi, Goldikova and Kingman.

Here's our free guide to the 2026 Prix Jacques le Marois, including our best betting tips.

2026 Prix Jacques le Marois Odds

Name	Odds
Precise	11/4
More Thunder	10/3
Zeus Olympios	7/2
Thesecretadversary	9/2
Rayif	6/1
Sixpence	12/1
Bar	14/1

2026 Prix Jacques le Marois Runners

Aidan O'Brien's Classic winner, Precise tops this betting heat. O'Brien's filly won the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, before losing out to Blue Bolt in both the Falmouth Stakes the Prix Rothschild.

Fozzy Stack will step Thesecretadversary up to a mile following his maiden Group One success in the Prix Jean Prat. French 2000 Guineas winner Rayif is the leading home contender in the market, and he too will represent this year's Classic generation.

Zeus Olympios will return to Group One company following his victory in the Celebration Mile. More Thunder could only finish fourth that day, having been narrowly beaten in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Two Japanese raiders will also take their chance in Sunday's feature, with Group One winner Sixpence sitting much higher in the betting than Listed winner Strauss. Stephane Wattel will be represented by recent Prix Edmund Blanc winner Dreamliner. Group Two scorer No Lunch is the sole runner for Christophe Ferland. German raider, Sir Tommy Cen is the outsider of the field.

2026 Prix Jacques le Marois Tips

British and Irish raiders have been completely dominant in this Group One during the past decade, with only Al Wukair winning for the home fans since 2015.

The main French representative, Rayif, seems to have plenty to find, with the form of his French 2000 Guineas win looking suspect. Thesecretadversary made the most of a low draw when making all in the Prix Jean Prat, but he's been drawn wide down the centre of the track this time, and I'm not sure this step back up to a mile will suit. More Thunder seems to be at his most comfortable over seven furlongs too, and I can't see either of the Japanese horses making an impact.

Precise will be hoping to emulate the likes of Inspiral and Alpha Centauri by winning this as a three-year-old filly. The favourite has both age and sex allowances in her favour. Yet, I'm drawn more to ZEUS OLYMPIOS (7/2), after he returned to winning ways at Ascot last time out.

Karl Burke's colt was many people's horse to follow in the mile division this year, but failed to live up to that hype in his first couple of starts. Zeus Olympios looked like he needed the run behind Opera Ballo at Sandown, and hung left at a crucial stage when finishing third in the Lockinge. Clifford Lee's mount then drifted out to 11/1 before the start of the Queen Anne Stakes, and could only stay on into fourth as Ten Bob Tony claimed an unlikely victory.

Sam James gave Zeus Olympios a much more aggressive ride in the Summer Mile, and his mount seemed to relish the challenge. Burke's four-year-old travelled well behind the pace, and found an extra gear in the closing stages to repel Holloway Boy and Seagulls Eleven.

Zeus Olympios won't have to lead on Sunday, as Thesecretadversary and the fast-starting German raider Sir Tommy Cen will be keen to make the running. Clifford Lee is perfectly positioned to track the pacesetters from stall six, and Zeus Olympios has more than enough class and stamina to produce a winning challenge in the closing stages.

Verdict

2026 Prix Jacques le Marois

Zeus Olympios is our selection in the 2026 Prix Jacques le Marois.

Zeus Olympios

2026 Prix Jacques le Marois Tips

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