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Sunday's Racing Tips: Ben Linfoot's preview and tips for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville

Horse Racing

Sun August 16, 2026 · 2M ago

Our form expert previews Sunday's Group 1 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

The Verdict: Sunday August 16

1pt win Rayif in the 14:50 Deauville at 13/2 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Boylesports)

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The absence of the newly-retired Bow Echo from Sunday’s Group 1 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois has opened up the Deauville contest somewhat with More Thunder assuming favouritism for William Haggas.

The five-year-old has been running well all season but he is now on a losing run of four and his record at the top level is 0/3, so he hardly exudes solid favourite vibes and his position in the betting sums up the race.

Precise is next in the market and she has been brushed aside by Blue Bolt on her last two starts, hinting as if she wants to go out in trip, while Zeus Olympios is 0/2 at Group 1 level himself and has a question mark hanging over him in this company now.

The one in-the-groove horse coming into this on the back of a Group 1 win, and at this course, no less, is Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary, re-routed here from York on the back of the Bow Echo news.

A game winner of the Prix Jean Prat here last time after a dominant ride from the front on the rail, he might not have things all his own way on Sunday from stall nine with Christophe Soumillon potentially having to track across to the near side.

On top of that there looks to be more pace pressure from Sir Tommy Cen and perhaps Zeus Olympios, after his change of tactics last time, the combining factors not likely to help him see out the trip now he’s back up to a mile for the first time since he was well beaten in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

RAYIF STRIKES IN THE FRENCH 2,000 GUINEAS! | Graffard has ANOTHER star colt on his hands...

The British and Irish quartet dominate the betting, but I’m happy to take them on with home hope RAYIF for the all-conquering Francis-Henri Graffard stable.

Tactically I think this could work out well for him, as he can sit just off the aforementioned front runners in a prominent position from his wide draw in 10, and we know he likes the Deauville straight track after he won at this meeting as a two-year-old.

Last time he was disappointing in the Prix Jean Prat, but it was his first run since his French Guineas victory (see video, above) following a minor injury and he got caught out by the slower tempo over seven furlongs on his return.

In that context, I didn’t think his two-and-a-quarter length fifth was too discouraging now he steps back up to a mile off what looks likely to be a stronger gallop.

He’s reportedly been in good form since then, having his first clear run in a stop-start year, and in a race his owners sponsor he could well bounce back from the Prix Jean Prat defeat, just like stablemate Samangan did in last week’s Prix Maurice de Gheest.