The Stage is Set at Newbury
Saturday, 1 August 2026. The sun is beating down on the Berkshire turf, the champagne is cold, and Newbury is buzzing with the kind of electric anticipation that only a summer Listed race can generate. At 13:33, nine of the most exciting fillies and mares in training will stride into the stalls for the British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes — a prestigious Class 1 contest over a mile and four furlongs worth a cool £70,000 to the winner.
This is a race that has long served as a key midsummer target for the best middle-distance fillies in training. It sits beautifully in the calendar — past the early-season scramble, but well ahead of the autumn Classics trials — making it a genuine test of form and a statement of intent for connections with bigger targets in mind. With Good to Firm ground expected and nine quality runners declared, the Newbury racecard for August 1 looks absolutely mouthwatering.
The Contenders: Who's Got What It Takes?
Francophone (5yo Mare, Charlie Johnston, Rating: 102)
Francophone heads the market on ratings and arrives with the most compelling course credentials in the field. A course winner at Newbury, she knows every blade of this Berkshire grass, and Charlie Johnston's five-year-old mare has been campaigned with real purpose this season. Rated 102, she's the highest-rated runner in the field and carries 9-9 with authority. Pierre-Louis Jamin takes the ride from stall seven — a workable draw on this track — and the Frenchman's stylish, patient approach suits a mare who likes to be produced late. She's the one to beat, and she knows it.
Romantic Symphony (3yo Filly, Charlie Appleby, Rating: 98)
Don't let the 3yo weight allowance fool you — Romantic Symphony is a serious player. Drawn in stall one, Billy Loughnane's mount gets to bowl along on the inside rail, and with course form already on her CV, Charlie Appleby's filly arrives with momentum and class. Rated 98, she's giving away experience to most of her rivals but compensates with an 8-13 weight and the kind of Godolphin polish that wins big races. If the pace is strong and she gets a lovely lead into the straight, she could be devastating. She's our each-way shout and very possibly the banker of the card.
Miss Justice (5yo Mare, Brian Meehan, Rating: 101)
Miss Justice is a fascinating runner. Rated 101 and a proven distance winner at a mile and four furlongs, she ticks the key boxes on paper. Brian Meehan's mare heads to post wearing a hood and tongue tie — headgear that suggests connections are working hard to unlock her best. Joe Leavy gets the leg up from stall four, a lovely central draw. The distance form is the key selling point here, and if the headgear does its job and she travels sweetly, she's absolutely capable of going close at a potentially generous price.
Revoir (4yo Filly, Ralph Beckett, Rating: 101)
Ralph Beckett saddles two runners in this race, and Revoir is the senior partner. Rated 101, wearing a visor from stall six, she's a filly with plenty of ability who has perhaps been slightly frustrating to follow. The visor could be the key — Beckett rarely reaches for headgear without good reason, and if it sharpens her focus on this Good to Firm surface, she becomes a live contender. Rhys Clutterbuck takes the ride, and the young jockey will be hungry to make his mark in a race of this profile. Watch her closely in the market.
Orionis (4yo Filly, William Haggas, Rating: 96)
Orionis is the William Haggas wildcard, and that alone demands respect. A distance winner, she's proven she can see out the mile and four furlongs, and Haggas rarely pitches a filly into Listed company without believing she belongs. Cieren Fallon takes the ride from the widest draw — stall nine — which isn't ideal on a track that can favour those who get across early, but Fallon is an intelligent jockey who won't panic. Rated 96, she's a few pounds off the top, but on the right day, this filly could spring a surprise.
Ryka (4yo Filly, David O'Meara, Rating: 97)
Ryka rounds out our main contenders. A course winner at Newbury, David O'Meara's filly knows the track and draws stall two — ideal for getting a prominent pitch early. Clifford Lee rides, and the combination has been in decent form. Rated 97, she's competitive in this company, and her course form gives her an edge over several rivals. She may not be the headline act, but she's the type who can creep into contention and steal a place.
Going and Draw: The Conditions Could Be Decisive
Good to Firm ground at Newbury in August is about as good as it gets for a race like this. The Berkshire track's wide, galloping nature rewards genuine middle-distance horses with a proper stride, and the fast surface will ensure a true test of stamina and class. There'll be no hiding behind slow fractions here — whoever wins will earn it.
On the draw, the inside berths carry a slight advantage over a mile and four furlongs at Newbury, particularly when the ground is quick and horses are keen to get across to the rail early. Romantic Symphony in stall one and Ryka in stall two are both well placed. Orionis in stall nine will need to work a little harder to find her position, though it's far from a death draw at this distance.
Value Picks and Dangers
The danger list is headed by Gone By (Ralph Beckett's second string, stall five), who arrives as a distance winner and could be significantly better than her rating of 93 suggests if Beckett has her primed for this. At what could be a big price, she's worth a small each-way interest.
Orchard Keeper (Roger Varian, Jack Mitchell) is another course winner and a crafty operator at this level. She's rated 93 but Varian's horses often arrive at their peak for summer targets, and Mitchell is a jockey in the form of his life. Don't dismiss her.
- Best Bet: Francophone — course form, top rating, top jockey
- Each-Way: Romantic Symphony — course winner, weight advantage, Appleby polish
- Longshot: Gone By — Beckett's dark horse, distance form, big price potential
Our Verdict: Francophone to Reign Supreme
This is a cracking renewal of the Chalice Stakes, and picking a winner isn't straightforward — but the evidence points firmly in one direction. Francophone is our selection. She's the highest-rated runner in the field, she's already shown she loves this track, and Pierre-Louis Jamin is in the form of his career. Good to Firm ground suits her profile, and Charlie Johnston will have her cherry-ripe for a race that looks tailor-made for her.
Romantic Symphony is the most exciting alternative — young, progressive, and drawn to perfection — and if Francophone has an off day, Appleby's filly could steal the show. But on balance, experience, class, and course knowledge edge it. Back Francophone to lift the Chalice Stakes and give Johnston another big-race winner to celebrate.
Don't miss a moment of the action — check out the full Newbury racecard for August 1 and plan your day at the races.
Who is the favourite for the British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes 2026?
Francophone is expected to head the market as the top-rated runner in the field at 102. The five-year-old mare trained by Charlie Johnston is a proven course winner at Newbury and arrives in the care of in-form jockey Pierre-Louis Jamin. She represents the strongest combination of form, class, and course knowledge in the race.
What is the going for the Chalice Stakes at Newbury on 1 August 2026?
The going is forecast as Good to Firm at Newbury for the Chalice Stakes on Saturday, 1 August 2026. This is a fast, fair surface that will suit genuine middle-distance fillies with a proper stride. It should ensure a true gallop and a race won on merit, with no benefit for those who prefer cut in the ground.
Is the Chalice Stakes at Newbury a good race for 3-year-olds?
Absolutely — the Chalice Stakes is open to horses aged three and above, and three-year-old fillies receive a weight allowance of 10lb compared to older mares, which can make them very competitive. In this year's renewal, Romantic Symphony (Charlie Appleby) and Gone By (Ralph Beckett) are the most interesting three-year-old contenders, with Romantic Symphony in particular looking a serious player on her course form and progressive profile.
