Race Day Buzz: The Coral Glorious Stakes Takes Centre Stage

Saturday, 1 August 2026. The sun is beating down on Folkestone, the ground is riding Good to Firm, and the Coral Glorious Stakes is shaping up to be an absolute cracker. This £110,000 Group 3 contest over 1m 3f 218y is one of the highlights of the summer flat season — a race that attracts genuine quality, tests stamina, and rarely fails to deliver drama right down to the wire.

Eight runners have been declared for the 14:25, and what a field it is. We've got a nine-year-old veteran who still refuses to be written off, a lightly-raced filly with serious upside, and the highest-rated horse in the race looking to stamp his authority on proceedings. Buckle up — this one has spectacle written all over it.

Check out the full Folkestone racecard for all the day's action.

Contender Profiles: Who's Got What It Takes?

Ghostwriter (Draw 4) — The One To Beat

Let's start at the top. Ghostwriter heads the ratings on 115 and arrives here under David Egan for the in-form Kevin Philippart de Foy yard. The five-year-old colt has been a model of consistency this season, and trainer Philippart de Foy has been masterful at placing him to maximum effect. Good to Firm ground is no issue — this horse travels powerfully on a fast surface — and the stiff, undulating nature of the Folkestone track should suit his relentless galloping style down to the ground. Draw 4 is perfectly workable. He's the clear market leader and the one every other jockey in this field will have nightmares about.

Al Aasy (Draw 8) — The Veteran With A Point To Prove

Nine years old and still competing at the top level. You have to take your hat off to Al Aasy. William Haggas has kept this gelding in remarkable shape, and the course and distance form flags are impossible to ignore — he's won here before and he's won over this trip before. Tom Marquand takes the ride from stall 8, which is the widest draw in the field. On a track like Folkestone that could mean covering extra ground around the bend, but Marquand is smart enough to compensate. Rated 114, Al Aasy is just one pound off the top-rated Ghostwriter. Don't write off the old boy — he's done this before and he absolutely loves this track.

In My Teens (Draw 5) — The Filly Flying Under The Radar

Here's where it gets interesting. In My Teens, trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by the brilliant Oisin Murphy, carries the 3lb mares' allowance down to 9-0 and arrives on a rating of 111. She's wearing a hood today, which suggests connections want her focused and settled in what could be a strongly-run race. Cromwell doesn't send horses across the water without serious intent, and Murphy doesn't pick up rides like this without doing his homework. The distance looks ideal, the ground should suit, and at what could be a generous price, she represents serious each-way value.

Opportunity (Draw 1) — Haggas Double Bid

William Haggas saddles a second runner in Opportunity, a four-year-old gelding with a distance winner flag to his name. James Doyle takes the ride from the inside stall — draw 1 is a real asset on this track, allowing Doyle to slot in against the rail and conserve energy. Rated 110, Opportunity is younger and potentially less exposed than some of his rivals. Haggas running two horses here tells you everything about his confidence in both — and Opportunity, at four, may well be improving still.

King's Gambit (Draw 3) — The Veteran Tactician

Jamie Spencer on King's Gambit is a combination that demands respect. Spencer is one of the most tactically astute jockeys in the weighing room — he'll have a plan, and he'll execute it. The five-year-old gelding, trained by Harry Charlton, is rated 109 and draws stall 3, giving Jamie Spencer options to either press forward or sit handy. On Good to Firm ground over this distance, King's Gambit has the profile to run a big race at a price.

Enfjaar (Draw 2) — Hood On, Danger Alert

Enfjaar is one to keep on your radar. Roger Varian's six-year-old is wearing a hood today and Ray Dawson takes the ride from stall 2. Rated 108, he's not the highest-rated in the field, but Varian horses have a habit of arriving at these big summer meetings primed and ready. The hood suggests there's been work done at home to sharpen his focus, and low draws at Folkestone are no bad thing.

Going & Draw: The Conditions Verdict

Good to Firm 32 — this is quick ground, and it will sort out the field. Horses that want cut in the ground need not apply. The premium here is on clean-moving, athletic types who can travel fluently at pace without burning out early.

The draw on this flat, right-handed track with a sweeping bend favours low-to-middle stalls over this distance. Draws 1 through 5 are the sweet spot — Opportunity (1), Enfjaar (2), King's Gambit (3), Ghostwriter (4) and In My Teens (5) all benefit. Al Aasy from stall 8 faces the most work, though Marquand's experience should mitigate that. Midak in stall 7 also has questions to answer from a wide berth.

Value Picks & Dangers

  • Best Bet: Ghostwriter — top-rated, in-form, ideal conditions, perfect draw.
  • Each-Way Value: In My Teens — mares' allowance, shrewd connections, Murphy in the saddle.
  • Dark Horse: Opportunity — unexposed four-year-old, low draw, Haggas in form.
  • Danger: Al Aasy — course and distance form is a massive tick, even at nine.

Our Selection: Ghostwriter To Deliver

When the dust settles and the field crosses the line at Folkestone, we expect Ghostwriter to be out in front. He is the classiest horse in this race, he's drawn perfectly, the ground is in his favour, and David Egan is riding with supreme confidence this season. Kevin Philippart de Foy has him spot on — this is a horse peaking at exactly the right moment.

For each-way punters, In My Teens is the play. Murphy never wastes a journey, the weight allowance is a genuine advantage, and she could easily run into a place — or more — at a tempting price. Keep an eye on the markets as they open on Saturday morning.

Whatever happens, the Coral Glorious Stakes at Folkestone promises to be a proper summer showpiece. Don't miss it.

Who is the favourite for the Coral Glorious Stakes 2026?

Ghostwriter is expected to be the market favourite for the 2026 Coral Glorious Stakes. The five-year-old colt trained by Kevin Philippart de Foy heads the field on a rating of 115 — the highest in the race — and arrives in excellent form with conditions very much in his favour. David Egan rides from stall 4.

What is the prize money for the Coral Glorious Stakes at Folkestone?

The 2026 Coral Glorious Stakes carries a total prize fund of £110,000, making it one of the most valuable Group 3 contests on the summer flat calendar. It is a Class 1 race open to horses aged four and above, run over 1m 3f 218y at Folkestone on Saturday, 1 August 2026.

Is the draw important in the Coral Glorious Stakes at Folkestone?

Yes — the draw does play a role at Folkestone over this distance on Good to Firm ground. Low-to-middle stalls (1–5) are generally considered advantageous, allowing horses to find a good position on the rail through the sweeping bend. Stalls 7 and 8 face a slightly tougher task, though experienced jockeys like Tom Marquand on Al Aasy know how to manage a wide draw at this track.