The Stage Is Set at Folkestone

Thursday, 30 July 2026. The sun is blazing, the ground is rattling along at Good to Firm, and Folkestone is about to host one of the most eagerly anticipated juvenile contests of the entire Flat season. The Markel Richmond Stakes — a Group 2 worth £200,000 — is the kind of race that separates the genuine stars from the nearly-men, and with ten two-year-old colts declared, this year's edition looks absolutely loaded with talent.

This is a race with real pedigree in the calendar. Richmond Stakes winners have a habit of going on to bigger and better things — think Guineas contenders, Royal Ascot headliners, the kind of horses that make trainers grin and owners reach for the champagne. At six furlongs on quick ground, it's a proper test of speed and class. The cream rises to the top here, and the cream doesn't hang around.

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

Contender Breakdown: The Ones To Watch

Adaay of Scarlett (Draw: 2, Rating: 105)

Adaay of Scarlett arrives as the highest-rated runner in the field at 105, and that number tells you everything you need to know about where Hugo Palmer's colt sits in the pecking order. Oisin Murphy takes the ride — a combination that should have every rival looking over their shoulder. Murphy is ice-cool in the big moments, and from stall two he'll be able to slot in beautifully without burning petrol early. This colt has the rating, the jockey, and the trainer to deliver. He's the one they all have to beat.

Cut A Dash (Draw: 8, Rating: 103)

Richard Hannon knows how to place a juvenile, and Cut A Dash — rated 103 — is clearly held in high regard. Sean Levey partners him from stall eight, which on quicker ground at Folkestone isn't the worst draw in the world, particularly over six furlongs where the high draws can get a clean run on the outside. Hannon's runners at this level tend to be fit, forward, and ready to fire. Don't let the wide draw put you off — Levey is more than capable of making it work.

Night In Vegas (Draw: 3, Rating: 102)

Here's your each-way angle. Night In Vegas — trained by Eve Johnson Houghton — comes in as both a course winner and a distance winner. That dual course-and-distance form is gold dust in a race like this. Charles Bishop takes the ride from stall three, which is a lovely pitch, and the horse clearly loves everything about Folkestone. On Good to Firm ground, over six furlongs, at a track he's already conquered? This colt is absolutely in the mix.

Flann Sunna (Draw: 10, Rating: 99)

Flann Sunna is the Simon and Ed Crisford runner, and William Buick — one of the most technically gifted riders in the weighing room — takes the saddle from the widest draw of all, stall ten. That's not ideal on paper, but Buick has won from worse. The colt is a proven six-furlong performer and the Crisford yard is in fine form. Don't write him off because of the draw — Buick will find a way.

Hickory Lad (Draw: 9, Rating: 100)

Phillip Makin sends up Hickory Lad, rated 100 and a confirmed distance winner. Sam James rides from stall nine — again, high up in the gate — but this colt has shown he can travel and quicken over the trip. Makin's northern raiders have a habit of arriving underestimated and leaving with the spoils. At a big price, Hickory Lad could be the shock of the afternoon.

Man's Best Friend (Draw: 4, Rating: Unrated)

And then there's the wildcard. Man's Best Friend carries no official rating — but he carries the colours of Aidan O'Brien and the saddle of Ryan Moore. That combination alone is enough to send a shiver down the spine of every rival trainer in the paddock. O'Brien doesn't send horses to Folkestone for a day out. Moore doesn't take rides on no-hopers. From stall four, this unrated colt could be anything — and that's precisely what makes him dangerous.

Going and Draw: Reading the Conditions

The ground is riding Good to Firm, Good in places — a surface that rewards horses with a clean, fluent action and a bit of pace. Slow, grinding types need not apply. Over six furlongs at Folkestone, the draw tends to be relatively fair, though low-to-middle draws have a marginal edge, particularly when the pace is honest and the field fans out naturally.

Stalls two and three — home to Adaay of Scarlett and Night In Vegas respectively — look like the prime real estate today. Stalls nine and ten for Hickory Lad and Flann Sunna are less ideal, but with experienced jockeys aboard, it's far from a death sentence. The key is getting cover early and not getting shuffled back in a ten-runner field that's going to travel fast from the gates.

Value Picks and Potential Dangers

  • Night In Vegas — Course and distance form is a massive flag. If the market underestimates him, he's your each-way play.
  • Man's Best Friend — Moore and O'Brien. Unrated but potentially exceptional. Treat with serious respect.
  • Hickory Lad — Northern raider, proven at the trip, could drift in the market and run a massive race.
  • Flann Sunna — Wide draw is the only concern. Buick will minimise the damage.

Our Selection: Adaay of Scarlett

When all the dust settles and you strip everything back to basics, Adaay of Scarlett is the one. A rating of 105 in a juvenile Group 2 is exceptional — this colt is head and shoulders above most of these on official figures. Hugo Palmer has him primed, Oisin Murphy is in the form of his life, and stall two gives him the perfect launchpad.

The concern — if there is one — is Man's Best Friend lurking in the shadows. But until O'Brien's colt proves himself at this level, the figures point firmly in one direction. Adaay of Scarlett to win, with Night In Vegas as the each-way alternative for those who want a bigger price.

This is what summer racing is all about — brilliant young horses, top-class jockeys, and a Group 2 that could shape the entire juvenile division. Don't miss a second of it.

Who is the favourite for the Markel Richmond Stakes 2026?

Adaay of Scarlett is expected to head the market as the highest-rated runner in the field at 105. Trained by Hugo Palmer and ridden by Oisin Murphy from a favourable draw in stall two, he ticks every box for favouritism in this Group 2 contest.

Which runners have course and distance form at Folkestone over 6f?

Night In Vegas is the standout here, carrying both course winner and distance winner form flags into this race. That proven record at Folkestone over six furlongs on similar ground makes Eve Johnson Houghton's colt a genuine each-way contender at a likely attractive price.

Is the draw important in the Markel Richmond Stakes at Folkestone?

Over six furlongs at Folkestone on Good to Firm ground, low-to-middle draws carry a slight advantage as horses can slot into a good position without burning early energy. Stalls two and three look ideal today, while the high draws — particularly nine and ten — aren't disastrous but do require their jockeys to work a little harder to find a comfortable position in the early stages.