Speed will come to the fore in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes (1000m) at Newmarket on Saturday, with Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar attempting to become the third horse in history to win the race twice.

Successful in the race twelve months ago on seasonal reappearance, the now six-year-old gelding will be attempting to replicate a similar performance which led to the defeat of consistent Group-placed sprinter She’s Quality by one-and-a-quarter lengths. He arrives at the contest in mixed form, having not secured a win since the Group 3 Coral Charge (1000m) at Sandown in July.

Rumstar is likely to face stiff opposition from Australian sprinting star Asfoora, who secured two Group 1 victories in 2025 – the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1000m) and the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye (1000m). She undertook a racecourse gallop at Newmarket on 23 April under regular jockey Oisin Murphy and is expected to use the race as a preparation for Royal Ascot.

Godolphin’s Beckford’s Folly will be aiming to bounce and recapture the form of his juvenile Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes victory (1000m) over course and distance. He broke the two-year-old record over 1000m on that occasion but was disappointing over 1200m in the Abernant Stakes (1200m).

“This horse has been a challenge,” said Appleby. “He is still a challenge but a lot more amenable now. I think coming to Newmarket helps him as well because it is up the road and we can control everything.”

The Palace House Stakes tends to be won by an older horse (three-year-olds 1/10 in last decade) and both JM Jungle and Quinault will be looking to replicate the exploits of fellow six-year-old Khaadem, successful in 2022.

John and Sean Quinn’s seasoned handicapper JM Jungle made the big step into Stakes company in 2025, winning the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes (1000m) at Goodwood whilst Quinault took the Group 3 Criterion Stakes (1400m) at York and placed over shorter in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

Photo: Focus On Racing