Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final 2026 - Runner-by-runner Guide

Picture from Monmore X feed

Ladbrokes Golden Jacket

There is £20,000 up for grabs in the final of the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket on Saturday night at Monmore. There are plenty of household names lining up over 684m for what should be an excellent contest. Prices used are from the sponsors.

1 - Mongys Wild - Mark Wallis - MWD Partnership - 4/7

Winner of this competition last year, he sported red in the final that day. He set a track record for the second consecutive week on that occasion, and although he has not been close to that level of time on winter going compared to May last year, he is still the quickest in the competition coming in.

He has crossed the line in front in five of his six starts over this 684m, the only time that he tasted defeat was on his debut at the track when beaten by Deadly Disco. Clearly the one they all have to beat as the top stayer in the country at present.

2 - Bluejig Outlaw - Maxine Locke - JR Racing Syndicate - 25/1

This will only be career start number 14 for the January 24 whelp, making him the one in the field who still has the potential to do a little better over this trip. He has improved each time a stiffer test of stamina has been put in front of him, winning two of his three starts over this track and trip.

His one defeat came in the opening round against Mongys Wild. He ran the star stayer to four lengths on that occasion, getting first run on him and keeping him honest late on. There is plenty of pace outside him so leading up Mongys Wild is going to be key to his chance. 

3 - Droopys Flare - Sean Parker - Mr S Parker & Mr J Stubbings - 11/4

Well deserving to be second favourite in this lineup. She has beaten Mongys Wild once in the four times that they have met but she has gotten the better of Vhagar in all of their four meetings. Without question, that leaves her as the main form rival to the favourite, her one decision over Mongys Wild coming in the semis of the St Leger last autumn.

Those defeats to Mongys Wild have come by half a length, three-quarters of a length and a length and a quarter, so it is not like she has been well beaten in any of them, beating the Wallis-trained runner by two and a half the one time that she did beat him. 

4 - Cartoonist - Craig Morris - Mr A Hannah & Mr A Wright - 50/1

Beaten less than two lengths in the final of the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove just before Christmas, he has made his way into another stayers final. Led for a long way in the semis of this competition before getting picked up in the closing stages by Bluejig Outlaw. 

He is going to have to smash out to win and then hope for some trouble behind and is the outsider of the field as a result, but have to give him credit for making another decider. 

5 - The Other Winx - Maxine Locke - JR Racing Syndicate - 40/1

Another who is new to staying events, she didn't make her six-bend debut until the start of January, with her first two starts coming at Romford over 575m. She has stepped up on her form since given a stiffer six bends, comfortably producing her best effort at this track in the semis.

It was Mongys Wild that she chased home on that occasion, five lengths behind the favourite. That gives her plenty of ground to make up in a week, a task that on paper at least, looks a difficult one.  

6 - Vhagar - Mark Wallis - MWD Partnership - 4/1

Her 15.43 split in the opening round is the quickest that any of the finalists have achieved through this competition. She was a little back on that in the semis when not able to get far enough clear of Droopys Flare to hold on. That bitch has been her nemesis so far in her career, yet to get the better of her as previously mentioned.

There are other quick starters inside her which is going to make this test more difficult, as she is going to need to get back to her opening round sectional to try and get around in front. Even if she manages to do that, it is probably going to require a bit of trouble behind for her to hold off the closers. 

Conclusion

This probably isn't quite as straightforward as 4/7 the favourite suggests, but Mongys Wild is clearly the one to beat on the best of his form. He doesn't have much in hand of Droopys Flare on their clashes so far but both have the beating of Vhagar unless she can absolutely smash out from six and there is a bit of trouble for the principals.

The interesting one at a price is Bluejig Outlaw. Connections have not got to the bottom of him yet in staying races and with that in mind, there should be a little bit more to come from him. He would need it if he were to win but it would not be a shock to see him fill out the frame. 

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