www.thepalio.eu - dal Belgio con amore
Tonight’s contestants examined: Nicchio, Lupa, and Aquila are the favorites.
Tonight at 7:00 PM, the Palio of August 16 17, 2026, will be run. We are pleased to provide an overview of the 10 participants. Nicchio is the contrada to beat at the start. Lupa and Aquila follow closely behind. It is once again a Palio with many favorites, but also potential surprises. There are 3 possibilities on a cappotto (2 wins in the same year). One Contrada-based (Aquila), one Jockey-based (Tittia) and one Horse-based (Diodoro). We go through the 10 participants:
Selva
Selva has drawn an experienced horse in Canarinu. This time they are entrusting it to Sebastiano Murtas (Grandine). After his unremarkable race in July, expectations in Selva are certainly higher.
Chiocciola
Jonatan Bartoletti gets another chance after being passed over in July. Chiocciola entrusts him with Arestetulesu. That horse is also competing in his third Palio. We see a good match between jockey and horse and expect to see this combination in the race.
Oca
Oca wants to focus primarily on rival Torre with debutant Diamante Sauro. They place this task in the hands of Spago, who gets a new chance at Drago after his debut in July 2025.
Nicchio
For Nicchio, only one thing is good enough today, and that is victory. Anda e Bola won ahead of rival Valdimontone a year ago, and with Tittia, he is the teeth to beat. Tittia looks relaxed and confident. He tested the horse between the ropes and in the first 8 meters. Does he know enough?
Lupa
Lupa has struck gold with Diodoro. The horse won two of his three races run, and Dino Pes (Velutto) gets another chance to help Lupa to victory again two years later. We saw very little during the practice. Hide-and-seek?
Istrice
Istrice starts this Palio with one task: to prevent Lupa from winning. The question, however, is whether they also believe in their horse’s chances. It is the fourth time for Ares Elce at the Piazza, which shows that something is expected of the horse in Siena.
Torre
Just like in July, Donrodrigo is calm between the ropes and invariably at the first road. Furthermore, it also showed why things went wrong in July. In the fourth test, Gingillo struggled to stay on horseback in the second San Martino. We expect to see something from Torre, but will Zedde manage to control the horse?
Aquila
Aquila dreams, rightly so, of a Cappotto. Carlo Sanna has good control over the horse and starts very well. A very good tandem, therefore. If he sets off among the leaders, it will take a lot to catch him.
Onda
Viso D’Angelo is riding his tenth (!!) Palio in a row. He finished second three times and third twice. A formidable outsider, therefore. For Andrea Sanna, this is the chance to make a name for herself with a horse just below the top three.
Giraffa
Giraffa wants to ride his own race and entrusted Euskaldi to Turbine, who will ride for them just like in August last year. Elias Mannucci was passed over in July. So he will want to prove himself.
