Tonight’s participants screened

Tartuca

With two-time winner Zio Frac and Carlo Sanna (Brigante) who won a Palio every year for the last 2 years (including for Oca on Zio Frac) they are the clear favorites. Rival Chiocciola is also participating so they will not get a free pass to victory. Will Brigante continue on the momentum of the last few years?

Chiocciola

For Giosue Carboni (Carburo) the chance of a lifetime on his own horse. Tale e Quale is the only other horse that has ever won the Palio. We have to go back to 2019 because since then it has not been given a new chance because it is too strong(?). Is the oldest horse in the lot still strong enough to seal the first victory since 1999 for Chiocciola?

Bruco

Bruco has not won since 2008. For this big contrada, an eternity ago, especially after the 3 victories in quick succession between 2003 and 2008. Jonatan Bartoletti will be riding without a rival for the first time since July 2022. His last victory dates back to 2017. It is time to show himself again. In August 2023, he came very close. He seemed to be on his way to a victory on Anda e Bola, but the horse lost a horseshoe and slipped in the last San Martino. He also came close in July 2022 after a bad start. He made an incredible comeback and came up 10 centimetres short. The horse then was Viso D’Angelo, and let that also be the horse of Bruco today…

Istrice

Istrice also won often at the beginning of this century (2000-2002-2008). Since then, it was mainly rival Lupa who piled up the victories (2x in 2016, 2018 and last year while Istrice was the favorite). Dorotea Dimmonia is a debuting horse that will be ridden by Enrico Bruschelli (Bellocchio). We have seen little of them but do not rule out that we will see them. Of course, they will turn more than one eye on the rival but they are eager to win…

Lupa

For Lupa, everything is allowed and nothing is required after the recent victories. Ares Elce is a much-discussed horse that has never really excelled on the Piazza. Is it different now? Antonio Mula gets a new chance after his debut in 2022. A golden opportunity to show himself. But…first turn one and a half eye on the rival.

Oca

Oca rides a Palio without a rival on a debuting horse Diodoro who is in the scuderia of their fantino Giovanni Atzeni (Tittia). He has some making up to do after his bad year in 2024. He knows the horse better than anyone and resolutely chose Oca. A big question mark for us but we do not rule anything out.

Selva

Selva gives new confidence to the fantino who made his debut with them last year, Andrea Sanna (Virgola). He rode a very good race on Tabacco in August and came second. With Zenis he also gets a horse with experience and a good race in 2023 under his buttocks. From what we hear, this horse is said to have improved a lot. A chance!

Valdimontone

Montone rides a race without a rival on the Piazza. Gingillo chooses to ride Comancio again with whom he rode a creditable race last year in August. Will they be the surprise of this Palio?

Drago

Drago chooses Michel Putzu as a debutant fantino. He got nicknamed Spago. We have heard a lot of good things about him in recent years and this is his chance. Diosu de Campeda is also a debutant about whom we know little, but he will probably have earned his place in the lot. They can only surprise, it seems to us.

Pantera

Arestetulesu gets another chance after 3 years of silence after the debut in 2022. Francesco Caria (Tremendo) rides his first Palio since 2019 and was not mentioned in any preview on fantini. So it is a surprise for everyone… It is the chance of his life to show himself because it could well be the last time…