The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group 1 contest run over 2m4f. It takes place at 16:20 on Thursday 18th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2026. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

Predict the Winner

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

4⁽⁵⁾

66-841

Dubai Future

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

9-4

113

119

6⁽²⁾

51111-

Trawlerman

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-4

121

133

1⁽¹⁾

23-132

Al Nayyir

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

9-4

113

123

2⁽⁸⁾

174-63

Al Riffa

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-4

120

131

5⁽⁹⁾

212-12

Sweet William

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-4

117

130

11⁽⁷⁾

211-32

Miss Alpilles

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

9-1

100

116

3⁽¹¹⁾

17-221

Caballo De Mar

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

9-4

115

128

10⁽³⁾

111-11

Scandinavia

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

117

129

8⁽⁶⁾

160-46

Furthur

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

9-3

109

124

7⁽⁴⁾

125-51

Carmers

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

9-3

112

125

9⁽¹⁰⁾

2342-1

Rahiebb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

9-3

116

128

RACING POST TIP

Caballo De Mar

The participation of last year's runaway winner Trawlerman was seemingly in doubt until very recently, so whether he returns in the same form is less assured. That has left Scandinavia as the short-priced favourite, representing another team which knows all about Gold Cup success, and his 2m Goodwood Cup win last summer augurs well for this extreme trip. Rahiebb has not raced beyond 14.5f, leaving him with more to prove, but he made up plenty of ground to run Scandinavia to a neck in the St Leger and should therefore have a big shout if he does stay this distance. Sweet William has twice taken minor Gold Cup honours but the new candidates may well prove more potent and this test could prove a particularly good fit for CABALLO DE MAR. A relentless improver for most of last season, he's twice proved himself on good to firm ground at Ascot and won two Group 1 races in France, while giving the impression that a stronger pace at this sort of trip can suit him well. He should be in very serious contention and gets the vote ahead of Scandinavia.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

No offers to show

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	Trawlerman [2]	7	9-4	85/40F	John & Thady Gosden	William Buick
2024	Kyprios [8]	6	9-4	11/10F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2023	Courage Mon Ami [9]	4	9-3	15/2	John & Thady Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2022	Kyprios [5]	5	9-1	13/8	Aidan O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2021	Subjectivist [4]	4	9-1	13/2	Mark Johnston	Joe Fanning
2020	Stradivarius [2]	6	9-2	4/5F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Stradivarius [2]	5	9-2	EvensF	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2018	Stradivarius [6]	4	9-1	7/4J	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2017	Big Orange [7]	6	9-2	5/1	Michael Bell	James Doyle
2016	Order Of St George [10]	4	9-0	10/11F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore

Key race stats 2026

Key trends

Sire stamina index in excess of 9.5f, 10/10
Won within last two starts, 9/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 127, 8/10
Group-race winner, 9/10 (six had won a Group 1)
Won over at least 2m, 7/10

Other factors

Six winners were competing in the race for the first time

Winners of the Sagaro Stakes finished 273224625 – the last to succeed was Estimate in 2013.

Six favourites have won in the last decade (including one joint-favourite)

What happened in the Ascot Gold Cup last year?

Godolphin’s Trawlerman turned the Gold Cup into a procession with an impressive seven-length triumph. Ridden by William Buick and trained by John and Thady Gosden, Trawlerman dominated the race from the front and never looked in danger. He went clear approaching the final furlong and confirmed his superiority in the staying division. Illinois, his main market rival, finished second.

Ascot Gold Cup

16:15 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2026

What happened in the Ascot Gold Cup last year?

All Races