Royal Ascot Tips 2026

A 25-1 shot at Royal Ascot has a stronger chance of winning than a 25-1 shot at Plumpton or Windsor on a Monday. The reason being that most 25-1 shots who run at the smaller tracks midweek are available at such lengthy odds because they have either shown little or are woefully out of form. There are plenty of 25-1 shots at the big festivals who have top-class back form and/or have the potential to win at the highest level. Take last year’s Coronation Stakes winner Cercene, who was allowed to go off at 33-1 despite finishing in the top three in their previous two races the previous month. Noble Champion was sent off at 25-1 for the Jersey Stakes off the back of a couple of poor runs. There have been plenty of other big-priced winners in recent years - who could forget Nando Parrado winning the Coventry Stakes at 150-1 at Royal Ascot in 2020 or Valiant Force winning the Norfolk Stakes at the same price in 2023. Do not be fooled into thinking big prices cannot do the business at the big festivals. They can.

The contests at Royal Ascot have always been competitive, especially the handicaps, and you can find many bookmakers offering four or more places on specific races. One of the biggest betting races at Royal Ascot is the Royal Hunt Cup, with last year’s race having attracted 30 runners. Plenty would have been on the favourite My Cloud, who came away victorious, but imagine if you had a stake on 50-1 shot Bopedro, who ran on brilliantly to finish third. If you had backed him to win only, you would not be celebrating at all - even if you had outlined him to run a big race - but there would have been some compensation had you placed an each-way bet on him. A quarter of the odds at 50-1 is 12.5-1, so a healthy profit would still have been made, which is no easy task in those fiercely competitive handicaps.

Yeats won four Ascot Gold Cups, Best Mate three Cheltenham Gold Cups and lstabraq three Champion Hurdles. Tiger Roll won two Grand Nationals. It’s clear that festival form has a habit of recurring. Stradivarius completed a hat-trick in the Gold Cup before being defeated in it twice, while Dream Of Dreams had been agonisingly denied twice in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes before making it third time lucky in 2021. Make sure you do not ignore horses who have previously been beaten at Royal Ascot either. Juan Elcano had finished only fourth in the 2020 Hampton Court Stakes but bounced back to win the Wolferton Stakes in 2021. Track form is also key. Coltrane won the 2022 Ascot Stakes and was victorious in the Sagaro Stakes in both 2023 and 2024. Those are just a few examples and course form, particularly at the royal meeting, often proves vital.

So much value and so many options. It is ludicrous elsewhere but having two bets in the one race is not a bad idea at big festivals such as Cheltenham and Royal Ascot. Indeed, it makes perfect sense. With so many places on offer with firms in the big handicaps at the big festivals, having two bets each-way is actually a shrewd move. If firms are offering a quarter of the odds of the first five places in handicaps, two each-way bets are advised. In the 2022 Royal Hunt Cup, Legend Of Dubai was sent off the 7-2 favourite in a race featuring 29 runners. Several firms were offering five places each-way and you would have covered your stake had you backed the fancied Astro King, or outsiders Sinjaari, Tempus and Intelligent. That’s without mentioning if you picked the 13-2 winner Dark Shift.

Horses often begin their racing careers as a two-year-old, so when it comes to Royal Ascot many lack experience. With little form to decipher, punters must look for other angles and breeding can often give an indication of the up-and-coming horse, at least on paper. As a rudimentary rule of thumb, a stallion's progeny (sons and daughters) will tend to follow in the mould of their sire. Sprinters tend to sire horses whose main attribute is speed, stayers tend to produce horses whose forte is stamina, while milers usually fall somewhere in between.

Charlie Appleby has had just one winner from 36 runners at Royal Ascot in the last three years but he holds a very strong hand in the 2026 opener, with Notable Speech and Opera Ballo heading this field on ratings. Those two big guns command major respect but another chance is given to ZEUS OLYMPIOS, who looked so promising last term and whose two efforts this season suggest it's well worth keeping the faith in him. The selection stepped up on his reappearance effort when running creditably in the Lockinge in his first Group 1 attempt and may be on his way to resuming the great progress he showed in 2025. More Thunder (second choice) has very solid claims and is unexposed over 1m, while last year's winner and course specialist Docklands is also firmly in the mix.

Aidan O'Brien bids for a twelfth Coventry Stakes and holds a strong hand with a pair of promising sons of No Nay Never. Confucius, the choice of Ryan Moore, clocked a fast time when winning at Naas and commands major respect, but as things stand GREAT BARRIER REEF is the pick on form and he may represent a bit of value. British-trained hopefuls include the unbeaten Cut A Dash, Siouxperb, Royal Heritage and Ruler's Pride, the last two running for the formidable Wathnan operation. Twice-raced Mrair is a little down the pecking order on ratings but has stacks of potential and could go well at a price under Oisin Murphy.

It would be just great to see the 2024 winner Asfoora do herself justice once more and the hope is that the return of blinkers, which were a help last year, will see her put this year's efforts behind her. However, this looks a stronger version than that in 2024, and also than last year's when American Affair won from Frost At Dawn, and OVERPASS is taken to carry on the proud tradition of Australian sprinters at the Royal meeting. This stiff 5f shouldn't be a problem, and he may in fact relish it, having run so well for a long way in the world's most valuable turf race, the Everest, last October. Rayevka still has some hidden firepower to reveal over 5f and she can be the main danger ahead of Mission Central who has impressed in Listed races this year. Night Raider showed he can hoard his abundant speed when coming from off the pace to win at Haydock but this more demanding track will ask a different question. Rumstar was close behind him at Newmarket in the spring and is also worth a look, while Frost At Dawn also has a good run in her among those at big prices.

Being one of the best 2,000 Guineas winners this century and still improving, the unbeaten BOW ECHO should plausibly have the class to overcome a possible steady gallop, especially as his bright young rider Billy Loughnane will be wise to such tactical considerations. A different day, different track, different race-shape and solid record of steady progress combine to give Gstaad (second choice) a conceivable fighting chance in his rematch with the selection, although whether he can reverse the placings is another matter. Puerto Rico should go well from the front but making all seems unlikely unless some of today's rivals underperform. Talk Of New York is far from certain to get the strong pace that suited him so well in the Heron Stakes but he's otherwise a very promising colt.

The headline horse, as he was last year, is REACHING HIGH who is trained by Willie Mullins for the King and Queen and has not raced since the debacle 12 months ago when traffic problems in a steadily run race denied him any proper shot at landing the royal gamble. Trouble in running is part and parcel of this race but, off the same mark, it would be no surprise were Reaching High to put the record straight with a win, albeit at a likely short price and after the year off. In total, 13 of this year's runners represent Irish stables. Joseph O'Brien has seven of them, coming at it from all sorts of promising angles and possibly headed by the impressive 2025 Irish Cesarewitch winner Puturhandstogether. Also of major interest, however, are Tony Martin's Westminster Moon and, for last year's winning trainer, Henry de Bromhead's Tim Toe. The latter's inexperience may outweigh his clear promise in calculations, so Westminster Moon, a class act in 2024 and resurgent last month, may prove the best alternative to the favourite.

A host with chances in a typically wide-open renewal. Last year's winner HAATEM has presumably been primed for this again and he's preferred to Arabian Light (second choice) and Wimbledon Hawkeye, who ran encouraging trials in the Brigadier Gerard. This is a slightly belated reappearance for Nahraan, and firmish ground would be something new to him, but the only horses to have beaten him are Japanese star Croix Du Nord and Arc hero Daryz. French raider Map Of Stars would be a threat to all if first-time cheekpieces spark a return to form.

Ante-post punters have been all over Valiancy, the chosen one for James Doyle from three entries for owners Wathnan Racing, and he could easily be the best handicapped of these. However, there's no shortage of alternatives and AERONAUTIC might be closer to the finished article now than he was when fifth in this 12 months ago, and he returns a fresh horse having been rested since contesting a Group race at Meydan in February. Gamrai could find the improvement that he'll need, though Daiquiri Bay was so strong late on when beating him fair and square at Newmarket that this return to 1m6f should benefit Alan King's gelding enormously.

Being drawn middle to high has provided a significant edge in the last decade, with only one winner exiting a single-figure stall. This smacks of a strong renewal when several sets of connections have made bullish predictions, including the US contingent represented by Ruiva, Shining Moment, More Champagne and CELTIC DISPUTE, all of whom have chances. The selection, a big filly with scope and whose sire Leinster was a high-class sprinter who excelled on good and quicker ground, impressed at Gulfstream in the Royal Palm Stakes, which the stable's Lennilu won en route to finishing third in this last year. Aidan O'Brien finally won a Queen Mary 12 months ago and his Victorious has to be feared when debut winners from this yard typically progress to high honours, and she's already won a Group race, while Wild Blossom, Alta Regina and Senorita Bonita are once-raced winners who fall into the "could be anything" category. At greater odds, Kentucky Rain might be a dark one.

Galiyan finished his 1m4f maiden at Chester with tremendous relish but LIMESTONE accomplished significantly more when he too proved much the strongest in the closing stages on his latest start, in a 1m5f Listed race at Navan. Joseph O'Brien's contender keeps finding more for pressure and makes plenty of appeal in this bid to complete a four-timer. While leaving a less striking impression, Asakir was beaten only just over a length in that Navan race and has headgear enlisted today, so he is considered seriously. Mr Colonel, however, brings major each-way interest and might just emerge as the chief danger following his third in the Chester Vase. While Aidan O'Brien's stable has surely fielded much more striking candidates in the past, Port Of Spain is nevertheless their selected runner from plenty of options.

The Goodwood race that saw Blue Bolt, Kon Tiki and Shes Perfect fill the first three placings last month looks sure to have a bearing on events, with all three holding solid claims, while Group 1 winner Friendly Soul (second choice) is likely to prove a formidable opponent too. However, this can go to French-trained GODSPEED, a Group 2 winner whose April reappearance signalled that she's set to kick on again this year. Paddy Twomey's Catalina Delcarpio also commands plenty of respect, while a big run should not be ruled out from her fellow Irish raider Snellen, who teams up with last year's Queen Anne-winning rider Mark Zahra.

A thrilling clash between DARYZ and Ombudsman, with the French challenger taken to come out on top. The 4yo is the younger of the pair and, following his Arc win last October, he has confirmed his superstar status with impressive wins in two further Group 1s at Longchamp this season. Connections' Calandagan beat Ombudsman to win the Champion Stakes over C&D last October and Daryz can do likewise. Ombudsman should prove a very tough opponent, however, in a race that promises to be a gripping spectacle. Arc runner-up Minnie Hauk was disappointing in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh but could be involved if leaving that run behind, while Almaqam showed improved form to win that Group 1 contest by 2l and is not ruled out.

Returned to Royal Ascot and back in the big-field handicap scenario that may well be optimal, LA BOTTE (nap) is taken to gain compensation for being unlucky in last year's Britannia. Today looks the time to catch the selection, with circumstances in his favour and a resumption of progress conceivable. Jagged Edge, an Irish raider who looks the type to improve further, is second pick ahead of Linwood and Archivist, two other runners who bring good 1m stats. Indalo has strong credentials, as the early betting reflects, while Scoville is interesting assuming the wind surgery works a treat. It's difficult to be conclusive as regards the draw, with results changeable on the straight course here.

The C&D fillies' handicap on last month's Victoria Cup card looks a key piece of form. Radiant Beauty and Song N Dance were first and second and are likely to go well again, but it was the performance of ALOBAYYAH which really caught the eye. On just the fourth start of her career, she stormed home from the rear for a closing third while the aforementioned first two filled those positions throughout. That effort suggests this Ghaiyyath filly is on a good mark and her lightly raced profile suggests there should be even more to come from her. Last year's Sandringham fourth Oolong Poobong made an encouraging return from just under a year off when fifth at Thirsk last month and is second choice. Cheshire Dancer, who boasts a good Ascot record, and Perfect Part are two who could go well at likely bigger odds.

A new-look Windsor Castle Stakes with an additional furlong to negotiate and sire restrictions in place. While it has attracted a different type of horse as a consequence, it is no less competitive for it. Sale Shark created a big impression when winning at Hamilton and looks best of the home-trained contingent, while Alfred Wallace is another lively one, but this prize could be heading across the Irish Sea. Controlla sets a clear standard having run so well in a Group 3 on her debut but there are opponents who have also achieved a good standard while perhaps bringing the potential for greater improvement. Sergei Diaghilev falls into that category and he can feature prominently, while Celeron also looked the part when winning at the Curragh two weeks ago. Flying home for second in that race was ONE NUMBER, who was easy to back and palpably green before the penny finally dropped. With that run behind him, and faced with forecast faster ground, he could take a significant step forward.

Seven of the last eight winners of this to have run before came into the race unbeaten, with six of those having won their only previous start. Curragh maiden winner Aix La Chapelle fits into that category and will be a major player in his bid to provide Aidan O'Brien with his eighth winner in the race, albeit with fellow Irish challenger Nola Soul having achieved just as much when making a successful debut at Leopardstown. Both are respected, while Newbury winner Aperoll is clearly highly regarded and makes the shortlist alongside impressive Musselburgh winner Time For The Moon. Joseph O'Brien's newcomer On Just Terms should be closely monitored in the market, but the vote goes to REVELS whose impressive Redcar debut success has since been handsomely franked by the reopposing Sword Salute. The stable took this with Holloway Boy in 2022.

Arc Ole Ole needs plenty of respect in his bid to complete a four-timer, despite the 10lb higher mark, and this race has been won from very high draws in the last three renewals. Tierra Del Toro and Into The Light also make appeal with the promise shown last time out in British 1m2f handicaps. Joseph O'Brien may hold the key this time, though, with his batch of unexposed handicap newcomers, of whom the pick may be ENCELADUS ahead of Cannes. They top the list, with slight preference for Enceladus who may well be the one open to the most improvement.

Musidora winner LEGACY LINK was a fine second in the Oaks 13 days ago and will be tough to beat provided today's outing does not come too soon after that hard race at Epsom. Gilded Prize was disappointing when losing her unbeaten record at Longchamp last month, but she looked an exciting prospect previously and this French raider is feared most. Earth Shot went very close in a Listed race at Goodwood last time and is open to further improvement, and she is next on the list ahead of Leopardstown maiden winner Johanna Walsh, who represents Oaks-winning combination Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.

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.

A typical Britannia conundrum that's full of horses who have yet to reveal their true ability to the handicapper and there will be Group horses lurking. WECHAAD dipped his toe in those waters last season (on unsuitably soft ground) and there was heaps to like about his reappearance at Goodwood, where he was soon on the back foot from his wide draw yet finished his race out strongly. That was after seven months off and he's crying out for this longer distance. That Goodwood handicap could be key as Pathein, who was entered in this week's Group 1 St James's Palace, finished third despite a messy run through, while Richie's Rocket's effort further back can also be upgraded. As always, the eyes are drawn to many contenders and, from the rescheduled Silver Bowl that looks strong form, the third Crest Of Fire (second choice) is interesting as that race didn't go at all to plan. Organise, We're Goosers and Moonfall are understandably towards the peak of the betting.

Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last eight runnings and Ryan Moore's mount Endorsement holds leading form claims following his dominant Listed win at Leopardstown a fortnight ago. However, this could go to the unexposed MOUNTAIN CAT who showed serious promise last month when winning his first two starts and looks to have a very bright future. Endorsement is second choice ahead of Generic, whose inexperience was still evident when 7l runner-up to Constitution River in the Dee Stakes at Chester.

High draws have generally held sway in this race since its reintroduction to this meeting six years ago but outright conclusiveness is tempered by the tendency of changeable results across all contests on the straight course here. Those complications aside, the suggestion is RIVER KING who looks interesting dropped back further in distance and may have plenty of further improvement in him. Arctic Dawn, another runner who scored in great style last time and plausibly hasn't reached his ceiling yet, is second pick ahead of Cosi Bello who should continue to do well. Royal Velvet, who brings excellent stats, is fourth choice.