Circus can be a Star attraction in the Plate June 23, 2026 AFTER five days of Royal Ascot last week, you might be forgiven for needing a breather from racing, but as always in this game the next big meeting is here in a flash. This Saturday we look north for Newcastle’s headline Flat meeting of the year, which features the Northumberland Plate (3.15pm). This competitive staying [...]
Back Braddock to deliver knockout blow in Irish Derby June 23, 2026 ACROSS the water, there’s Classic action as the Irish Derby (4.35pm) takes centre stage at the Curragh on Sunday. The field has narrowed to just 11 runners following the confirmation stage, but it still looks a deep renewal with several of the protagonists from the Epsom equivalent backing up. One of those is Benvenuto Cellini, [...]
Be Brave with Comanche and Sajir in QEII sprint June 19, 2026 THIS YEAR’S Royal Ascot meeting comes to a close with Saturday’s seven-race card, where the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.40pm) is the feature contest. Australia are doubly represented here with Joliestar and Overpass, the latter backing up from his valiant third in the King Charles III on Tuesday. I respect these two, [...]
Expect a Goliath performance from French raider in Hardwicke June 19, 2026 SATURDAY’s Royal Ascot card signifies the end of a brilliant five days of action, but there’s still loads of top-class action to get stuck into on the final day. The Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm) is always a competitive heat for the older middle-distance horses, and it’s no different with six Group One winners involved [...]
Time for a Berkshire Sundance in the Ascot finale June 19, 2026 ROYAL Ascot 2026 comes to a close with the longest race of the week, the Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm), run over two-miles-five-and-a-half furlongs. It goes without saying that you need a stamina laden contender to have a chance in this so it’s perhaps not surprising that this race has been dominated by jumps trainers in [...]
It’s not Insanity to fancy King horse in Duke of Edinburgh June 18, 2026 FRIDAY’s Royal Ascot card kicks off with the Group Three Albany Stakes (2.30pm), with 25 two-year-old fillies going to post. Whilst the ones at the top have leading chances, I fancy JOLIVETTE for Andrew Balding and Juddmonte. She made a winning start at Newmarket, granted only by a neck, but she always looked in control [...]
Gold Digger and West can take my money June 18, 2026 ONE of my biggest fancies of the week comes in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (6:10pm). Many will see this 28-runner five-furlong handicap as a bookies’ benefit, but I think it’s time to roll up the sleeves and have a proper go. GOLD DIGGER, who I really fancied in the Albany last year, is back [...]
Venetian to Havana day in the Ascot Sun June 18, 2026 FRIDAY’s first Group One contest is the Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm), a speed test for three-year-olds over Ascot’s straight six furlongs. Course form at Ascot is always valuable and VENETIAN SUN has some of the best, having won the Albany over this trip at last’s year’s Royal meeting. Karl Burke’s filly went on to win the [...]
Take Gosdens’ Seet to Repel Sandringham rivals June 18, 2026 LIKE with every Royal Ascot handicap, I find myself looking for those with plenty in hand ahead of the handicapper, and that’s no different in Friday’s Sandringham (5.00pm). Searching for the proverbial ‘Group horse in a handicap’ is a tricky business, but I think SEET fits that bill here and should prove just that in [...]
Play Riffa and Mar to leave Scandinavia out in gold June 17, 2026 ROYAL Ascot rises to a crescendo on Thursday with the centrepiece of the five days being the Group One Gold Cup (4.15pm). This is the ultimate test for stayers, run over a punishing two-and-a-half miles of Ascot, where only the toughest horses rise to the top. Trawlerman has already proven he has all the attributes [...]
