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 [...]
Legacy can crack exotic Code in the Ribblesdale June 17, 2026 BACKING up from Epsom’s Derby meeting to Royal Ascot is not easy but it can be done. Ten Bob Tony showed that with his shock 50/1 victory in the Queen Anne on Tuesday after winning the Tattenham Corner Stakes, and I fancy one who ran a blinder in the Oaks to go one better on [...]
O’Brien’s King George runners Cannes trouble the judge June 17, 2026 AS AIDAN O’Brien strides towards a century of Royal Ascot wins, son Joseph is doing a good job of establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the big days. Still just 33, Joseph saddled a second British Classic winner in the Oaks at Epsom two weeks ago and had winners at Ascot [...]
Italy to Mount a winning challenge in the Hampton Court June 17, 2026 COOLMORE dominate the betting for the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes (5.35pm), with ENDORSEMENT and ITALY both well found in the market. Ryan Moore prefers Endorsement, but as shown with Great Barrier Reef already this week, there can be value in backing the supposed second strings and I’m going with Italy this time. Campaigned over [...]
Back Bolt and Catalina to be in Ascot mixer June 16, 2026 WHILE the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the headline event on Wednesday at Royal Ascot, there are a host of other quality contests for punters to get stuck into, particularly with World Pool in operation. In the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40pm), it’s the turn of the fillies and mares over Ascot’s round [...]
Don’t Miss Alobayyah in competitive Kensington Palace June 16, 2026 THERE are several fiercely competitive handicaps on Wednesday’s Ascot card, with the Kensington Palace Stakes (5.35pm), a mile-long 25 runner contest for fillies and mares, being one. I’m throwing two darts at this, with the strongest fancy being ALOBAYYAH for the William Haggas stable, who are in rude health of late. She was a massive [...]
Ombudsman can pay the way to more Champagne June 16, 2026 WEDNESDAY’s Group One feature at Royal Ascot, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (4.20pm), sees one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the week. Last year’s winner OMBUDSMAN takes on Arc victor Daryz, in a classic England versus France match up and there shouldn’t be much between these two brilliant horses when it comes to [...]
Gali can land the Queen’s Vase for Balding and Murphy June 16, 2026 SOME top-class horses have won the Group Two Queen’s Vase (3.05pm) over the years, with Eldar Eldarov claiming this one-mile-six-furlong prize and then the St Leger a few months later in 2022. Illinois almost landed the same double in 2024, going down by a neck to stablemate Jan Brueghel at Doncaster. Whoever wins this afternoon [...]
Episode 91: Royal Ascot 2026 – Day 1 & 2 June 15, 2026 Tom Marriott and Bill Esdaile are back to preview the opening two days of Royal Ascot 2026, with analysis and selections across the cards. Trainer of Overpass, Bjorn Baker, joins to discuss his sprinter’s chances in the King Charles III Stakes on Tuesday. Check back on Wednesday for a preview of the rest of the [...]
Talk can follow Echo home in St James’s Palace June 15, 2026 NO HORSE has attracted more attention ahead of this week’s five days of Royal Ascot than George Boughey’s BOW ECHO, who runs in Tuesday’s Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20pm). The son of Night Of Thunder was certainly well-regarded as a two-year-old, winning his three starts, culminating in a good performance in the Group [...]