The flat season is well and truly underway, which means the pomp and pageantry of Royal Ascot.
The annual meeting held in Berkshire, about 25 miles west of London, sees some of the world’s best runners from Ireland and the UK go head to head for five days of racing.
There are a number of top-tier races across the meeting and three of the featured races that every trainer keeps an eye on are: the Gold Cup, Queen Anne Stakes, and King Charles III Stakes.
These are also the most popular with fans in the stands, while there are existing customer betting offers UK punters can take full advantage of when betting on the contests.
With Royal Ascot just around the corner, these are the horses to look out for in the festival’s biggest races.
Gold Cup, Thursday 18th June
The early favourite for the Gold Cup is Scandinavia. He won last season’s Goodwood Cup and St Leger, and is en route to Gold Cup glory.
The only major concern is the distance. The Gold Cup is run over two miles and four furlongs, and Scandinavia has never raced over further than two miles.
Chasing Scandinavia on the day will be Rahiebb, the son of legendary stallion Frankel and a promising horse in his own right. He put up a fierce challenge to Scandinavia in last year’s St Leger and trainer Roger Varian thinks there’s more to come from the Yorkshire Cup-winning horse.
Another name to look out for is the Willie Mullins-trained wildcard Le Destrier, who finished an eye-catching third in the Saval Beg Stakes last month, just 1.25 lengths behind Scandinavia.
Queen Anne Stakes, Tuesday 16th June
The Queen Anne Stakes is the Royal Ascot curtain-raiser, and Notable Speech is the early favourite.
The Charlie Appleby trained colt has five G1 race wins to his name, and was named the American Champion Male Turf Horse in 2025 after a successful stint stateside. However, the slight doubt is that Notable Speech hasn’t placed in either of his previous Royal Ascot starts.
Another Appleby horse, Opera Ballo, is also among the front-runners for the Queen Anne Stakes. Although not quite as fancied, he comes into the race in good form after winning the bet365 Mile earlier in the season.
Both will be going up against Ascot specialist and last year’s shock winner Docklands, though once again the bay is priced outside the favourites.
King Charles III Stakes, Tuesday 16th June
The weather will be key for Australian favourite Overpass in the King Charles III Stakes. He needs dry ground, and will struggle if the British summer brings downpours which could result in soft ground.
At seven years old, trainer Bjorn Baker has admitted that 2026 is the ‘now or never’ year for Overpass.
However, one contender who might switch races is Joliestar. The five-year-old Australian mare is currently pencilled in to the King Charles III stakes, but trainer Chris Waller may switch into Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
This race is run over a slightly longer distance, benefiting Joliestar, and could offer an easier route to a big prize.
