Ascot - Tue 16 Jun 2026
It was always going to be tough for William Buick to get off impressive Lockinge winner NOTABLE SPEECH for progressive stable companion Opera Ballo and so it has proved. Charlie Appleby's charge produced a devastating turn of foot to win the Newbury Group 1 at the expense of More Thunder and Zeus Olympios and is taken to confirm the form. He was only fourth in this last year behind Docklands, but is arriving in better form this time around and can finally get his Royal Ascot success.
CONFUCIUS left a lasting impression on his Curragh debut when denied by the narrowest of margins and built on that promise when easily breaking through at Naas. Given his connections, the son of No Nay Never looks the perfect type for this race and can follow in the hoofprints of Caravaggio, Arizona, River Tiber and Gstaad, with Ballydoyle responsible for four of the last 10 Coventry winners. Also a son of No Nay Never, stable companion Great Barrier Reef is unbeaten in two starts and commands respect, while James Doyle opts to ride Hamilton winner Royal Heritage of the Wathnan trio and he could be one for the each-way players. Cut A Dash and Siouxperb are just a couple more to consider.
It wasn't a huge surprise when American Affair won this 12 months ago and, given the recent form of Jim Goldie's yard, he cannot be dismissed, even though Australian challenger OVERPASS looks really strong this year. Bjorn Baker's speedster was last seen finishing a very creditable fourth in the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes at Randwick in April and also boasts a pretty smart piece of form at that track in October when a close-up fourth to a certain Ka Ying Rising. Night Raider has won both starts this season, including when beating American Affair in Haydock's Temple Stakes, and he looks the pick of the UK runners. Rayevka didn't run too badly in the Champions Sprint here last autumn and is another to consider closely.
Having landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas in fine style, Gstaad is sure to be in the thick of the action once more. The son of Starspangledbanner merits respect in his quest for a third Group/Grade 1, but his Newmarket conqueror BOW ECHO is difficult to oppose. George Boughey's unbeaten colt impressed with his finishing effort in the 2000 Guineas at HQ and there could be a lot more to come this season. The progressive Talk Of New York has only tasted defeat once in four outings and shouldn't be underestimated after putting his rivals to the sword in the Heron Stakes at Sandown last month.
Although without a winner in this contest since 2018, Willie Mullins could be set to taste glory again with REACHING HIGH. The five-year-old was just touched off on his stable bow at Leopardstown and was denied a clear run when favourite for the 2025 renewal. A year-long absence shouldn't be an issue and, granted better luck, compensation could be on the cards. Joseph O'Brien is enjoying a fantastic season, with Chester Cup seventh Puturhandstogether well worth a second look, while last year's Cesarewitch hero Beylerbeyi is expected to prove more competitive back up in distance. Irish raiders Westminster Moon, Bunting and Galileo Dame add further spice to the mix.
WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE is a really interesting contender in here on the class drop. Last year's Nashville Derby winner ran a cracker at this meeting 12 months ago when fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes and performed well enough on his return in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown behind Ombudsman. There isn't anything of that calibre in here and James Owen's colt is taken to go very close. Haatem won this last year and commands respect for the in-form Richard Hannon yard, while Galen got within a length of him that day and is noted, as is Ghostwriter.
VALIANCY is difficult to get away from and can send his supporters home smiling. He is the clear pick of the Wathnan trio in the finale and an 8lb rise for his comeback success at Hamilton is probably fair given he confirmed Haydock form with Ride The Thunder in no uncertain terms. The Cracksman gelding is really progressive and it's going to take a big performance to deny William Haggas' inmate another victory. Aeronautic drops down from Group 3 company and boasts every chance, while Daiquiri Bay and Gamrai are closely matched on Newmarket form and it wouldn't be a surprise if they were heavily involved.
This could be dominated by the Charlie Appleby pair Opera Ballo and NOTABLE SPEECH. The former gained a first victory at the top level in Dubai in the spring before beating a multiple Group 1 winner on his UK return last time. The stiff mile should suit and he has recorded the best speed figure in this contest but he did posses a fitness edge last time so may have been slightly flattered. His stablemate is narrowly preferred on the back of his emphatic Lockinge win. That was the 2024 Guineas winner's fifth Group 1 and while his course record is a minor concern it is notable that William Buick keeps the faith. He can confirm Newbury form with the hugely progressive More Thunder who was unlucky in the Wokingham here last year. He could get closer to the selection if ridden more positively. Last year's winner Docklands has an excellent record over a straight mile and has been running well this spring so he can also make his presence felt.
Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand here with the pair heading the betting in CONFUCIUS and Great Barrier Reef. The latter sets the standard on ratings following his impressive Group win last time and the strong stayer should be suited by this stiff track. However Ryan Moore has opted for the former who made amends for his unlucky debut defeat in emphatic fashion when upped to 6f last time. His breeding suggests that this quicker ground will suit and his high draw help while his stablemate his drawn on the far side. Cut A Dash showed an excellent turn of foot when beating a well touted rival on debut at York and looks the pick of the home challenge. Royal Heritage justified strong support when beating a next time out winner on his debut and he should enjoy this stiff track. If handling the quicker ground he could also play a part in the finish.
Australia has a decent record in this race with Asfoora taking it a couple of years ago. She added another pair of European Group 1s last term but she needs to put a couple of disappointments this term behind her. Instead her compatriot OVERPASS who is also a multiple Group 1 winner is preferred. His huge run in the Everest last year where he just gave way late sets the standard and he remains relatively unexposed at 5f. The frontrunner will be tough to catch dropping back in trip at this stiff track. Night Raider is another blessed with plenty of speed and he arrives in career best form. He's shown that he can be ridden a number of ways recently which is a bonus given the early speed here and he leads the home challenge. French raider Rayevka has shown improved form this spring and is another who isn't fully exposed over the minimum trip. She can reverse last year's Commonwealth Cup form with Time For Sandals and pose a big challenge along with progressive 3yo Mission Central who boasts some useful course form.
BOW ECHO looked one of the best winners of the 2000 Guineas of recent years and can confirm that form on favourable fast ground. Chasing him home that day was Gstaad who franked the form in the Irish version and with another run under his belt he may be able to get closer to the selection. His stablemate Puerto Rico is the only other Group 1 winner in the race and he wasn't beaten far in the French Guineas despite looking in need of the outing. Though he may want easier ground than this he is chosen to fill the podium ahead of the highly touted Talk Of New York. That rival produced a big speed figure when winning at Listed level last time but this will demand much more.
REACHING HIGH can make amends for an unlucky defeat in this last year. He never got a run that day before being eased off and though he hasn't been seen since his top jumps stable can get them ready after a lay off. Racing off an unchanged mark he is chosen to defeat the steadily progressive Bahadur who showed a willing attitude last time and could improve further for this even longer trip. Joseph O'Brien holds a strong hand with useful dual purpose performer Galileo Dame respected as she remains unexposed over staying trips. Kizlyar was off the mark for the stable last time and sneaks in at the bottom of the weights. He could figure returned to handicaps but he may struggle to confirm last time out form with Tim Toe. That rival is 2-3 in his short Flat career and has been given a lenient opening mark with improvement expected over staying trips.
The first 4 home from last year all return and hold solid claims. The victor Haatem should come on for his latest run and will enjoy the fast ground. The runner up Galen doesn't carry the penalty that he did last year so the Group 3 winner is feared dropping in class. King's Gambit and Enfjaar were both given a bit too much to do and filled the next positions in last year's contest. The former is a frustrating type who struggles to win but the latter ran well on his reappearance and is expected to go close here. However they may be vulnerable to a classier rival and there are a couple who fit the bill. Ghostwriter has placed at the top level over 10f on fast ground and ran well in the Hardwicke last year despite racing freely. If he is fit after an absence he should play a part but it is ROYAL RHYME who is the selection. Though the ground may be on the quick side for him he boasts some excellent course form including a placed effort in the 2024 Champion Stakes. He's gradually been running into form this term and caught the eye last time when given too much to do in the Huxley Stakes.
A few with progressive profiles including Valiancy who heads the betting after an easy win on his reappearance. That form has been franked and he should have more to offer over staying trips so holds strong claims off an 8lb higher mark. However the quicker ground is a slight concern given his breeding which won't be the case for the similarly unexposed GAMRAI. The form of his reappearance AW win has been franked emphatically and his latest runner up effort is worth marking up considerably as he kicked on too soon. With further progress likely now upped to staying trips he is chosen to avenge that latest defeat at the hands of Daiquiri Bay on these revised terms. Sing Us A Song is another open to improvement as a stayer while at a bigger price Real Dream is of interest. He made minor late headway over an inadequate 11f last time and the handicapper has given him a chance.
The Royal Ascot 2026 is only around the corner so now is a great chance to make the most of every race with these great promotions on our Royal Ascot free bets page. We also have a dedicated horse racing free bets page where you can find offers on all today's racing, as well as offers to use for races on our Ante-Post Prices page, which has markets available for upcoming major meetings as well as Royal Ascot 2026, the Grand National 2026 and the Cheltenham Festival 2026.
