Ascot Tips 2026
Royal Ascot is seen by many as the biggest week in the flat racing calendar, 300,000 racegoers regularly flock to Berkshire for their five-day meeting – which sees the best races run over distances ranging from five furlongs to over two and a half miles.
With a record £10,645,00 in prize money to compete for, it often attracts runners and trainers from around the world. 2026’s meeting starts on Tuesday June 16th, and concludes on Saturday June 20th, with 35 races scheduled over that period – including no fewer than eight Group 1 contests.
2026 Royal Ascot Tips
Ascot Tips 2026: Expert Ascot Tips For Every Race
Here at GG, we are committed to providing punters with expert tips and previews for all of Royal Ascot 2026. Our Royal Ascot Tips in 2026 will cover every single race, from the opening Queen Anne Stakes to the meeting’s closing Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Royal Ascot Day 5 Tips – Saturday 20th June, 2026
Norfolk Stakes
The final day of Royal Ascot 2026 kicks off with the Norfolk Stakes, a race run over 5f and open to two-year-old horses. The race was promoted to Group 2 level in 2006, and Lester Piggott is currently the most successful rider in the race’s history, having taken the Norfolk on no fewer than nine occasions.
Hardwicke Stakes
The Hardwicke Stakes is seen by many as a trial for the following month’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This 1m4f Group 2 has been farmed by Sir Michael Stoute in recent years, with that yard sending out eight winners since 2006.
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
The final Group 1 contested at Royal Ascot is the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. This 6f sprint is open to horses aged four and over and three-year-olds from the Southern Hemisphere. The race was won by Champion Australian sprinter Black Caviar back in 2012.
Jersey Stakes
The Jersey Stakes is the first Group race run on Day Three of Royal Ascot. The Jersey Stakes is run over a straight 7f, and is consigned to three-year-old horses. Sir Michael Stoute has won the race on no fewer than six occasions.
Wokingham Handicap
The fifth race on day 5 of Royal Ascot 2026 is the Wokingham Stakes. This handicap is run over the same 6f distance as the Diamond Jubilee, and has been part of the Royal Ascot fabric since 1813. Five horses have won the race twice, but as of yet no horse has won three or more Wokingham Handicaps.
Golden Gates Handicap
Royal Ascot 2026’s penultimate race is the 1m2f Golden Gates Handicap. It was won in 2023 by top hurdler Burdett Road when he was still solely a flat horse for Michael Bell.
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The concluding race of Royal Ascot 2026, or the ‘getting out stakes’, for anyone following Royal Ascot 2026 tips, is the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Open to horses aged four-years-old and over, the Queen Alexandra Stakes is run over 2m5f – making it the longest flat race run in Britain.
Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips – Tuesday, 16th June 2026
Queen Anne Stakes
Royal Ascot 2026 kicks off with a bang with the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. Run over a straight mile, this is open to horses aged four years or older and as a result often attracts global representatives from the likes of France, USA and Germany.
Coventry Stakes
Succeeding the Queen Anne Stakes is the Coventry Stakes, which holds Group 2 classification, and is run over six furlongs. It is open to two-year-old horses only and is one of the earliest big races for the juvenile generation.
King Charles III Stakes
Punters looking for Royal Ascot day 1 tips will be interested in the King Charles III Stakes, which is the feature contest on the first day of Royal Ascot. There have been multiple two-time winners of the King’s Stand – including in recent years via the likes of Equiano (2008 & 2010), Sole Power (2013 & 2014) and Blue Point (2018 & 2019).
St James’s Palace Stakes
The colts equivalent of the Coronation Stakes is the St James’s Palace Stakes – which is a Group 1 run over the same mile distance. Established back in 1834, Aidan O’Brien has proved the go-to man in the St James’s Palace in recent years, winning nine renewals since 2000 – making him the most successful trainer in the race’s history.
Ascot Stakes
Royal Ascot day 1 also features the Ascot Stakes. The Ascot Stakes is a handicap run over just shy of 2m4f. Its extreme distance often sees many entries from national hunt trainers – and the recent roll of honour is littered with horses trained by the likes of Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins and Henry De Bromhead.
Wolferton Stakes
The Wolferton Stakes follows the Ascot Stakes, the Wolferton is a Listed event run over 1m2f. John Gosden’s four Wolferton Stakes wins makes him the most successful trainer in the race’s history.
Copper Horse Handicap
The Copper Horse Handicap closes day 1’s card. The Copper Horse Handicap had just its first renewal back in 2020, and is a 1m6f handicap for horses aged four or older.
Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips – Wednesday 17th June, 2026
Queen Mary Stakes
Royal Ascot day 2 opens with the Queen Mary Stakes. This 5f Group 2 is consigned to two-year-old fillies and often attracts an ultra-competitive field.
Queen’s Vase
Following the day 2 opener is the Queen’s Vase, often used as a launchpad for future Grade 1 performers. This Group 2 is run over a taxing 1m6f and is open solely to three-year-olds. The race has proven a good trial for the Gold Cup, with recent winners Estimate, Leading Light and Stradivarius all going on to take the previous day’s feature race.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes
Open to fillies and mares aged four or older, the Duke of Cambridge Stakes is a mile contest that has been run at Royal Ascot since 2004. Sir Michael Stoute is currently the most successful trainer in the race having trained four Duke of Cambridge winners.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
The feature race on Royal Ascot day 2 is the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Run over just shy of 1m2f, the contest has a prestigious role of honour that – in recent years – includes the likes of Poet’s Word and Crystal Ocean. Only three horses in history have won the race more than once, with the most recent being Muhtarram (1994 & 1995).
Royal Hunt Cup
Succeeding the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the Royal Hunt Cup. The mile contest often has fields of more than twenty runners, making it notoriously one of the most difficult handicaps at Royal Ascot. The race is open to horses aged three or older, yet there has just been one winner older than six (Field Of Dream, 2014) since its inception back in 1980.
Kensington Palace Stakes
The day 2 penultimate race was introduced only in 2021, the Kensington Palace Stakes – the inaugural event was landed by Lola Showgirl for David Loughnane, whilst a daughter of two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners, Sea The Stars and Treve, in Doha has also won the race.
Windsor Castle Stakes
The final race of day two at Royal Ascot 2026 that is consigned to two-year-olds is the Windsor Castle Stakes. This Listed event is run over 5f.
For all tips for day 2, please visit our Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips Page here.
Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips – Thursday, 18th June 2026
Chesham Stakes
The third day of Royal Ascot begins with the Listed Chesham Stakes. Taken in by the superb Pinatubo back in 2019, the Listed Chesham Stakes is run over 7f and available solely to two-year-old horses.
King George V Stakes
Exclusively for three-year-olds, the King George V Stakes soon follows and has been run at Royal Ascot since 1984. Its 1m4f distance often unearths future stayers, with the popular Brown Panther landing the contest back in 2011.
Ribblesdale Stakes
The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes is one of only three races at Royal Ascot – alongside the Coronation Stakes, and the Sandringham – that is consigned to three-year-old fillies. The race often hosts horses that had contested the Epsom Oaks.
Ascot Gold Cup
One of the most prestigious races in the calendar, the Gold Cup was established back in 1807 and has become a permanent fixture ever since. The most successful horse in the race’s history is the mighty Yeats, who won four straight Gold Cups from 2006. The Gold Cup has seen star stayer Stradivarius win the race in 2018, 2019 & 2020 among recent renewals.
Britannia Stakes
Succeeding the Gold Cup is the Britannia Stakes. Run over a straight mile and available only to three-year-olds, the race has proven very popular since its inception back in 1988.
Hampton Court Stakes
Following on from the Britannia Stakes is the Hampton Court Stakes which is a 1m2f Group 3 contest for three-year-olds. Those looking for Royal Ascot day 2 tips will do worse than follow Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien in the Hampton Court Stakes. The duo are the most successful jockey and trainer in the race’s history, having landed four renewals each – teaming up to land the race on three occasions.
Buckingham Palace Stakes
Closing Royal Ascot day 3 is the Buckingham Palace Stakes, run over seven furlongs, this handicap is contested by horses ages three and over.
For all tips for day 3, please visit our Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips Page here.
Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips – Friday 19th June, 2026
Albany Stakes
A fairly new Group race, established in 2002, the Albany Stakes is the opening contest on day 4 of Royal Ascot. It is a Group 3 race run over 6f and open to two-year-old fillies.
Commonwealth Cup
Those looking for Royal Ascot day 4 tips will undoubtedly be keen on finding the winner of Friday’s feature Commonwealth Cup. One of the most recent Group 1’s added to Royal Ascot’s schedule, the Commonwealth Cup is a 6f Group 1 which is open only to three-year-old horses.
Coronation Stakes
One of many Group races held on Royal Ascot day 4, the Coronation Stakes is a mile contest open to three-year-old fillies. The race often has a heavy international flavour, with three of the last eight winners trained in France – something to note for anyone looking at Ascot tips 2026.
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
Following the Coronation Stakes is the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. This 1m4f handicap is open to horses aged three-years-old and up.
Sandringham Stakes
The fifth race on Day 4 of Royal Ascot is the Sandringham Stakes, a race that is notoriously difficult to predict. In the last five years, there have been two favourites winning, but there’s also been a 22/1 shot come out on top!
The King Edward VII Stakes
The penultimate race on day 4 is the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes which is run over 1m4f. The race itself has proven to be a happy hunting ground for favourite backers as three of the last four runnings have gone the way of the market leader. The King Edward VII Stakes often features horses that contested the Epsom Derby.
Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap
The Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap is the last race run on day 4 of Royal Ascot. The race was only added to the meeting in 2020, and is a 5f sprint handicap consigned to three-year-old horses – Art Power won the inaugural renewal.
For all tips for day 4, please visit our Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips Page here.
Royal Ascot Underdogs To Watch Out For
With uncertainty surrounding the majority of the runners and riders at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting in 2026, it’s hard to gauge the majority of the Royal Ascot outsiders until declarations are made for each of the 35 races across the five-day event.
However, underdogs can outperform their status very easily at Royal Ascot. In 2024, Rashabar caused a big shock in just the second race, the Coventry Stakes, winning at odds of 80/1. Equally, big prices can abound throughout the week, with 2025 Coronation Stakes winner Cercene going off at 33/1.
Tips to help you pick the winning horse at Ascot
The biggest and best meeting in the flat racing calendar is without question Royal Ascot. Top equine talent from across the globe flock to the prestigious Berkshire venue in June every year. Across the 35 races, there are different types of contest throughout, including two-year-old races, handicaps, and top tier Group 1s.
In Group 1s run over further than 6f, it generally pays to heed market signals and side with the favourites. However, the sprint Group 1s can often throw up surprises. Make sure to look at the draw, and its effects during the week, as it can prove crucial.
The juvenile races are more of a lottery, with the draw again being a factor. Meanwhile, the handicaps are won more regularly by course specialists, or those with prior form at Ascot. The track is not among the most unique, but the old saying of “horses for courses” still rings true.
Stats & Trends
With 35 races across the five days at Royal Ascot 2026, it’s often difficult for punters to pinpoint their next Royal Ascot bet, however, one useful tool that can often help is looking into the past trends and stats of a particular race.
For example, in the last ten runnings of the Gold Cup on day 3, six four-year-olds have won that contest, while no horse older than six has gone on to land the prestigious Group 1 prize in that time. Information and stats like this can help you narrow down the field before placing your Royal Ascot bet and hopefully guide you in the direction of picking that all-important Royal Ascot winner.
Other pointers can often revolve around individuals. Trainers such as John Gosden and Aidan O’Brien have made their careers on consistent success, with the pair dominating some of the biggest races of the week. Keeping an eye on their declarations can be critical, with O’Brien enjoying particular success in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Previous Course Winners
Course form counts for plenty when trying to find your next Royal Ascot winner and while some horses boil over during the five-day meeting in June, others often thrive in the Royal Ascot atmosphere. With plenty of course and distance winners to consider throughout the week, it’s worth keeping an eye on how they perform at Royal Ascot 2026.
Age of The Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner – past 15 years
| Year | Horse | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Trawlerman | 7 |
| 2024 | Kyprios | 6 |
| 2023 | Courage Mon Ami | 4 |
| 2022 | Kyprios | 4 |
| 2021 | Subjectivist | 4 |
| 2020 | Stradivarius | 6 |
| 2019 | Stradivarius | 5 |
| 2018 | Stradivarius | 4 |
| 2017 | Big Orange | 6 |
| 2016 | Order of St George | 4 |
| 2015 | Trip To Paris | 4 |
| 2014 | Leading Light | 4 |
| 2013 | Estimate | 4 |
| 2012 | Colour Vision | 4 |
| 2011 | Fame And Glory | 5 |
| 2010 | Rite of Passage | 6 |
| 2009 | Yeats | 8 |
Ascot Racecourse
Address:
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7JX
Ascot racecourse is visited by approximately 600,000 people every year. The track hosts 13 of the 36 annual flat Group 1 races in the country, and its most prestigious fixture in the calendar year is the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. However, it also hosts meetings such as British Champions’ Day and the Shergar Cup.
The track hosts both flat and jumps racing during the calendar year and is seen as one of the most glamorous sporting locations in the country. The course was briefly closed between 2004 to 2006 due to renovations, meaning the Royal meeting was held at York, but otherwise Ascot has prospered ever since racing was first recorded there in 1711.
Ascot Free Bets & Betting Offers
With Royal Ascot being one of the biggest weeks in the sporting calendar, there is an avalanche of exceptional betting offers available for punters to capitalise on. Sky Bet are offering customers £30 in free bets when they first bet just 5p ahead of the meeting, while Betfair are going bigger, with £50 in free bet builders available for new customers, the majority of which can be used ahead of Royal Ascot 2026.