Commonwealth Cup Tips – Royal Ascot
The Commonwealth Cup is a 6f Group 1 confined to 3yo horses. It is the newest Group 1 addition to the Royal Ascot race roster having had its inaugural renewal as recently as 2015. The race was created in part to improve the programme for sprinters in Europe and in its brief existence has helped to launch the careers of some of the brightest sprinters in training.
Commonwealth Cup Tips 2026
Clive Cox’s Coppull can upset hot favourite Venetian Sun in a superb renewal of the Group 1 sprint.
Commonwealth Cup Racecard & Odds 2026
Commonwealth Cup Notable Trends
All nine winners of the Commonwealth Cup were sent off 12/1 or shorter, with three favourites going in during that time. Meanwhile, eight of the nine Commonwealth Cup winners were rated 111 to 119, with the exception being the 107-rated Eqtidaar (2018).
Course form has boded well in the Commonwealth Cup, with seven of the nine previous winners running at least once at Ascot previously, while every Commonwealth Cup winner had won over 6f previously, and the same number had at least four previous runs on the flat.
Commonwealth Cup History
The Commonwealth Cup was added to the Royal Ascot race list in 2015 as part of changes in the programme for sprinters in Europe. As a result of the race’s creation, the minimum age for Diamond Jubilee participants was upped to 4yo, and now the July Cup is considered by many to be the first opportunity for the 3yo sprinters to take on their elders.
Although geldings were initially permitted to run in the Commonwealth Cup, changes were made after the 2019 running so that geldings were no longer allowed to run. This unfortunately stopped Rohaan, the 2021 Wokingham winner, from running in the Commonwealth Cup.
Obviously, with the race limited to 3yos, no horse has managed to win the race more than once, and all of the nine runnings to date have been won by a different trainer, so there is no leading trainer. Frankie Dettori has won the race twice, however, with Advertise (2019) and Campanelle (2021) so is currently leading the way as the most successful rider in the history of the Commonwealth Cup.
The Commonwealth Cup has proven a real breakthrough for stallions, with the likes of Muhaarar and Caravaggio both producing Group 1 winning progeny.
Commonwealth Cup Past Winners
| YEAR | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER |
| 2025 | Time For Sandals | Richard Kingscote | Harry Eustace |
| 2024 | Inisherin | Tom Eaves | Kevin Ryan |
| 2023 | Shaquille | Oisin Murphy | Julie Camacho |
| 2022 | Perfect Power | Christophe Soumillon | Richard Fahey |
| 2021 | Campanelle | Frankie Dettori | Wesley Ward |
| 2020 | Golden Horde | Adam Kirby | Clive Cox |
| 2019 | Advertise | Frankie Dettori | Martyn Meade |
| 2018 | Eqtidaar | Jim Crowley | Sir Michael Stoute |
| 2017 | Caravaggio | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien |
| 2016 | Quiet Reflection | Dougie Costello | Karl Burke |
All the races on Day 4 of Royal Ascot
| TIME | RACE |
| 2.30pm | Albany Stakes: The opening race on the fourth day of Royal Ascot is the Albany Stakes, this Group 3 is run over 6f and is consigned to 2yo fillies. |
| 3.05pm | Commonwealth Cup: The Commonwealth Cup is the first Group 1 on day four, with the 6f contest available to 3yo colts and fillies. |
| 3.40pm | Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes: The Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes is a 1m4f handicap available for horses aged 3yo or older. |
| 4.20pm | Coronation Stakes: The second of the two Group 1 races on the Friday of Royal Ascot is the Coronation Stakes, a 1m Group 1 for 3yo fillies. |
| 5.00pm | Sandringham Stakes: The Sandringham Stakes is contested over Ascot’s straight mile and is another race available only to 3yo fillies. |
| 5.35pm | King Edward VII Stakes: The King Edward VII is a Group 2 for colts and geldings run over 1m4f, it often attracts horses that failed to win the Epsom Derby. |
| 6.10pm | Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes: The final race on Day 4 of Royal Ascot is a 5f handicap for 3yo horses, Latin Lover took the race in 2022. |