Royal Ascot 2026: Hollie Doyle blog June 20, 2026

Our ambassador Hollie Doyle gives her verdict on all seven races on a super Saturday at Royal Ascot, and updates us on her progress following serious injury.

A positive week on my road to recovery

This week has been a positive one on my long road back to full fitness following my accident at Bath last month, when I broke the tibia and fibula in my left leg.

On Tuesday the cast and the splint that was keeping my leg straight were removed and replaced with a boot and brace, which have given me more movement in my knee.

That means I’ve been able to start fitness work at Oaksey House in Lambourn where I’ll be working on my upper body and core five days a week until I can eventually put weight on my injured leg.

O'Brien colt to fly flag in Norfolk

It’s been another memorable Royal Meeting for Ballydoyle and CARRY THE FLAG is another irresistible Aidan O’Brien two-year-old in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes (2.30) on Saturday.

The form of his second to stable mate Great Barrier Reef in a Group 3 at The Curragh last month was paid a huge compliment when that son of No Nay Never claimed the glory in the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday.

Archie Watson’s Flight Signal gave me a great feel when he won at Bath on debut in May so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make an impact. I also like Kevin Ryan’s Listed winner Where Love Lives, whose Sandown exploits were boosted by runner-up Adaay Of Scarlett’s huge effort in the Coventry.

There's value in Botti globetrotter

Already a winner at the highest level, Andrew Balding’s wonderful filly Kalpana deserves to be favourite when she takes on the colts in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (3.05), but there’s better value elsewhere.

I’m expecting a big run from Marco Botti’s globetrotter GIAVELLOTTO, who beat Kalpana on the All-Weather last autumn and can overturn Qatar form with French raider Goliath.

Giavellotto ran a super race in the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Meydan back in the spring and also has a Hong Kong Vase on his CV. Oisin Murphy gets on well with him and can look forward to playing a big part in an open renewal.

Japanese star can scorch home in Jubilee

This year’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (4.30) has a strong international flavour with Aussie pair Joliestar and Overpass clashing with Japanese star SATONO REVE.

Second in the race last year, Noriyuki Hori’s seven-year-old proved he can cope well with fast ground and a stiff finish and his second to Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising last time makes him the one to beat.

Joliestar arrives on the back of two Grade 1s at Randwick and will be helping to set some pretty strong fractions which may just bring my husband Tom (Marquand’s) mount Almeraq into the argument. Still unexposed, he won his Listed race nicely and is well worth his place at sprinting’s top table.

Saber ready to strike in Jersey

Tom’s mount SABER STRIKE brings the perfect profile to the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (4.20), stepping into this company for the first time after impressing in the King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket on only his second career start.

William Haggas’s colt – a son of sire of the moment Night Of Thunder - has earned a rating of 108 and will be hard to beat if he maintains his progress in conditions that look ideal.

Irish challenger Thesecretadversary has bumped into Bow Echo and Gstaad on his last two starts but Seamie Heffernan’s colt – a Group 3 winner at Leopardstown in the spring – will enjoy these calmer waters.

Tom holds every chance in Wokingham

I’m rooting for Tom (Marquand) and William (Haggas) again with another progressive horse, the likely favourite BINHAREER in the notoriously tough Wokingham Stakes (5.00).

He was disadvantaged by the way the race panned out in a hot handicap at York last month but still produced huge figures to finish second and can capitalise on what looks a good draw in stall 22.

I was delighted to see James Owen win the Royal Hunt Cup with Rogue Diplomat and hope to see his Far Above Dream – a gelding I won on at Goodwood earlier in the season – go well in pursuit of his hat-trick for the talented Kieran Shoemark.

Joseph holds Key to Golden Gates

They’ll all have to step forward to beat Wathnan Racing’s well fancied Lost Boys in the Golden Gates Stakes (5.35). David Menuisier’s colt improved on his winning re-appearance at Sandown to land the valuable London Gold Cup.

That said, I do prefer Joseph O’Brien’s PERISHER who gets 5lb from Lost Boys and can find the necessary improvement to win this following back-to-back successes in Ireland.

Princling gives the Marquand-Haggas combination another live chance. He was too fresh at Carlisle but won his novice impressively and may have what it takes to overcome a difficult draw.

O'Brien runner heaven sent in marathon finale

Joseph O’Brien gets my vote again in the closing Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10) with a horse who should relish the marathon trip of almost 2m6f.

PIECE OF HEAVEN came out on top in the Chester Cup and an elevated rating of 105 puts him well and truly in the mix with the exceptional Dylan Browne McMonagle out to repeat his Queen’s Vase success on Limestone.

Willie Mullins can never be under-estimated in this type of race so I do respect the chances of probable favourite Le Destrier, a former French winner who was a rock solid third to Scandinavia in Group 3 company on his stable debut.

Can't wait to see Echo in Sussex showdown

Ombudsman’s blistering performance in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday is one we’ll be talking about for years to come, but the highlight of the week for me has to be BOW ECHO’s hard-fought success in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

George Boughey’s Guineas winner had his doubters despite his brilliance at Newmarket but overcame a troubled run to fend off arch rival Gstaad in Tuesday’s Group 1 highlight.

Class horses can get you out of trouble and he gave everything to his young rider Billy Loughnane despite difficult circumstances to extend his unbeaten record. Now it’s all systems go for the Sussex Stakes next month and I can’t wait to see how he fares against his elders.