Royal Ascot 2026: Horse-by-horse guide - Ascot Gold Cup

By Kate Tracey

For many years there has been a group of horses who have shared the staying spoils between them. The likes of Trawlerman, Sweet William, Kyprios and Coltrane have all had their own private battles. But in 2026 we could see a changing of the guard, with young pretenders emerging to try and grasp the baton from their elder rivals.

The showpiece contest is set to be another enthralling battle…

1. Al Nayyir (stall 1)

Jockey: James Doyle | Trainer: Tom Clover

One of the elder statesman in the race is the eight-year-old Al Nayyir, who has certainly done the stable merry-go-round in his career. He started life with Charlie Appleby for one run before being switched to Doug Watson for 2022. In 2023 he joined Romain Le Dren Doleuze before Georges Doleuze then took over. Then in 2024 he joined Julien Carayon for one run before returning to these shores and the stable of Tom Clover. He’s only officially won once for Clover in 11 starts, with that success coming in Meydan in February of this year. The other time he managed to get his head in front came in September 2024 in a Listed contest, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance. He has looked in the best form since that run in his three starts this campaign, resulting in a good second behind the re-opposing Rahiebb in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup last time out. He wouldn’t mind softer ground to see him to even better effect, but that looks very unlikely.

2. Al Riffa (8)

Dylan Browne McMonagle | Joseph O'Brien

Al Riffa was a somewhat surprising declaration, having been expected to run in the Hardwicke Stakes instead - the race he finished second in last year. He took the step up in distance to 1m 6f in his stride on his subsequent start when winning the Group 2 Curragh Cup before going in again over the same track and trip in the 2025 Irish St Leger. The stamina tests kept on coming, and he was an eyecatcher in the Melbourne Cup when staying on strongly from the back to eventually finish seventh. Following efforts around the world have been very encouraging, most notably last time out when a close third behind Caballo De Mar at ParisLongchamp. Again, that trip was over 2m. However, he still hasn’t shown he’s assured to get this specialist trip, but he’s a highly-talented horse who may have more doors to unlock still.

3. Caballo de Mar (11)

Oisin Murphy | George Scott

Trainer George Scott has continued to rapidly climb the ranks of late and secured his first domestic Group 1 win courtesy of Bay City Roller in the Coolmore Coronation Cup at Epsom. His leading hope for Royal Ascot is Caballo De Mar, who unlike many of his rivals here doesn't have any stamina doubts. He more than proved he’s able to stay 2m 4f when winning the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp in October ahead of stalwart-stayer Coltrane. That was also Scott’s first Group 1 victory. Since that success, he ran a lesser race at Saint-Cloud when not on a going day before running well on his reappearance in Meydan. A career-best effort followed when tested against some of the best stayers around in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes, finishing a short-head second to Sweet William over 2m, before he proved his love for ParisLongchamp once again by winning the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over 2m last time out. He’s shown massive improvement since being beaten four times in handicaps off marks in the 60s in 2024, and he is now a dual Group 1 winner. But he does have to show it at the top level at Ascot now.

4. Dubai Future (5)

David Probert | Saeed bin Suroor

The oldest horse in the line-up, with Dubai Future still going at the age of 10. A winner of 10 of his 39 career starts and amassing nearly £2m in prize-money, he’s been a credit to all involved. Most of his career is spent abroad nowadays, where he’s been able to pick up valuable prizes with wins in Meydan and Bahrain in recent years. However, he did notch a domestic success last time out when causing an upset at 28/1 in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown. He beat the re-opposing Sweet William by a neck that day, reversing the Sagaro Stakes form on the same terms in the process. He finished 14-lengths third in the Gold Cup last year, but he can continue to give a good account of himself at this level despite his advancing years.

5. Sweet William (9)

Robert Havlin | John & Thady Gosden

A quirky character who is also remarkably consistent, as well as a wonderful stalwart of the staying division and a real fan favourite. His owner-breeder Philippa Cooper of Normandie Stud only adds to this gelding’s popularity. Now a seven-year-old, however, it feels as though he’s been around for twice that long, which is testament to those around him regarding his longevity and appetite to run him. Considering his previous physical (and by many accounts mental) issues, he’s had a fantastic career already, with that ability showing no signs of waning. He also has a very good Ascot record, as showcased by his success on his seasonal bow in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes when fending off the re-opposing Caballo De Mar by a short-head into second. The biggest question for Sweet William has always been his stamina for 2m 4f, which he’s yet to answer, and at the age of seven he’s unlikely to find those extra reserves at this stage of his career. He’s a solid each-way proposition, but unless this is run at a crawl and doesn’t drag the stamina out of his rivals, he may be found wanting once more in the closing stages.

6. Trawlerman (2)

William Buick | John & Thady Gosden

The reigning champion following his emphatic win in the 2025 Gold Cup, in the process going one better than he managed the previous year when second to Kyprios. The key question for him this year, however, is an entirely different preparation. The positive is that this different prep hasn't been caused by a physical issue, as such, but instead by an eye-sensitivity ailment. Due to this, he will be sporting an equine version of ski goggles in the parade ring and on his way down to the start. He won’t be allowed to run in the aid for understandable reasons, but hopefully he won’t feel any negative effects after having them removed. Due to his eye issue, we haven’t seen him on a racecourse since 18th October 2025, when he was a game winner of the Group 1 Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day. For a stayer, it is hardly ideal to have had no sort of race conditioning before a race as tough as the Gold Cup. The question must also be asked as to how he is intended to be ridden. We are used to seeing Trawlerman exposing his rivals’ stamina, which he seemingly has a bottomless pit of, often grinding them into submission from the front. If he isn’t cherry ripe, it’ll be interesting to see if those same tactics are deployed once again this time around. He is the proven quantity in this sphere though, and there will be no hiding places if he’s on song.

7. Carmers (4)

Billy Lee | Paddy Twomey

Carmers is the first of the four-year-old fraternity, and he remains lightly raced after just seven career outings, winning four of them. He won his first three starts, resulting in success in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at last year’s Royal meeting. He had the re-opposing Furthur, Rahiebb and Scandinavia all in behind him that day. However, Scandinavia and Rahiebb then comfortably turned that form around in the St Leger at Doncaster in September. Last time out was much better from him when stepping up to 2m for the first time and also switching from blinkers to a visor. He was well on top in that Listed event at Down Royal, but this will pose a much larger question.

8. Furthur (6)

Colin Keane | Andrew Balding

A notable jockey booking is Colin Keane riding Furthur for Andrew Balding. Another four-year-old in the line-up, who similarly to the other younger horses has stamina to prove here. His final start of last season came when finishing 11th in the Melbourne Cup over 2m at Flemington. He was too keen that day before making some brief headway, but ultimately he made no meaningful impression after being held up. He was subsequently gelded and has run respectably twice since without posting much to write home about. He was fourth at York behind Rahiebb and Al Nayyir, eventually beaten 7½ lengths, before a similar effort when sixth behind Dubai Future and Sweet William at Sandown last time out. He has plenty to prove at this level.

9. Rahiebb (10)

Ray Dawson | Roger Varian

The apple of Roger Varian’s eye and the wildcard runner in this year’s Gold Cup. Another four-year-old, he too will be taken into unchartered territory over this trip of 2m 4f. He has just the eight career starts to his name, winning two, and was very impressive last time out when landing the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup Stakes over 1m 6f. The gallop was steady at York, but he stayed on strongly in the closing stages, despite edging to his left under pressure, to register his first win since his debut, looking as though a stronger gallop would suit him as well as a further step up in trip. He already has previous with Scandinavia after finishing a neck second to him in the St Leger on his final start at three. That was also his first season after being unraced at two, so he’s entitled to bundles more improvement. The intertwining form lines with his Ballydoyle foe can also be found in the last season's Queen’s Vase when Rahiebb finished third, half a length ahead of Scandinavia in fifth. He’s going to need to take a big step forward again to be winning this, and his stamina must also be taken on trust, but he gives the impression he has more to come still.

10. Scandinavia (3)

Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien

The new potential staying star on the block, and with all the right connections to expect him to be exactly that. It’s also what you want and expect from a St Leger winner. He took the Classic prize in 2025 under Tom Marquand in gutsy style after being ridden to the fore and digging deep inside the final furlong to fend off all challengers. The question that will be thrown in his direction following his St Leger success is that of his trainer; of Aidan O’Brien’s previous eight Leger winners, only one - Leading Light - went on to win the Gold Cup at Ascot. However, Scandinavia is of a different ilk, as he was already a Cup winner last year when becoming just the second three-year-old to win the Goodwood Cup in 25 years. Now a winner of his last five races, his only defeat in his last seven starts came at last year’s Royal Ascot when only managing to finish fifth in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase - a race won by Carmers. In the past year he’s won over a range of trips, including 1m 2f, 1m 5f, 1m 6f and 2m, yet stamina doubts over this very searching distance of 2m 4f remain. Scandinavia is a horse who only just does enough, which has been a true hallmark of some of the great stayers. That was showcased last time out when landing the Group 3 Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown. He was being niggled along from some way out and that pressure continued inside the final furlong. However, he still found enough to take that Group 3 contest, taking his seasonal record to two-from-two. It is expected that his true ability will only surface the higher he climbs. We didn’t get to see the full extent and longevity of Kyprios’s rein at the head of the staying division, but we may have found his successor in a relatively short time.

11. Miss Alpilles (7)

Kieran Shoemark | Ed Walker

Miss Alpilles is a likeable mare who has really managed to get her act together over the past year. Her improvement started when winning a Goodwood handicap over 1m 6f off a mark of 78. Following that success her confidence evidently grew, and she subsequently won a Listed race when upped to 2m for the first time at Newmarket on her final start of last season. She looks to have taken a similar approach of improving for racing this season based on her first two outings, having first finished third at 40/1 in the Sagaro Stakes behind Sweet William and Caballo De Mar - but ahead of Dubai Future - which was a solid reappearance. She then took that form forward to finish second at York back against her own sex in the Group 3 Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes over 1m 6f, where the very talented Danielle - rated 16lb superior to Miss Alpilles - eventually beat her by just over a length. She won’t mind stepping back up in trip here, and for all that the Gold Cup is a whole different ballgame, she isn’t without a chance at a huge price.

Kate Tracey's verdict 

It is incredibly difficult to escape SCANDINAVIA, and I have high hopes he’s going to be the new staying kid on the block, which will hopefully see him ruling this division for many seasons to come.

The runner I think has been overlooked in the market at a monster price, however, is MISS ALPILLES. This is a big ask for her, but she has proven she stays 2m and arrives here in good order, so she might be worth taking a small each-way chance on.