Royal Ascot 2026: Horse-by-horse guide - Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee

1. Almeraq (stall 11)

Jockey: Tom Marquand | Trainer: William Haggas

A low-mileage four-year-old from a yard that like to take their time. This son of Dark Angel, who is a three-time winner, made a winning return at Salisbury in a Listed contest last month, having been off for over eight-months after a nasty fall at York under Jim Crowley last September. He was the recipient of a glorious run up the inside at Salisbury, but he came from well of the pace, suggesting a testing 6f would be ideal. He does have a bit to find on ratings at his first try at the top level, but he’s a progressive type sporting the Shadwell colours for a trainer that rarely takes a swing just for the sake of it.

2. Aramram (3)

Sean Levey | Richard Hannon

A likeable type, but most of his success have come at handicap level, and while we have seen some big-price winners of this in recent times, he would need a career best just to be in the fight, having already run 25 times. In fairness, he won a handicap here in October last year and has been in decent form this season, winning a Listed race at Doncaster before running with merit in defeat when runner-up in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket in April, but this certainly demands more.

3. Comanche Brave (12)

Pierre Boudot | Donnacha O'Brien

Picked up the bronze in the Jersey Stakes at this meeting last year before a campaign in the Middle East, where he was placed in Abu Dhabi and Saudi - the latter over 7f when in behind a subsequent American Grade 1 winner Reef Runner and last year’s winner of this, Lazzat. He then ventured to Hong Kong - a jurisdiction in which European sprinters traditionally struggle - and although no match for the brilliant Ka Ying Rising, he ran with plenty of credit to finish sixth, less than two-lengths behind runner-up Satono Reve. He’s obviously a hardy type as he made a winning return at the Curragh less than a month after that Hong Kong run, and with some of his better performances coming over 7f, a high-pressure contest on a testing 6f track looks ideal.

4. Great Wish (8)

Kieran Shoemark | Bent Olsen

Trained in Denmark by the highly-respected, championship-winning trainer Bent Olsen, it would be a magical story if this son of Night Of Thunder were able to take out one of the world’s great sprints. However, although we have had an 80/1 and a 33/1 winner of this race in recent years, it’s highly unlikely this fellow - with a rating of 109 in what looks a decent renewal - will be good enough. He had some handy types in behind when taking out a Listed contest at Meydan in January before two unplaced efforts, including when finishing slightly worse than midfield in the Al Quoz on his most recent start, and he would need to improve plenty to be in the fight at this level.

5. Jasour (17)

Rossa Ryan | Clive Cox

Placed in the Commonwealth Cup two years ago and ran well enough in defeat in this race last year, finishing sixth and fourth home of the locals - albeit they were a long way behind the first two. However, he hasn’t won for over two years now and currently sits at the bottom of the ratings, and while trainer Clive Cox has put the polish on some wonderful sprinters in the past - including Lethal Force who won this race in 2013 - it’s difficult to see this fellow adding to that tally.

6. Khaadem (14)

Christophe Soumillon | Charlie Hills

It would be some story if this hard-knocking 10-year-old could become just the second horse (after Prince Charlie in 1872-74) to win this race three times, and in the process set an age-winning record, which he already holds having won the race for the second time as an eight-year-old two years ago. He missed this race last year, but Charlie Hill’s charge showed he was no spent force by winning a Grade 2 at Keeneland before picking up the bronze in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He then suffered the same fate that most European sprinters do when venturing to Hong Kong, finishing tailed off behind Ka Ying Rising. While that performance is easily forgiven, his two subsequent failures at Meydan earlier this year are less easy to, and it could just be that Father Time is finally catching up with him.

7. Kind of Blue (5)

William Buick | James Fanshawe

A Group 1-winning sprinter who was rated 116 at his peak, which would put him very much in the mix here. However, that Group 1 win over course and distance on Champions Day in 2024 is the last time he entered the winner’s circle. He has ran well in defeat a couple of times recently, finishing runner-up in a course-record time in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last September before a below-par effort here in October, though he bounced back to form on his seasonal return when runner-up in the Minster Stakes at York last month, with a few of these in behind. He’s a difficult one to predict, but he seemingly enjoys the Ascot straight and acts on any going, so he may be worth including in any exotic bets.

8. Lake Forest (1)

Cieren Fallon | William Haggas

Has looked a bit diamond or rock during his career, but he’s a very able five-year-old in the hands of one of the world’s top trainers. The William Haggas inmate finished runner-up in the Commonwealth Cup as a three-year-old at this meeting before heading to Australia, where he won a valuable conditions race with both Lazzat and Joliestar in behind. His form has been indifferent since then though, running well enough in defeat a couple of times but mostly below par. However, he was gelded after bombing out at Flemington in November - on ground which was far from ideal - and although it was a race he was entitled to win, he looked back to his very best when scooting up in a Listed contest at Haydock on his return last month. He is a son of No Nay Never and so does need decent ground, but according to the forecast that’s exactly what he will get.

9. Lugal (4)

Katsuma Sameshima | Haruki Sugiyama

The now six-year-old has been in good touch recently, and while he isn’t as highly regarded as fellow countryman Satono Reve, he did have that rival in behind him when winning Japan’s premier sprint in the Sprinter Stakes back in 2024 - though that has been the only time he has finished in front of last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes runner-up from several meetings. However, connections will be buoyed by recent efforts, having claimed third in a Grade 3 in Japan on his seasonal return before finishing runner-up in the Al Quoz at Meydan on his most recent start, one spot in front of last year’s winner of this, Lazzat. He showed that day that he has no issues on a straight course, with that being his first attempt, and while this will be the first time he has run on a track that has an uphill drag, he is a two-time winner over 7f - most recently in December - which augers well for his chances in this testing 6f contest.

10. Overpass (7)

Joshua Parr | Bjorn Baker

A very good seven-year-old sprinter from Australia who hasn’t won for a while, though he does have decent form in behind the likes of Ka Ying Rising and Joliestar. He was laid out for the King Charles III Stakes on his first overseas mission on Tuesday, and although eventually finishing a well-beaten third as favourite, he still ran with merit in defeat after slightly fluffing his lines out of the stalls. I must stress that I’m not ‘in the know’, but I’d be surprised if he did line up in this. He’s a horse that usually needs his runs spaced out and who doesn’t want any further than 6f at home, with the previous Australian horses to have won or run well in this race in the past being types that get a strong 7f, or even a mile.

11. Powerful Glory (10)

Jamie Spencer | Richard Fahey

A low-mileage type that caused one of the biggest upsets seen on a British racetrack when taking out the Sprint on British Champions Day at 200/1 last October on just his fifth start. In fairness, he had won his first two outings as a two-year-old, including the Mill Reef at Newbury. He made his seasonal return as a four-year-old by finishing unplaced in the Greenland Stakes at the Curragh last month, in a race he probably needed. His record does look a bit all or nothing, but he swooped from last when winning here in October and would be a live contender if running to that same level again.

12. Regional (2)

Callum Rodriguez | Ed Bethell

A consistent Group 1-winning eight-year-old who took out the Sprint Cup at Haydock back in 2023, though that was his last success, and while he is still capable of running to a decent level, his best is more than likely behind him. Since that win he has placed in an Al Quoz and a King Charles III Stakes, as well as making a tidy return to action when picking up the bronze in the Minster Stakes at York, but he’s a pacey type who’s not getting any younger.

13. Sajir (6)

Oisin Murphy | André Fabre

A talented, French-trained sprinter who is no stranger to these shores, having ventured over as a four-year-old to land the spoils in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last year. Two starts later he ran a career best to defeat last year’s winner of this, Lazzat, in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. He was turned over a couple of times after that, but André Fabre’s runner arrives here as a last-time-out winner of Group 3 at Chantilly. This undoubtedly demands more, but they’ve elected to ride him off the pace recently, which was how he was ridden when producing a career best at Deauville, and the chances are they will look to do the same here in a race with a solid gallop on offer.

14. Satono Reve (18)

Ryan Moore | Noriyuki Hori

Last year’s runner-up in a race that wasn’t run quick enough to suit his closing style, and in some people’s opinion - mine included - he probably would have won had he been amid the action in the centre of the track alongside the eventual winner Lazzat. Japan’s leading sprinter has plenty of frequent flyer points, and although yet to win a Group 1 away from home, he has twice finished runner-up to champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong, running numbers that would come out on top in plenty of the big global sprints on the world stage. With the local challenge looking a tad thin on the ground and the unknown travel factor around Australian-based favourite Joliestar, Satono Reve is one of the more likeable contenders. He also picks up the services of Ryan Moore and wears a first-time tongue-tie.

15. Stolen Kiss (15)

Alexis Pouchin | Patrice Cottier

Another French raider who has won six of his 17 starts, but he’s improved plenty recently, winning all of his last three. He’s never run at this level before, though he did have Group 1-winner Sajir back in second in his last two, and he looks a slow-burner that could have more to come. Connections tried him over further when he was a younger horse, but he has come into his own as a sprinter and is now two-from-two down a straight course on turf. Although he has won on heavy, connections insist he’s better on top of the ground, which is what he should get on Saturday.

16. Flora of Bermuda (13)

James Doyle | Andrew Balding

This Wathnan Racing mare has placed at the top level a few times, including when finishing third in this last year behind Lazzat - albeit the first two finished well clear of the rest. She impressed on her seasonal return by winning a Listed fillies’ contest at Newmarket, and while she clearly has far more on her plate here, the runner-up Rosy Affair gave that form a bit of boost when finishing fourth, beaten just over a length, in the King Charles III Stakes on Tuesday. However, she’s come up short in seven starts at the top level, and it’s unlikely she’s getting any better now as a five-year-old.

17. Joliestar (9)

James McDonald | Chris Waller

There have been four winners of this that originated from Australia, but only two have been trained Down Under (Choisir and Black Caviar), thus proving that as good as the Aussie sprinters are, this is no easy task. That being said, this filly has plenty in her favour. Not only is she a five-time Group 1 winner arriving in the form of her life, but she’s also trained by the record-breaking Chris Waller, who went so close to winning this race with 2015 runner-up Brazen Beau, having ran solo on the grandstand side. Waller then returned with the mighty Nature Strip, who blitzed his rivals in the 2022 King Charles III Stakes. Joliestar arrives here fresh and is a gun first up, winning five times for a strike rate of 71%. She has taken out both the T J Smith and the Newmarket back home, two races that traditionally have been the best form pointers for Australian horses heading to the Royal meeting. She’s also won down a straight course, and while the uphill drag at Ascot can catch out the Australian sprinters, as a Group 1 winner over a mile as a three-year-old, she looks well equipped to deal with this testing 6f.

18. Sayidah Dariyan (19)

Billy Loughnane | Richard Hughes

A talented filly who looks to have a bit to find with a few others in here, but it’s doubtful she’s hit her ceiling yet. She ran with merit in defeat at this meeting 12 months ago when finishing fourth in the Commonwealth Cup. Then, in her only try at the top level, she was outpaced in the Nunthorpe over 5f to eventually finish seventh of 17. The four-year-old ran through the line without threatening that day and looks much better suited to this trip. She needed the run when third behind Flora Of Bermuda on her return at Newmarket, and while she does face her toughest challenge to date in this, she wouldn’t be the worst outsider.

19. Time for Sandals (16)

Richard Kingscote | Harry Eustace

Won the Commonwealth Cup at this meeting 12 months ago before a fine effort in defeat to finish third in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, in what was her first spin against older horses. However, her form has tapered off since with four unplaced efforts, including here on Tuesday when beaten a long way in the King Charles III Stakes, so she looks up against it once again.

Tim Carroll's Verdict:

Joliestar is trained by a masterful conditioner, and she ticks plenty of boxes having won the right races in Australia. The only query is it’s her first time away from home, but if she runs to form she should go close to becoming the third Australian-trained runner to win this race. Lake Forest has been a bit hit and miss, but he has plenty of ability when he puts it all together. Although this is a far deeper contest, he looked in great shape when winning first up after a gelding operation and is more than capable of giving this a decent shake, provided he gets his preferred quicker ground - which looks very likely.

Lugal is a two-time winner over 7f, which will certainly hold him in good stead here, and is largely considered the number two of the Japanese contenders, though he does already have a win over SATONO REVE and arrives in top form after an excellent second in the Al Quoz. The latter went agonisingly close to providing Japan with their first Royal meeting success when finishing runner-up in this last year behind Lazzat. Noriyuki Hori’s seven-year-old arrives mirroring his form from 12 months ago, winning the same race in Japan before finishing runner-up to the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong. The race wasn’t run quick enough for him last year, but he was still three lengths clear of the nearest local, and as a proven traveller, he looks a cracking each-way bet (around 6/1 at time of writing) under Ryan Moore.