Royal Ascot 2026: Ryan Moore’s World Pool blog: Gold Cup Day

Royal Ascot | Race 1: Listed Chesham Stakes 

I ride AIX LA CHAPELLE in the Chesham. He was impressive at the Curragh on his only start so far.

We also run South Dakota, who will appreciate the step up in trip. He’s not out of this at all.

Royal Ascot | Race 2: King George V Stakes 

In the King George V I ride one for Joseph [O’Brien], ENCELADUS.

He looks a nice, lightly-raced son of Sea The Stars, so you’d hope the step up in trip and better ground will play to his strengths.

There are plenty in here with chances given it’s a handicap for three-year-olds. It looks wide-open but I’m happy with mine.

Royal Ascot | Race 3: G2 Ribblesdale Stakes 

In the Ribblesdale Stakes, we run COMPOSING.

She’d had a couple of runs this year, starting with a Guineas trial at Leopardstown then she ran in the Prix Saint-Alary in France, which was a messy race, but she was doing all her best work inside the last furlong.

The step up to a mile and a half will suit her as she was a Group winner as a two-year-old and I think she could run very well.

Royal Ascot | Race 4: G1 Gold Cup 

I’m looking forward to riding SCANDINAVIA in the Gold Cup.

There are a good few questions to answer, stepping up in class and in trip, but he’s been giving us the right signals.

I’ve won this race on four-year-olds in the past – Kyprios and Estimate – and I don’t mind that approach at all.

He won the St Leger last year and he’s won both his starts this year. He’s obviously going over this distance for the first time but he won the

Goodwood Cup over two miles already, so hopefully that extra half-a-mile will be within his compass.

Trawlerman sets the standard and deserves plenty of respect and Rahiebb was impressive in the Yorkshire Cup. They look the two main ones.

There’s also Caballo De Mar, who is a two-time Group 1 winner, and a few others you could make a case for. The Gold Cup is always a hard race to win.

Royal Ascot | Race 5: Britannia Stakes 

FLUSHING MEADOWS hasn’t got his head in front since winning on debut at the Curragh last season, but he could be competitive in a race like the Brittania.

It’s obviously wide-open and a bit of a lottery, but his draw in 22 could work out well and the stiff straight mile should suit.

Royal Ascot | Race 6: G3 Hampton Court Stakes 

In the Hampton Court I’m on ENDORSEMENT.

He was just beaten by Christmas Day in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, so obviously that form worked out well at Epsom, and he also

finished behind James J Braddock and Pierre Bonard in the Derby Trial.

He’s dropping back in distance here but he’s in good form and he’s an uncomplicated horse that will go well.

Italy is also in here, having his first start since running in the Ballysax. He ran well there and I could see him running a massive race also.

Royal Ascot | Race 7: Buckingham Palace Stakes 

COLOMBIER comes into the Buckingham Palace Stakes off the back of his Epsom win.

He’ll encounter different conditions here, as Epsom was very soft, so I suppose ground would be a question.