James Maxwell
Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-06-22
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See the Royal Ascot Week live hubRoyal Ascot 2026: the story of the week
Royal Ascot 2026 opened the way it would carry on, with a result almost nobody saw coming. The very first race of the meeting, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, went to Ten Bob Tony at 50/1, Kieran Shoemark forcing the Ed Walker runner clear of a field packed with shorter-priced names. The favourite Notable Speech (9/4) could finish only sixth. If you wanted a single result to capture how open and competitive five days of racing on good to firm ground would be, that was it.
From there the meeting settled into a more familiar rhythm, and the dominant name was Aidan O'Brien. Ballydoyle's seven-winner haul ran right through the week. Great Barrier Reef opened the account in the Coventry Stakes at 6/1 and Mission Central took the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at 14/1, with Victorious adding the Queen Mary, Scandinavia the Gold Cup, Precise the Coronation Stakes, Causeway the King Edward VII and Illinois the Queen Alexandra to close the week. Ryan Moore matched the trainer with seven winning rides of his own. Joseph O'Brien added five more, including Limestone in the Queen's Vase, to keep the family firmly on top of the standings.
The big-race favourites had their say too. Ombudsman justified short odds of 11/10 in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Scandinavia was sent off 11/8 and delivered in the Gold Cup, and Friday produced two more well-backed winners in Venetian Sun (11/8) in the Commonwealth Cup and Precise (8/13) in the Coronation Stakes.
Saturday refused to follow the script. The week's closing Group 1, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, fell to Almeraq at 25/1, Tom Marquand and William Haggas raiding the finale just as Ten Bob Tony had raided the opener. Between those two long-priced bookends sat a meeting that rewarded the very best stables and punished anyone who assumed the obvious. The day-by-day results below carry every winner and starting price.
Day 1 results, Tuesday 16 June
Opening day delivered the shock of the week before the meeting had properly drawn breath. The Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes went to Ten Bob Tony at 50/1, Kieran Shoemark partnering the Ed Walker miler to a famous win over More Thunder (7/2) and Opera Ballo (7/2). Notable Speech, sent off the 9/4 favourite, trailed home sixth. It was a result that set the tone for five competitive days on good to firm going.
The Group races that followed were kinder to those near the head of the market in places, but far from straightforward. Aidan O'Brien struck twice, taking the Coventry Stakes with Great Barrier Reef (6/1) and the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes with Mission Central, the latter coming home at 14/1 under Ryan Moore in a 26-runner sprint. The day's shortest-priced winner was Bow Echo, the 5/6 favourite, who landed the St James's Palace Stakes for Gavin Boughey and Billy Loughnane.
The handicaps stayed true to Royal Ascot form by throwing up bigger numbers. The Ascot Stakes went to Kizlyar at 25/1, completing a one-two for Joseph O'Brien with Defiantly (25/1) second. Map Of Stars (13/2) took the Wolferton, and Daiquiri Bay (6/1) closed the card in the Copper Horse Handicap.
Tuesday 16 June winners
| Race | Winner | SP | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Anne Stakes (Gp1) | Ten Bob Tony | 50/1 | K Shoemark / E Walker |
| Coventry Stakes (Gp2) | Great Barrier Reef | 6/1 | Wayne Lordan / A P O'Brien |
| King Charles III Stakes (Gp1) | Mission Central | 14/1 | R L Moore / A P O'Brien |
| St James's Palace Stakes (Gp1) | Bow Echo | 5/6 | Billy Loughnane / G Boughey |
| Ascot Stakes (Handicap) | Kizlyar | 25/1 | J M Sheridan / J P O'Brien |
| Wolferton Stakes (Listed) | Map Of Stars | 13/2 | James McDonald / F Graffard |
| Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) | Daiquiri Bay | 6/1 | Rossa Ryan / A King |
The opening day went a long way to defining the meeting: a 50/1 Group 1 winner, two for Ballydoyle and a pair of 25/1 shocks in the staying races.
Day 2 results, Wednesday 17 June
Wednesday belonged to the favourite backers at the top end and the handicap specialists everywhere else. The centrepiece, the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, went to Ombudsman at 11/10, William Buick steering the John and Thandi Gosden colt clear of Minnie Hauk (15/2) and the 2/1 shot Daryz. It was the kind of solid favourite result that the meeting had largely denied punters on day one.
Aidan O'Brien kept the winners flowing. Victorious (10/3) took the Queen Mary Stakes under Ryan Moore from a 27-runner field, and Limestone (10/3) followed up in the Queen's Vase for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle. Andrew Balding's Blue Bolt (5/2) landed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, holding off the well-fancied Friendly Soul (7/2).
The handicaps, as ever, were where the prices got interesting. The Royal Hunt Cup, a 28-runner cavalry charge up the straight mile, fell to Rogue Diplomat at 25/1, James Owen and Harry Davies edging out Blue Rc (25/1) in a blanket finish. Alobayyah (11/4) was a more solid result in the Kensington Palace Handicap for William Haggas, before King Of Cloughan rounded off the day with the biggest number of the afternoon, taking the Windsor Castle Stakes at 33/1 for Joseph O'Brien.
Wednesday 17 June winners
| Race | Winner | SP | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Mary Stakes (Gp2) | Victorious | 10/3 | R L Moore / A P O'Brien |
| Queen's Vase (Gp2) | Limestone | 10/3 | Dylan Browne McMonagle / J P O'Brien |
| Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Gp2) | Blue Bolt | 5/2 | Colin Keane / A M Balding |
| Prince of Wales's Stakes (Gp1) | Ombudsman | 11/10 | W Buick / J & T Gosden |
| Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap) | Rogue Diplomat | 25/1 | Harry Davies / James Owen |
| Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) | Alobayyah | 11/4 | Tom Marquand / W J Haggas |
| Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) | King Of Cloughan | 33/1 | Billy Loughnane / J P O'Brien |
A day that split neatly down the middle: the Group races went to the market leaders, the handicaps to the bold.
Day 3 results, Thursday 18 June
Ladies' Day was built around the Gold Cup, and the staying championship went to the favourite. Scandinavia, sent off 11/8, gave Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore a comfortable success over two and a half miles, beating the John and Thandi Gosden pair Trawlerman (10/3) and Sweet William (11/1). It was the stand-out result of the afternoon and another Group 1 for the meeting's dominant stable.
The supporting Group races were a mix of the predictable and the surprising. Earth Shot (4/1) took the Ribblesdale Stakes for William Haggas and James Doyle, turning over the 13/8 favourite Legacy Link, who could finish only seventh. The Hampton Court Stakes produced the day's standout upset, Generic landing it at 18/1 for Andrew Balding and Doyle, with the 11/8 favourite Endorsement having to settle for second.
The handicaps stayed competitive throughout. Nola Soul (11/2) opened the card in the Chesham Stakes for John Stack, Enceladus (7/1) took the King George V Stakes for Joseph O'Brien, and the 30-runner Britannia Handicap fell to Moonfall at 13/2 for Gavin Boughey and Zac Lloyd. Mezcala (9/2) closed Thursday with the Buckingham Palace Handicap.
Thursday 18 June winners
| Race | Winner | SP | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesham Stakes (Listed) | Nola Soul | 11/2 | Seamie Heffernan / J A Stack |
| King George V Stakes (Handicap) | Enceladus | 7/1 | R L Moore / J P O'Brien |
| Ribblesdale Stakes (Gp2) | Earth Shot | 4/1 | James Doyle / W J Haggas |
| Gold Cup (Gp1) | Scandinavia | 11/8 | R L Moore / A P O'Brien |
| Britannia Stakes (Handicap) | Moonfall | 13/2 | Zac Lloyd / G Boughey |
| Hampton Court Stakes (Gp3) | Generic | 18/1 | James Doyle / A M Balding |
| Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) | Mezcala | 9/2 | Tom Marquand / J Channon |
The Gold Cup favourite obliged, but Generic's 18/1 strike in the Hampton Court was a reminder that the meeting kept punishing assumptions.
Day 4 results, Friday 19 June
Friday was the meeting's most favourite-friendly afternoon, with the two Group 1s both going to well-backed runners. The Commonwealth Cup fell to Venetian Sun at 11/8, Clifford Lee driving the K R Burke filly clear of a 22-runner sprint, with the 50/1 outsider Spicy Marg staying on for an unlikely second. An hour later Precise made it two from two for the market in the Coronation Stakes, the 8/13 favourite winning comfortably for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore from stablemate True Love (5/2).
O'Brien added a third Group winner on the card when Causeway (evens) took the King Edward VII Stakes, beating Water To Wine (13/8) in a five-runner contest. The Albany Stakes did not follow suit. The 10/11 favourite Sun Goddess was turned over by Libertango at 6/1, Billy Loughnane and Gavin Boughey landing the fillies' Group 3.
The handicaps were typically wide open. Opportunity (6/1) took the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes for William Haggas, the huge Sandringham field went to Green Carrera (8/1) for Joseph O'Brien, and Bacio (3/1) closed Friday with the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap for the American raider Wesley Ward.
Friday 19 June winners
| Race | Winner | SP | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Stakes (Gp3) | Libertango | 6/1 | Billy Loughnane / G Boughey |
| Commonwealth Cup (Gp1) | Venetian Sun | 11/8 | C Lee / K R Burke |
| Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) | Opportunity | 6/1 | James McDonald / W J Haggas |
| Coronation Stakes (Gp1) | Precise | 8/13 | R L Moore / A P O'Brien |
| Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) | Green Carrera | 8/1 | M Barzalona / J P O'Brien |
| King Edward VII Stakes (Gp2) | Causeway | Evens | R L Moore / A P O'Brien |
| Palace of Holyroodhouse (Handicap) | Bacio | 3/1 | Juan Hernandez / Wesley Ward |
After four days of upsets, Friday finally rewarded the form book, with three short-priced Group winners landing for those who kept faith with the market.
Day 5 results, Saturday 20 June
The final day closed the meeting the way it had opened, with a long-priced Group 1 winner that few had on their cards. The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes went to Almeraq at 25/1, Tom Marquand and William Haggas raiding the week's last championship sprint ahead of the 5/2 favourite Satono Reve and Joliestar (15/8). After Ten Bob Tony's 50/1 strike in Tuesday's Queen Anne, it was a fitting bookend to a fortnight of open, hard-to-call racing.
Aidan O'Brien signed off in his usual fashion, taking the staying marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes with Illinois (7/4) under Ryan Moore. Elsewhere the Group races spread the wealth. Orthodox (9/2) landed the Norfolk Stakes for Clive Cox, and the Hardwicke Stakes produced a 9/1 winner in Giavellotto for Marco Botti and Oisin Murphy, the favourite Kalpana (9/4) having to settle for second.
The handicaps and the Jersey kept the prices honest. Thesecretadversary (20/1) sprang a surprise in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for John Stack, beating the 11/10 favourite Saber Strike. Double Rush (5/1) won the 27-runner Wokingham, and Lost Boys (2/1) took the Golden Gates Handicap for David Menuisier and James McDonald.
Saturday 20 June winners
| Race | Winner | SP | Jockey / Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Stakes (Gp2) | Orthodox | 9/2 | Rossa Ryan / C G Cox |
| Hardwicke Stakes (Gp2) | Giavellotto | 9/1 | Oisin Murphy / M Botti |
| Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Gp1) | Almeraq | 25/1 | Tom Marquand / W J Haggas |
| Jersey Stakes (Gp3) | Thesecretadversary | 20/1 | Seamie Heffernan / J A Stack |
| Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) | Double Rush | 5/1 | Shane Foley / A M Balding |
| Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) | Lost Boys | 2/1 | James McDonald / D Menuisier |
| Queen Alexandra Stakes | Illinois | 7/4 | R L Moore / A P O'Brien |
Almeraq's 25/1 Jubilee win was the perfect close: a meeting that began and ended with a result the market never expected.
How the AI Lab model did at Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is the toughest test in the Flat calendar, so it is a useful week to look at honestly. Across the 35 races our AI Lab model published a top-rated runner for, here is exactly how it performed.
The model's top pick won 5 of those 35 races, a strike rate of 14.3%. Backed flat at a notional £10 a race on the top pick, that returned a loss of £31 from £350 staked, an ROI to starting price of -8.8%. The model did not beat the market over the meeting. Its predictions came in with a Brier score of 0.0509 against the market's 0.0463, meaning the bookmakers' odds were the sharper read on the week.
None of that is a failure of design, and it is worth being plain about what it does and does not show. A 14.3% top-pick strike rate is roughly one winner in seven, which in fields routinely numbering 20 to 30 runners on good to firm ground is about what a calibrated model should produce. The week's two Group 1 bookends tell the same story from the other direction: Ten Bob Tony winning the Queen Anne at 50/1 and Almeraq taking the Jubilee at 25/1 were results the market itself did not see coming, and no honest model was going to flag either as a likely winner.
The model is a calibrated read on each runner's chance from its own form, conditions and weather. It does not see the live market price, and at a meeting this competitive the market's collective information edge showed. The numbers above are not a sales pitch. They are the same record we publish every day, win or lose, and Royal Ascot was a week where the market came out on top.
You can see the model's live, all-time record, updated after every meeting, on the AI Lab page.
Headlines and where to follow the racing
Five days, 35 races and a meeting defined by how open it proved to be. Here are the numbers that stood out.
The week in figures
| Stat | Result |
|---|---|
| Most successful trainer | Aidan O'Brien, 7 winners |
| Most successful jockey | Ryan Moore, 7 winners |
| Biggest-priced winner | Ten Bob Tony, 50/1 (Queen Anne Stakes) |
| Joseph O'Brien | 5 winners, second to his father |
| Longest-priced Group 1 | Ten Bob Tony 50/1, Almeraq 25/1 |
Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore finished the meeting locked together on seven wins apiece, the trainer-jockey combination behind much of Ballydoyle's haul including the Gold Cup, the Coronation and the King Charles III. Joseph O'Brien added five of his own to make it a family rout. At the other end, the two long-priced Group 1 shocks, Ten Bob Tony and Almeraq, framed a week in which the market was beaten as often as it was right.
Where to follow the racing
If you want to keep following the form after the meeting, our AI Lab predictor publishes a calibrated model read on every UK Flat and jumps race, with its full record shown win or lose. You can also compare current sign-up promotions on our bookmakers page, where the live deals are listed side by side.
A reminder on the model: it is a data tool, not a tipping service, and as the week above shows it does not beat the market every time. Treat any bet as entertainment, never as income.
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