Royal Ascot Race Predictions & Tips: 8 Horses To Look Out For

One of the highlights of the British sporting calendar, Royal Ascot brings together the world's best horses, trainers, jockeys and owners for five days of elite flat racing. 

Steeped in tradition and renowned for its unique atmosphere, the meeting consistently attracts the sport's biggest names. Group 1 races are taking place throughout the week, with top trainers – including A P O’Brien, Charlie Appleby and Willie Mullins – putting their best horses forward to compete.

This year's meeting looks particularly competitive with appearances from Opera Ballo, Bow Echo, Gstaad, Precise, and more. While most eyes are naturally drawn to the market leaders, several unexpected horses have generated considerable buzz in the build-up. 

From proven Group 1 contenders to potential breakout stars, here are eight horses to watch closely at Royal Ascot 2026.

1. Opera Ballo – Queen Anne Stakes

• Age: 4yo (10Mar22)

• Trainer: Charlie Appleby 

• Owner: Godolphin

• Entry: Queen Anne Stakes (1m)

A 4-year-old bay colt owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, Opera Ballo is in fantastic shape to tackle the Queen Anne Stakes.

He’s put in excellent efforts at Sandown, Meydan and Newmarket over the last 12 months, winning four of the last five races entered – most recently with a convincing win at Sandown in April. 

Table: Recent Form of Opera Ballo 

His main rivals come in the form of Notable Speech, another from the Charlie Appleby stable and the early favourite of the Queen Anne Stakes and William Haggas’ More Thunder.

2. Bow Echo – St James's Palace Stakes

• Age: 3yo:(01Mar23)

• Trainer: George Boughey

• Owner: Exors Of The Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid

• Entry: St James's Palace Stakes (1m)

The early favourite in the St James's Palace Stakes, Bow Echo, is an unbeaten Bay Colt, winning over 1m at Newmarket, Haydock and Newbury. His last race out proved his strength as he proved too strong for Gstaad (also entered in the St James's Palace Stakes) in the final furlong. 

Table: Recent Form of Bow Echo

His main competitor will, of course, be A P O'Brien’s Gstaad. But Charlie’s Appleby’s 

Talk Of New York is moving rapidly in the early markets. There’s plenty of muscle in this one – it’s well worth watching. 

3. Gstaad – St James's Palace Stakes

• Age: 3yo (22Mar23)

• Trainer: A P O'Brien 

• Owner: Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor

• Entry: St James's Palace Stakes (1m)

A P O'Brien‘s entry into the St James's Palace Stakes comes in the form of Gstaad, a 3-year-old bay colt effective over multiple distances. Most recently, Gstaad has been running in 1m contests, winning at both Curragh and Del Mar alongside a second-place finish in Newmarket to Bow Echo.

Table: Recent Form of Gstaad

As above, it’s Bow Echo that stands as the major competition, but don’t count out Charlie’s Appleby’s Talk Of New York.

4. Precise – Coronation Stakes 

• Age: 3yo (02May23)

• Trainer: A P O'Brien 

• Owner: Derrick Smith/Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Westerberg

• Entry: Coronation Stakes (1m)

A Chestnut Filly trained by A P O'Brien, Precise is the current, early favourite for the Coronation Stakes (1m). She’s good over 1m, winning most recently at Curragh in May, beating True Love, another of A P O'Brien’s horses and another entry in the Coronation Stakes. 

Table: Recent Form of Precise

A P O'Brien’s True Love is likely to be the most competitive of the other runners in the field, but there’s Charlie Appleby’s Abashiri that could cause problems. 

5. True Love – Coronation Stakes 

• Age: 3yo: (05Apr23)

• Trainer: A P O'Brien

• Owner: Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier

• Entry: Coronation Stakes (1m)

Another from the mind of A P O'Brien comes True Love, a Bay Filly that’s regularly in the ring with Precise. 

Although successful in the past, she was beaten by her stablemate last time out at Curragh. The team will be hoping for redemption over the 1m race at Ascot.

Table: Recent Form of True Love

No matter which way you spin it, A P O’Brien has the Coronation Stakes in his back pocket already. With the top two runners in his stable, not to mention the currently unbeaten 

Diamond Necklace is also running – it’s very much his race to lose. 

6. Rahiebb – Gold Cup 

• Age: 4yo (05Mar22)

• Trainer: Roger Varian 

• Owner: Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum

• Entry: Gold Cup (2m4f)

A 4-year-old Bay Colt trained by Roger Varian, Rahiebb, is flagged as one of the early top contenders for the Gold Cup. 

He’s had a mixed bag of results over the last 12 months, most recently winning out at York over 1m6f. He looks fantastic value with his early price, but he’s venturing into unknown territory with a race distance of 2m4f. 

Table: Recent Form of Rahiebb

Competition comes from Scandinavia, a former rival who beat Rahiebb to the post back in September at Doncaster. But there’s also Trawlerman from John & Thady Gosden – he’s also looking good with a record over comparable distances. 

7. Trawlerman – Gold Cup

• Age: 8yo (16Feb18)

• Trainer: John & Thady Gosden

• Owner: Godolphin

• Entry: Gold Cup (2m4f)

Trained by John & Thady Gosden, 8-year-old Trawlerman is no stranger to Ascot – he loves it here, winning the Gold Cup last time out (2025). 

He may be older than the competition, but there’s still life in those legs yet - point proven in October with a first-place finish in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup. He beat a field of younger horses over 2m to take another career victory in Berkshire.

Table: Recent Form of Trawlerman

The question mark around Trawlerman is whether he’s got enough left in the tank to defend his Gold Cup title. There’s fierce competition in Scandinavia and Rahiebb, but it’d make for a fantastic headline if he can get the back-to-back – especially after the second place in 2024. 

8. Daryz – Prince Of Wales's Stakes 

• Age: 4yo (02May22)

• Trainer: F-H Graffard 

• Owner: Aga Khan Studs SCEA

• Entry: Prince Of Wales's Stakes (1m2f)

A Longchamp expert, winning 3 of his last 4 outings, Daryz is a much-anticipated entry into the 2026 Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Trained by F-H Graffard, he’s previously beaten the likes of Bay City Roller, Minnie Hauk and Oracle. 

Table: Recent Form of Daryz

The early favourite may be Daryz, but the Prince Of Wales's Stakes has plenty of top-quality talent. John & Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman is likely to prove the toughest test on the day. 

Final Verdict

Royal Ascot always impresses, and the 2026 running is positioned for another week of top-tier racing. 

Horses like Opera Ballo, Precise, True Love, and Bow Echo arrive with classic-winning credentials and the potential to rise to the sport's highest levels. Trainer A P O’Brien will undoubtedly get his hands on some silverware – but it’s the journey of how to get it that’s the interesting part. 

It’s never straightforward to predict the winners at Royal Ascot, and the festival often surprises with unexpected results. It’s this unpredictability at the highest level – along with the Royal Pageantry that makes the meeting truly special.