Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for day five’s racing coming your way from Royal Ascot 2026.
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 5 BEST BETS SATURDAY
Race 1 NORFOLK STAKES (Group 2)
No10 ORTHODOX (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
ORTHODOX is bred to be quick and those who latched onto the Havana Grey colt on his debut at Salisbury never had a moment’s worry as he picked up stylishly from halfway to score going away. It was a thoroughly professional performance and he should step up on it on this faster surface. CARRY THE FLAG chased home Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes winner Great Barrier Reef on the latest of three outings in a Group 3 at the Curragh, making him a potent threat to the Nap. Aidan O’Brien does not believe a return to 1000 metres will inconvenience him. There are a few unknowns, but one not to be left out is TRIBECA, a son of Blue Point who was always n command on his Navan introduction.
Prediction: 1st ORTHODOX, 2nd Carry The Flag, 3rd Tribeca
Race 2 HARDWICKE STAKES (Group 2)
No2 BEST SECRET (Each Way)
Trainer: Stephane Wattel – Jockey: James Doyle
For the purist this is the best race of the day with the filly KALPANA looking very solid as a dual Group 1 winner at this course. She overcame rustiness to score on seasonal return in the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury and is a worthy favourite to add to her laurels for Andrew Balding and owners Juddmonte. JAN BRUEGHAL couldn’t hold a candle to Bay City Roller on testing ground in the Coronation Cup, but the 2024 St Leger winner is a classy operator who could easily bounce back. GOLIATH is affected by stringhalt and while that condition makes him a standout in the paddock it doesn’t get in the way of him turning on the style on the track, as evidenced by his success over this course and distance in the King George. His recent win in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly stamps him as being fully primed for this task. At a bigger price and possibly offering the best value in the contest is his compatriot BEST SECRET, who is on the up and up. He impressed in a Longchamp Group 3 last time, and is a big horse who will appreciate this galloping track and could spring a surprise.
Prediction: 1st BEST SECRET, 2nd Kalpana, 3rd Goliath, 4th Jan Brueghel
Race 3 QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES (Group 1)
No17 JOLIESTAR
Trainer: Chris Walker – Jockey: James McDonald
Overseas sprinters look set to dominate this 1200 metres contest of whom nine race winner JOLIESTAR makes considerable appeal. The Zoustar mare made it three on the bounce for the year with a tenacious triumph in the T J Smith (Group 1) at Randwick in April and has delighted her connections subsequently. OVERPASS took away a minor cheque in that race and makes a quick reappearance after her creditable third placing in the King Charles III Stakes here on Tuesday. Japan’s SATONO REVE is by sprint champion Lord Kanaloa and was in no way disgraced when second to superstar Ka Yang Rising in the Chairman’s Sprnt Prize at Sha Tin. The seven-year-old enjoys fast ground and will have his tongue tied down with Ryan Moore in the saddle. In what could be a clean sweep for the visitors the Andre Fabre-trained SAJIR is worthy of inclusion following a win in the Group 3 Prix du Gros-Chene three weeks ago, and has Oisin Murphy doing the steering.
Prediction: 1st JOLIESTAR, 2nd Satono Reve, 3rd Sajir, 4th Overpass
Race 4 JERSEY STAKES (Group 3)
No17 THE PRETTIEST STAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: James Doyle
From a yard that struck in the first race of the meeting and also took out this race in 2025, THE PRETTIEST STAR is a very interesting proposition who can take full advantage of her sex allowance. The Starman filly was making her seasonal debut when fourth in the 1000 Guineas with Walker emphasising how much she’s improved for that experience. She’s back to 1400 metres today, but it shouldn’t impair her progression. The twice raced SABER STRIKE successfully stepped up in grade to pick up a Listed contest at Newmarket on his return to the fray but this is a bigger ask, and especially so granted he’s giving my selection 3lb. INTO THE SKY is the best horse trained in Epsom but just what that means we will find out today. He was beaten 12 lengths when fourth in the 2000 Guineas but probably didn’t stay, and this slightly shorter trip might prove to be his optimum trip.
Prediction: 1st THE PRETTIEST STAR, 2nd Saber Strike, 3rd Into The Sky
Race 5 WOKINGHAM HANDICAP
No18 TEN POUNDS (Each Way)
Trainer: Joey Ramsden – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
One horse that stands out in the betting extravaganza of the final day is TEN POUNDS, who has a hint of South Africa about him. Ramsden was a multiple champion trainer in the Western Cape and though yet to send out a high profile winner from his Lincolnshire base that can all change. The Valmont-owned TEN POUNDS finished third in this race 12 months ago when under the care of Harry Charlton. Since switching stables it’s taken a while for him to give his best, but a second to the classy Washington Heights in a Listed race at Carlisle is proof positive that he’s cherry ripe for this task. At the head of the weights SPY CHIEF needs respecting as he looked near back to his best when narrowly denied on seasonal return at Salisbury. And don’t forget the Godolphin-owned gelding served up a career best when second in the Jersey Stakes here last season. DOUBLE RUSH has been popular in the ante post market on the back of an unbeaten campaign this season with two successes at Newmarket. He’s much improved, and Andrew Balding can’t be disappointed with the colt’s high draw. Veteran APOLLO ONE was very unlucky not to land a Group 3 here last autumn, and while largely out of sorts since that excellent effort can’t be safely overlooked. A gamble on BINHAREER only narrowly came unstuck at York, and this speedily bred grey is another to put in all combinations.
Prediction: 1st TEN POUNDS, 2nd Spy Chief, 3rd Double Rush, 4th Apollo One, 5th Binhareer
Race 6 GOLDEN GATES HANDICAP
No12 LOST BOYS
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: James McDonald
Menuisier has been quiet with his runners this week but London Gold Cup winner LOST BOYS has always had this race on his agenda. The chestnut gamely found extra to repel several challengers at Newbury for which he’s both gone up 7lb and changed ownership. The booking of New Zealand ace McDonald for him can’t be a bad thing either. SPYCE was three and a half lengths adrift of my selection in the London Gold Cup and weighted to make more of a race of it with him under Rossa Ryan. SAHARA KING went down by just a head in the same contest to make him another must include if you value the Newbury form. HARMONICS hosed up at Doncaster earlier in the month and as a son of emergent sire Lucky Vega must be considered in his hat-trick bid.
Prediction: 1st LOST BOYS, 2nd Spyce, 3rd Sahara King, 4th Harmonics
Race 7 QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES
No8 ILLINOIS
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Though he was readily brushed aside when acting as a pacemaker in the Coronation Cup, a line is happily drawn through that below par run from ILLINOIS, and this Galileo entire is perfectly capable of bouncing back on a first attempt at this marathon trip. The 2024 Queen’s Vase winner retains a touch of class and can round off a superb week for Adan O’Brien’s Coolmore operation by repelling FRENCH MASTER, A PIECE OF HEAVEN and LE DESTRIER.
Prediction: 1st ILLINOIS, 2nd French Mater, 3rd A Piece Of Heaven, 4th Le Destrier
