ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1 BEST BETS -TUESDAY, 16 June 2026

Race 1 QUEEN ANNE STAKES (Group 1)

No6 NOTABLE SPEECH
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

The race in which FRANKEL earned his record rating of 140 back in 2011 provides a perfect curtain raiser for the best week’s racing in the world, and fresh from his dominating triumph in the Lockinge Stakes, NOTABLE SPEECH is the one to be on. The 2024 Guineas winner hasn’t really fired in two visits to this fixture including when fourth in the corresponding race 12 months ago, but having been unlucky in running on his first outing of the year at Keeneland he then made no mistake at Newbury, where when set alight he produced a telling gear change to quickly settle the issue. His owners Godolphin look to have put FIRST CONQUEST in as a pacemaker, but their third contender OPERA BALLO holds strong claims in his own right as he brings an impressive CV to the table numbering seven successes from nine career starts including the Group 2 Sandown Mile, in which he made a hack out of Field Of Gold. Last year’s winner DOCKLANDS has also to be of interest returned to his favourite track after going down in a blanket finish to the Champions Mile in Hong Kong.

Predication: 1st NOTABLE SPEECH, 2nd Opera Ballo, 3rd Docklands

Race 2 COVENTRY STAKES (Group 2)

No15 NIGHT IN VEGAS (Nap)
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton – Jockey: Charles Bishop

Of all the two-year-olds I’ve seen in the UK and Ireland this year, NIGHT IN VEGAS stands out. The son of emergent stallion Lucky Vega has delivered at this course and Goodwood with a real professionalism, to make him of serious interest now moving into Pattern company for his only entry at the meeting. He looks uncomplicated which is a huge asset for a horse running in the first juvenile contest of the week, and granted a traffic free passage I have high hopes he can remain unbeaten for a trainer who is red hot with her two-year-olds. GREAT BARRIER REEF also puts a two race unbeaten record on the line for Coolmore, having taken out a Group 3 on his latest visit to the Curragh. He overcame a tardy start to score going away in an exercise that will have taught him plenty, though Ryan Moore appears to prefer CONFUCIUS. Without questioning the jockey’s wisdom this son of No Nay Never has plummeted in the betting for the race, with punters wowed by his all the way triumph at Naas in which he hugged the far rail and gave generously to come home unchallenged.

Prediction: 1st NIGHT IN VEGAS, 2nd Great Barrier Reef, 3rd Confucius

Race 3 KING CHARLES III STAKES (Group 1)

No5 GETREADYTORUMBLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

While having a strong suspicion that overseas challengers can do well in this Group 1 sprint, granted his big double figure price there’s something to be said for backing GETREADYTORUMBLE to show that his running in the Temple Stakes was all wrong. The grey tackled that Haydock Group 2 after meeting traffic on his seasonal return at Naas, but when the sprint races were moved onto the old course he had to race over the worst of the ground from the previous day’s racing. The terrain had become cut up and my selection was never happy on it. Five overseas challengers include Aidan O’Brien’s MISSION CENTRAL who not only took out the Naas contest but followed up in another Listed race at the same course. He needs respecting, but just as interesting from France is RAYEVKA who advertised her well being with success in the Group 3 Prix de Saint-George’s at Longchamp. That was a career best for Francis Graffard’s filly, who should have more to offer. OVERPASS may prove the better of two Australian hopefuls as he’s won a Group 1 and also troubled the judge in the T J Smith Stakes at Randwick in April, though slightly worrying is that he hasn’t won since the autumn of 2024. I shall reluctantly dodge his compatriot ASFOORA, who hasn’t looked anywhere near her best in two UK outings this year and now has her tongue tied down.

Prediction: 1st GETREADYTORUMBLE, 2nd Rayevka, 3rd Overpass, 4th Mission Central

Race 4 ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES (Group 1)

No1 BOW ECHO
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Billy Loughnane

History can repeat itself in this race for the connoisseur with BOW ECHO confirming his Newmarket superiority over GSTAAD. The pair dominated that 2,000 Guineas running out of the Dip, and when Loughnane gave his mount the office the colt impressively came clear in the manner of a budding champion. Just how good a race our first Classic was will be put to the test today because entering the fray is Godolphin’s upwardly mobile TALK OF NEW YORK, who though taking a big step up in class was very impressive in landing the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown, in which he stormed more than five lengths clear of stablemate Time To Turn. Charlie Appleby should have a good line onto the potential of his Wootton Bassett colt, though he will need to be super special to halt the march of the indomitable selection who can make it a nap hand of victories, and remain unbeaten.

Prediction: 1st BOW ECHO, 2nd Talk Of New York, 3rd Gstaad

Race 5 ASCOT HANDICAP STAKES

No3 BARNSO (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Irish horses dominate the market for this staying test although last year’s winner ASCENDING heads for a different race this time. REACHING HIGH is the first horse Willie Mullins has trained for the King, and therefore of obvious interest. Ryan Moore had experience of this tall, long striding horse when he was with Sir Michael Stoute, but since moving to Closutton the five-year-old has only race twice and including when finishing in midfield in this race in 2025. That means he’s having his first outing in exactly a year, but don’t expect him to bring any cobwebs to the track. PUTURHANDSTOGETHER makes a first visit to Ascot for Joseph O’Brien after being a beaten favourite in the Chester Cup. His appearances on the Flat are few and far between, but in the JP McManus silks he needs respecting. BUNTING is lightly raced and gives Mullins another string to his bow being fit from a readying run over hurdles, but those looking for a shocker might also consider BARNSO. The chestnut ran well in a sequence of staying contests when trained in Ireland before two runs after moving to Barbury Castle. He finished in the ruck in the Cesarewitch, but Alan King has had a long time since then to get to know this capable performer.

Prediction: 1st BARNSO, 2nd Puturhandstogether, 3rd Reaching High, 4th Bunting

Race 6 WOLFERTON STAKES

No12 NAHRAAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

In some ways this is the toughest race to handicap on Day 1 in which it’s difficult to put a line through many of the runners’ names. Wathnan Racing field a powerful triple challenge on the contest via KING’S GAMBIT, MAP OF STARS and HAATEM with the latter preferred as he bids to repeat his 2025 triumph in the race. The five-year-old seeks a third success at this meeting, having also landed the previous year’s Jersey Stakes. Godolphin might also have a say through its pairing of ACIENT WISDOM and ARABIAN LIGHT, while confirmed front runner GALEN has earned big bucks by placing in top races in the Middle East and could prove dangerous fresh from a four month break. Galen needs serious consideration and might attract support, but my preference is for NAHRAAN, who with only four races on his CV possesses plenty of room for progression. The Make Believe colt’s only defeat came when third in a Longchamp Group 3 and I understand he’s been working well in Newmarket.

Prediction: 1st NAHRAAN, 2nd Haatem, 3rd Ancient Wisdom, 4th Galen

Race 7 COPPER HORSE HANDICAP

No4 DAIQUIRI BAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

DAIQUIRI BAY made the perfect start to his season just as he had in 2025 by scoring at the Newmarket Guineas fixture, and his defeat there of GAMRAI can prove integral to the outcome of this good betting heat. My selection was chilled out in the preliminaries after wearing a hood to go to the start, settled beautifully in the race, and after setting his sights on leader Gamrai claimed him in the final half a furlong. He moves up to a trip that will most likely better suit him and can confirm those placings. VALIANCY graduates out of a Hamilton handicap in which he landed some good bets but looks short enough on that evidence while ASCENDING was easy to back when returning in the Sagaro Stakes here and could prove a different proposition.

Prediction: 1st DAIQUIRI BAY, 2nd Gamrai, 3rd Valiancy, 4th Ascending