Royal Ascot 2026 - Day 5 preview

And so, we move onto the final day. Still just in front after a great Tuesday, can I hang on?

14.30 NORFOLK STAKES

Agamennon - improved sharply at his second start, beating a couple of decent juveniles who have both since won. Trainer rates this one highly but jockey Oisin Murphy is having a terrible week, 0/16 before Friday's card, unusual for him. Drawn inside rail but expecting the bias to have levelled out or even switched over by then.

Carry The Flag - second to Coventry winner Great Barrier Reef last time, beat Sun Goddess (fav for Albany) the previous start. Beaten by Star Prospect on debut. Sets the standard. Drawn the middle, can switch to either side if necessary.

Flight Signal - won nicely on debut at Bath a month ago, 3.25L ahead of Jaan Ki Tukri who ran far better than his odds of 125/1 in the Coventry on Tuesday. Bath might be considered as a low-tier track but several trainers like using it to educate their youngsters, a bit like Chester. The constant turning keeps them thinking, ensures they are balanced etc.. On the flipside, sire Mehmas is now 0/85 at Royal Ascot before racing on Friday. April foal but not concerned as much about that over 5f. Place only.

Force Noir - just nosed out on debut by Ruler's Control (fourth in the Windsor Castle), came again after being headed, although that might be an illusion, the winner might just have been walking over the line in the heavy ground. That was a strong form race as the third and fourth then ran well against Confucius & Great Barrier Reef. Force Noir then bolted up in a Naas maiden. Blinkers first time.

Orthodox - won well on debut at Salisbury but the time was really slow, just a sprint home which is unusual for 2yos. Always respect Clive Cox juveniles but looking elsewhere.

Savage Mariner - did much of the work on debut at Leicester but Libertango (Albany runner) went straight past him. Follow that form, it could be useful.

Social Symbol - thought his was a nice debut win at Ripon, watch how the second horse (Hidden Gift) went in the Albany on Friday. Could be quite smart.

Star Prospect - beat Carry The Flag on debut then didn't enjoy the slow pace and small field next time. Big field and plenty of pace should remedy that problem. Big chance, Joseph's team are on fire.

Tribeca - beat a couple of future winners in his only start to date, including the fourth-placed King Of Cloughan who won the Windsor Castle. Drops back to 5f, solid chance.

Underdog - easy win at Sandown on debut last week, not keen on the quick backup so early in the career.

Where Love Lives - won the National Stakes at Sandown last month. I wasn't so keen on that form but the runner-up Adaay Of Scarlett then ran second in the Coventry at massive odds. By that logic, has to be in the mix here. 

Ez Tina - filly who won easily on debut at Woodbine a month ago. It's been a few year since Wesley Ward has won a race here, putting her (and two others) in with the boys in the Norfolk seems an odd choice.

Fanshell Beach - another filly for Ward. Ran a slightly higher on debut earlier in the season. I don't know the sire at all, so taking on trust. They've gone with JMac aboard so I'd lean to her of the three even if the trainer doesn't!

Through The Years - two starts, Johnny V aboard, Coolmore owned. Surprised at the price based on that but something must have happened on the gallops.

VERDICT

Carry The Flag sets the standard but he didn't look like a pure speed machine to me. Surely the Aidan O'Brien show takes a break sometime. Taking a wider view..

SOCIAL SYMBOL, Force Noir, Flight Signal, Star Prospect

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15.05 HARDWICKE STAKES

Amiloc - threw his head around a lot when trying to lead in the Yorkshire Cup last time, SP 8/13. I'll put that down to the small and being too fresh, should have that out of his system now. Was far better than that last season, forgive that last run and he's a decent hope at odds.

Best Secret - handy French-trained Wathnan entrant who ran third in the Golden Gates last year. Won a G3 at Longchamp on 'very soft' ground, ahead of established performers West Wind Blows and Map of Stars. Has no problems with faster ground either. Solid chance.

Ethical Diamond - had a remarkable run last year, winning a maiden hurdle, running fourth in the County Hurdle, winning the Duke of Edinburgh here, the Ebor and then the Breeders' Cup Turf. Tried to extend his run in the Dubai Sheema Classic in late March, but could only run fifth behind Calandagan, West Wind Blows and Giavellotto.  This is more like his level if he's on 2025 form. 

Giavellotto - honest campaigner who pinches the odd race, racking up a nice £3.7m in prizemoney. Good horse but I can never get him right.

Goliath - classy German-bred gelding who has won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes here, the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden and gone close in numerous other top races that he is eligible for. Ran third in the Hong Kong Vase in December and second in the Amir Trophy in Dubai, swapping positions with Giavellotto. Has won nine of 20, strong chance.

Jan Brueghel - won the Coronation Cup at Epsom last year but finished a distant second this year as the rain got into the ground. Classy stallion, still lightly raced with six wins out of nine. Ryan Moore rides him over last year's Derby winner Lambourn. Will be popular.

Lambourn - finished another five lengths behind Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup, he'll much prefer the drier ground here. 

West Wind Blows - frustrating horse for punters, having run second in nine stakes races with only four wins. This campaign he's been runner-up to Royal Power, Calandagan, Best Secret and Kalpana, all level weights apart from receiving 4lbs from the mare in a G3. Very honest, probably runs a place but never seems quite good enough to get his head in front on the line. 

Kalpana - quality mare who tends to fall a tiny bit short in the top tier races against the boys. Ran a string of placings last year behindLos Angeles, Whirl, Calandagan and Giavellotto, before a seventh in the Arc on a wet track, then won the G1 Champions Day Fillies' & Mares' Stakes for the second year in a row. This race is only a Group 2, but it is a very strong one. Deserves favouritism but I wouldn't be marking her too short...

Santorini Star - won the G2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket first time out this year (over 1m4f) then was narrowly beaten by Caballo De Mar in a French Group 1 a month ago. Tends to run over 1m6f or 2m these days, she might be able to claim a weak edition of this race but this is a very good edition.

VERDICT

Really good race. I think it sets up well for the two French horses, Goliath and Best Secret. Any of several in behind - Ethical Diamond, Giavellotto, Jan Brueghel, West Wind Blows, Kalpana. 

GOLIATH, Best Secret, Ethical Diamond, West Wind Blows

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15.40 QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES

Comanche Brave - ran fifth behind Ka Ying Rising then won the G2 Greenlands in facile fashion. Has turned into a handy sprinter by dropping back to 6f. Up there with the best of the locals.

Kind Of Blue - can match it at the top level European sprints, winnng the Champions Sprint here in 2024 (soft going) and two seconds in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. Was beaten a length into second behind Elmonjed in the G2 Minster last month, a rival who probably had the benefit of a run under his belt, whereas Kind Of Blue was first-up after seven months. In the mix.

Lake Forest - had the big snip after two flops in Australia late last year and returned with a dominant 5L win in a Listed race over 7f at Haydock. Hasn't run over 6f for almost two years, but was second in the Commonwealth Cup and won the Gimcrack as a 2yo. He'll have the pace. Tony Bloom and William Haggas have each had winners this week. Another in the mix.

Lugal - beat Lazzat and Rayevka in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai but not the longshot winner Native Approach. Before that he'd finished around the mark in G2/G3 races in Japan but behind Satono Reve when he did step up to the top races (did beat him in a G1 back in Sep 2024). Probably not today but if he took a step forward in Dubai, then perhaps he's one who relishes the travel.

Overpass - wasn't beaten far on Tuesday, and this is probably his best trip. But I don't see him beating Joliestar if they both run to form.

Powerful Glory - won the Champions Sprint here last year at 200/1. I don't see the planets being in perfect alignment again.

Sajir - tried to run in this last year but was withdrawn at the gates after playing up. Won the G1 Maurice de Gheest last season at Deauville but that was a much weaker race than this. Two narrow seconds in Listed races before winning a G3 in France this campaign. Will be fit but not seeing him troubling these.

Satono Reve - started favourite last year but couldn't quite reach Lazzat, beaten half a length. Has been placed behind Ka Ying Rising (the world's best sprinter) three times - most of these wouldn't get near him.

Stolen Kiss - progressive French horse who has won three in a row this season, including two listed races, both times over Sajir. If you rate that one, this runner is three times the price.

Flora Of Bermuda - third in this race last year behind Lazzat and Satono Reve, then ran third later in the season in the G1 Sprint Cup, a nose behind Kind Of Blue. Resumed this season with a Listed win at Newmarket. Honest, but probably looking for a placing as per last year. 

Joliestar - Aussie flying machine trained by Chris Waller. Has won up the straight at Flemington (G1 Newmarket Hcp), and many times at Randwick, three times this year and only 1.5L behind Ka Ying Rising in the Everest last year - although it was evident that KYR hadn't travelled well.

Time For Sandals - won the Commonwealth Cup last year but mostly poor since. Didn't get close in the King Charles III on Tuesday.

VERDICT

Joliestar is damn good. She can probably park behind Overpass and make her run from the two furlong pole. Kind Of Blue and Overpass will be close behind her, while Satono Reve and Lake Forest have to deal with being out on a limb on their respective sides. While Overpass might be late in his career, Joliestar is in her prime.

JOLIESTAR, Kind Of Blue, Overpass, Satono Reve

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More casual punters for the final day so I'll throw in a few horses for the Placepot later in the day.

16.20  - 17, 14, 3

17.00 - 4, 17, 11

17.35 - 14, 12, 7

18.10 - 8, 11, 6