Eight take to post for the coveted Doncaster Cup Stakes that takes centre stage on day two of the St Leger festival. Predating the meeting’s flagship race itself, it is the oldest surviving race on Town Moor dating back to 1766.
2026 Doncaster Cup Runners
1. Caballo De Mar
George Scott’s rapidly improving stayer Caballo De Mar is on a comeback mission having weakened alarmingly in the Ascot Gold Cup, prior to falling to justify favouritism in the Yorkshire Cup. A tongue-tie and blinkers headgear combination is now reached for, and on his best form he ought to be going very close but he comes with risks attached.
2. Ascending
Ascending was ahead of Beylerbeyi in the Ebor, failing to match his second in the race last season. He’s winless since his Ascot Stakes success in 2025, and is another who’ll need to improve to go close here.
3. Berkshire Sundance
Berkshire Sundance has a respectable 7-19 strike rate and arrives in career best form this season. First time cheek-pieces saw him land the Easter Plate Marathon at Newcastle in April, and he was an excellent second to Defiantly at Goodwood last time out, but he does need to pull out more to win this.
4. Beylerbeyi
Beylerbeyi capped off a tremendous season with a comfortable success in the Cesarewitch over this trip but has yet to hit the winners enclosure this term. He has caught the eye on multiple occasions however, and finished off strongly in the Ebor. There’s a suspicion he’s being primed for another big handicap, but has the ability to figure here.
5. Epic Poet
Epic Poet hasn’t won since January 2025 but he has posted numerous credible efforts in defeat. He has posted multiple good efforts over two miles, but these extra two furlongs are unknown territory and he has to improve on his last three efforts.
6. Queenstown
Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won the Doncaster Cup since Honolulu in 2008 and bids to reclaim the crown with Queenstown. The six-year-old was on a barren spell of 12 losses, prior to returning from 300 days off to beat the Ascot Stakes winner Kizlyar in the Irish St Leger Trial.
7. Peace Belle
Peace Belle remains unexposed for Jennie Candlish, three of those which came in bumpers last season. She improved 48lbs on RPR’s when a fourth to Mount Atlas in the Silver Cup Stakes at York, ahead of Epic Poet, but regressed 36lbs when a beaten favourite at Carlisle next time out.
8. Winday
If Winday was in the hands of anyone else other than Paul Byrne and Emmett Mullins, it’s hard to envisage him being third favourite for a Doncaster Cup. 0-3 as a juvenile, he was sent to France to go hurdling and failed to land a blow albeit posting a good third in listed company. Returning to Emmett Mullins, he bolted up six lengths in a Ffos Las maiden and his lofty entries, including the Melbourne Cup, catch the eye.
2026 Doncaster Cup Racecard & Odds
15:00 Doncaster
Good To SoftBetfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2)
- Flat Turf
- Turf
- 2m 1f 197y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
- First Prize: £93,572
- 2nd: £35,475
- 3rd: £17,754
- 4th: £8,844
- 5th: £4,439
- 6th: £2,228
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Beaten Fav LTO
Distance Win
Beaten Fav LTO
Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
2/1 Caballo De Mar, 20/1 Ascending, 16/1 Berkshire Sundance, 12/1 Beylerbeyi, 12/1 Epic Poet, 15/8 Queenstown, 33/1 Peace Belle, 6/1 Winday
Verdict
While there’s been so much to admire in Caballo De Mar’s career, including two French Group 1 wins, his last two performances prompt doubts, doubts which connections presumably share because they ring the changes by enlisting blinkers and a tongue-tie. He also concedes at least 5lb all round, which gives QUEENSTOWN (nap) a good chance of reversing last October’s Cadran placings and Aidan O’Brien’s charge returned in good form three weeks ago to win a Group 3 in some style. This is a below-par renewal of this great race, particularly if Caballo De Mar underperforms again, and that gives each-way hope for Beylerbeyi, Berkshire Sundance and Ascending who would normally look up against it. Beylerbeyi is the only one who’s raced at Doncaster and he’s 2-4 here, so is second choice. It’s is a fascinating assignment for the recent maiden winner Winday, given his highly respected connections.[Richard Austen]