One of the highlights across the five days at Royal Ascot is the Group 1 Gold Cup, which takes place at Royal Ascot on Thursday 18th June at 4.15pm. Reigning champion Trawlerman and Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer Scandinavia are set for an epic clash in the 2m 3f 210y marathon.

Steve Chambers previews the staying showpiece of the week, as he looks at the Gold Cup racecard and odds, as well as the trends and picking out his 1-2-3 for the highlight on day three of the meeting.

2026 Ascot Gold Cup Runners 

Dominant in the staying division since the exit of Kyprios, Trawlerman notched up a host of Group wins last season on British soil, which included a mightily-impressive seven-length win in this race last season. Now looking to retain his crown, John & Thady Gosden’s eight-year-old will look to emulate last year’s performance, but will face some lively opposition.

Aidan O’Brien has won the Gold Cup on nine occasions and the latest star stayer looks to be Scandinavia, who is a hot favourite for Thursday’s race. The four-year-old romped to victory in the the St Leger at Doncaster. Wins at Navan and Leopardstown this season, the Ballydoyle star heads to Ascot in fine form and will be the one they have to beat.

Roger Varian’s Rahiebb propelled into the Gold Cup picture with a classy win over Al Nayyir, Epic Poet and Furthur in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup, but he will need to step forward once again now testing himself in Group 1 company. However, he’s one open to improvement. Second in the Hardwicke Stakes last the season, Al Riffa is proven at middle distances, but looks to step up in trip for this. Caballo De Mar and 2025 Queen’s Vase winner Carmers add more depth to the race, which should be a cracker.

2026 Ascot Gold Cup Racecard

16:15 Ascot

Good To Firm

Gold Cup (Group 1)

• First Prize: £396970
• 2m 3f 210y
• Class 1
• 11 runners

ITV

View Course

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

1 (1)

Al Nayyir 34 days

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

Best Odds SP

Form: 23-132

OR: 113

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 8 yo Gelding

Form

While his form since has not quite reached the heights of 2024, he’s still been pretty reliable and got back on the scoresheet at Meydan (1m6f Group 3) in February; however, he twice found Trawlerman far too strong for him in Britain last season and couldn’t match Rahiebb late on in last month’s Yorkshire Cup; unraced beyond 2m but it’s hard to envisage the new trip working sufficiently in his favour.

2 (8)

Al Riffa 28 days

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Best Odds SP

Form: 174-63

OR: 120

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 6 yo Horse

Form

Second at last year’s Royal Ascot in the 1m4f Hardwicke and 4l winner of the 1m6f Irish St Leger; ran on strongly from out the back when seventh in the Melbourne Cup (2m) in November and ended up third to Caballo De Mar in blanket finish to a Longchamp Group 1 (nearly 2m) four weeks ago, having been last of nine 2f out; those do not mean he’s an assured stayer on this move up to 2m4f but he brings among the best form and has to enter calculations.

OUR TIP

3 (11)

1 tip

Caballo De Mar 28 days

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Best Odds SP

Form: 17-221 D

OR: 115

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Huge improver last term, including second in the 1m6f handicap at this meeting and winning two Group events in the autumn, notably the Group 1 Cadran at Longchamp (2m4f, very soft); every bit as good this season, as he gave Sweet William 2lb when short-headed here (2m, good to firm) and followed that with a narrow Group 1 win at Longchamp; today’s company demands a bit more but the thorough test of stamina will suit and he’s one to take seriously.

4 (5)

Dubai Future 21 days

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Best Odds SP

Form: 66-841 C

OR: 113

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 10 yo Gelding

Form

10yo who has generally fared much better in the Middle East than in Britain but showed far too much toe for the others when stealing a march on Sweet William in 2m Group 3 at Sandown on latest start (hung on by a neck); never remotely near the principals when 14l third in this last year and he’s probably not the out-and-out stayer that’s required to win it.

5 (9)

1 tip

Sweet William 21 days

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Best Odds SP

Form: 212-12 CBF

OR: 117

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 7 yo Gelding

Form

Third and fourth in the last two renewals of this race and his 19l defeat last year was the only time in his career that he’s finished out of the top three; being ridden closer to the pace that day seemingly backfired, as he’s usually smuggled into each-way contention in the closing stages; beat Caballo De Mar (who gave 2lb) in one tight finish this year and not quite able to reel in Dubai Future in another; probably as good as ever but winning the Gold Cup may again prove a bit beyond him.

6 (2)

2 tips

Trawlerman 243 days

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Best Odds SP

Form: 51111- CD

OR: 121

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 8 yo Gelding

Form

High class, a thorough stayer and a right battler, the powerful combination of which were seen to prime effect here as a 7yo last year when he made the running (he doesn’t have to) to win the Gold Cup on good to firm by 7l, having been a close second the year before; just as good when he won here on final start last term; it’s seemingly been touch and go whether he defends his crown, as he has been denied a preliminary run this time round and has developed a rare eye problem which makes him sensitive to sunlight, but he’s the one to beat if judged on those sterling performances of 2025.

7 (4)

Carmers 20 days

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

Best Odds SP

Form: 125-51 C

OR: 112

W: 9st 3lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Won last May/June in his first three races, notably the 1m6f Queen’s Vase at this meeting (good to firm) where he seized the initiative entering the straight and finished with three of today’s rivals snapping at his heels; Scandinavia and Rahiebb comfortably turned the tables on him in the St Leger at Doncaster in September, however; latest start may have bolstered hopes, as he stepped up to 2m and switched from blinkers to a visor when well on top in a Listed race, but that was in far less demanding company.

8 (6)

Furthur 21 days

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Best Odds SP

Form: 160-46

OR: 109

W: 9st 3lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Second to Carmers in bunched finish to 1m6f Queen’s Vase here last year and impressive in Group 3 at Newbury (1m5f, again good to firm) last August; he’s been put firmly in his place on all four outings since, however, beaten just over 4l behind Scandinavia and Rahiebb in the St Leger at Doncaster on first occasion, which was creditable, but singularly underwhelming this season in Yorkshire Cup and 2m Sandown Group 3; needs a huge turnaround.

9 (10)

Rahiebb 34 days

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Best Odds SP

Form: 2342-1

OR: 116

W: 9st 3lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Two clashes with Scandinavia last term (Royal Ascot and the St Leger) indicated there was little between them at about 1m6f; progress from 3yo to 4yo has delighted his trainer, backed up with an authoritative win from Al Nayyir in the Yorkshire Cup at York, again over 1m6f; lots to like but the difficulty is knowing how well he will be suited by 2m4f.

10 (3)

Scandinavia 34 days

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Best Odds SP

Form: 111-11

OR: 117

W: 9st 3lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Plenty went wrong for him in the Queen’s Vase here one year ago (still a close fifth) but unbeaten with cheekpieces added for his five starts since; that includes the St Leger at Doncaster (by a neck from Rahiebb) in September and two 1m6f events this spring (familiar route to this race for his stable) but also, and perhaps most tellingly, the 2m Goodwood Cup last July in which he asserted late on from last year’s Gold Cup second; high class and there’s plenty in those 1m6f/2m performances which suggests he will be a thorough stayer.

11 (7)

Miss Alpilles 26 days

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Best Odds SP

Form: 211-32

OR: 100

W: 9st 1lb

Age: 5 yo Filly

Form

Suited by step up to 2m when winning a Listed event at Newmarket (good) on final start last term; 40-1 and perhaps in need of the race when she ran out of steam behind Sweet William and Caballo De Mar here (2m; beaten 8l) on reappearance, and staying-on second at York (1m6f) next time was better, but there is nothing in her form which suggests she is up to today’s task.

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Betting Forecast

40/1 Al Nayyir, 14/1 Al Riffa, 10/1 Caballo De Mar, 33/1 Dubai Future, 9/1 Sweet William, 7/2 Trawlerman, 18/1 Carmers, 66/1 Furthur, 9/2 Rahiebb, 13/8 Scandinavia, 100/1 Miss Alpilles

Verdict

The participation of last year’s runaway winner Trawlerman was seemingly in doubt until very recently, so whether he returns in the same form is less assured. That has left Scandinavia as the short-priced favourite, representing another team which knows all about Gold Cup success, and his 2m Goodwood Cup win last summer augurs well for this extreme trip. Rahiebb has not raced beyond 14.5f, leaving him with more to prove, but he made up plenty of ground to run Scandinavia to a neck in the St Leger and should therefore have a big shout if he does stay this distance. Sweet William has twice taken minor Gold Cup honours but the new candidates may well prove more potent and this test could prove a particularly good fit for CABALLO DE MAR. A relentless improver for most of last season, he’s twice proved himself on good to firm ground at Ascot and won two Group 1 races in France, while giving the impression that a stronger pace at this sort of trip can suit him well. He should be in very serious contention and gets the vote ahead of Scandinavia.[Richard Austen]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Trawlerman

SPOTLIGHT:

Caballo De Mar

POSTDATA:

Sweet William

TOPSPEED:

Trawlerman

2026 Ascot Gold Cup Trends 

Check out the key Ascot Gold Cup trends for the Group 1 showpiece…

• 7 of the last 10 winners have been favourite
• 5 of the last 10 winners have been aged four
• 3 of the last 10 winners have been rated 120 or higher

2026 Ascot Gold Cup Tips 

Trawlerman sets the standard, but he’s not getting any younger and it can be the four-year-old pairing of Scandinavia and Rahiebb that can fight out the finish here. Both look hugely progressive, but it’s the Aidan O’Brien-trained Scandinavia that can reign and hand his trainer a 10th win in the race. Rahiebb can chase him home for second, whilst Trawlerman can grab third place.

16:15 Gold Cup (Group 1)

Scandinavia

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Best Odds SP

Rahiebb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Best Odds SP

Trawlerman

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Best Odds SP

FAQ

When and where is the Ascot Gold Cup run?

The Ascot Gold Cup will take place at Ascot racecourse on day 3 of Royal Ascot on Thursday 18th June, 2026 at 4.15pm.

How can I watch the Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday?

The Ascot Gold Cup is live on ITV at 4.15pm on Thursday afternoon.

When were the Ascot Gold Cup tips published?

The tips for the Ascot Gold Cup were published at 11.45am on Wednesday 17th June.