The Commonwealth Cup is the newest of the Group 1s at Royal Ascot, being run for the first time in 2015. It is exclusive for three-year-olds and has attracted a highly promising 2026 field.

GG tipster Joe Napier previews the race, which revolves around hot favourite Venetian Sun.

2026 Commonwealth Cup Runners

Venetian Sun is all the rage for this year’s Commonwealth Cup. The daughter of Starman was a convincing winner of the Albany Stakes over course and distance last year and continued to perform to a high level as a juvenile. She beat Gstaad in the Group 1 Prix Morny and was dominant in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock last time out. Karl Burke’s filly will take some stopping.

One horse who could easily be up to winning this if his reputation is to go by is Albert Einstein. His backers have received scant reward this season: three runs as favourite have resulted in three defeats. His best effort came last time when narrowly downed at York, though it would be very typical of Aidan O’Brien to unlock the requisite improvement on the biggest stage.

That would also be the case for Charles Darwin, though his runs this campaign have been concerning, especially when dropping out tamely behind Havana Anna last time. Donnacha O’Brien’s filly was making her debut for 2026 and won gamely, potentially setting her up well for this.

Song Of The Clyde was Albert Einstein’s conqueror at York. It looked to be no fluke for Clive Cox’s runner and he holds distinct each-way claims, with the market seeming not to rate him.

Division is a consistent runner in the Wathnan Racing colours, but was well-held by Venetian Sun latest. Coppull and Midnight Tango, meanwhile, represent the trial form from seven weeks ago. They should give good accounts, while Godolphin’s Wise Approach, who finally escapes his Group 1 penalty, and American runner Outfielder add elements of spice to the contest.

2026 Commonwealth Cup Racecard

15:05 Ascot

Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (No Geldings)

Going Good To Firm
Distance 0m 6f 0y
Class Class 1
Race Type Flat Turf
Surface Turf
Runners 22
Win Time 1m 12s

1st 21 (13) 9 tips

Venetian Sun OUR TIP W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

11/8F (Won)

J: Clifford Lee T: K R Burke

OR: — RPR: — Form: 113-01

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

2nd 20 (8)

Spicy Marg W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

50/1

J: Tom Marquand T: Michael Bell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 041-83

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

3rd 6 (3) 1 tip

Division W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

8/1

J: James Doyle T: William Haggas

OR: — RPR: — Form: 115-32

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

4th 17 (7) 1 tip

Havana Anna W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

28/1

J: Gavin Ryan T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1220-1

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

5th 16 (16)

Fitzella W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

50/1

J: James McDonald T: Hugo Palmer

OR: — RPR: — Form: 125-56

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

6th 12 (9)

Samangan W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

18/1

J: Mickael Barzalona T: F-H Graffard

OR: — RPR: — Form: 111-24

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

7th 13 (2)

Song Of The Clyde W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

40/1

J: Hector Crouch T: Clive Cox

OR: — RPR: — Form: 125-41

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

8th 5 (14) 1 tip

Coppull W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

9/1

J: Rossa Ryan T: Clive Cox

OR: — RPR: — Form: 3153-1

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

9th 9 (5)

Northern Champion W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

80/1

J: Jamie Spencer T: Ed Walker

OR: — RPR: — Form: 59-110

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

10th 10 (21)

Outfielder W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

25/1

J: David Egan T: Wesley A Ward

OR: — RPR: — Form: 410-11

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

11th 18 (4)

Kimi Rey W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

150/1

J: Clement Lecoeuvre T: F-H Graffard

OR: — RPR: — Form: 13-123

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

12th 2 (19)

Aspect Island W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

50/1

J: Cieren Fallon T: James Owen

OR: — RPR: — Form: 33-730

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

13th 19 (17)

Midnight Tango W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

50/1

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Ed Walker

OR: — RPR: — Form: 4460-2

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

14th 1 (11) 2 tips

Albert Einstein W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

9/2

J: Ryan Moore T: A P O’Brien

OR: — RPR: — Form: 11-632

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

15th 11 (22)

Rock On Thunder W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

125/1

J: Kevin Stott T: Kevin Ryan

OR: — RPR: — Form: 9226-6

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

16th Deadheat 4 (20)

Charles Darwin W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

10/1

J: Wayne Lordan T: A P O’Brien

OR: — RPR: — Form: 111-18

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

16th Deadheat 22 (1)

Zanthos W: 8st 13lb Age: 3 yo Filly

28/1

J: Oisin Murphy T: Simon & Ed Crisford

OR: — RPR: — Form: 121-9

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

18th 7 (10)

Havana Hurricane W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

50/1

J: Charles Bishop T: Eve Johnson Houghton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 2346-3

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

19th Deadheat 3 (18)

Brussels W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

66/1

J: Ronan Whelan T: A P O’Brien

OR: — RPR: — Form: 222-64

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

19th Deadheat 8 (6)

My Calyx Cen W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

80/1

J: Aurelien Lemaitre T: Patrik Olave Valdivielso

OR: — RPR: — Form: 21-111

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

21st 14 (12)

Super Soldier W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

250/1

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin T: K R Burke

OR: — RPR: — Form: 794-00

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

22nd 15 (15) 1 tip

Wise Approach W: 9st 2lb Age: 3 yo Colt

14/1

J: William Buick T: Charlie Appleby

OR: — RPR: — Form: 131-54

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£98.10
Straight Forecast	£113.40
Tricast	£498.96
Trifecta	£872.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

D Express:

The Times:

TOPSPEED:

NEWMARKET:

LAMBOURN:

RP RATINGS:

POSTDATA:

Telegraph:

The Guardian:

Daily Mail:

Daily Mirror:

The Sun:

The Star:

Daily Record:

Commonwealth Cup Trends 2026

The Commonwealth Cup could prove to be a trend-fitting race, with a particularly notable stat relating to the draw…

Three of the last four winners were drawn in stall 1 – Zanthos is there this year
Two fillies have won in the last five years
No Irish trainer has won this since 2017
Four of the last ten favourites have been victorious

2026 Commonwealth Cup Tips

Impressive at Haydock, Venetian Sun can win at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row. 6f looks an ideal distance for her and a repeat of her victory last time out would set a tall standard. Fellow filly Havana Anna did not beat much on return, but she should improve quite a lot for that. Her Group 1 form from last season makes her the second choice ahead of Song Of The Clyde, as it looked to be no fluke that he beat Albert Einstein at Newbury.

Venetian Sun

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Result

1st 11/8F

Havana Anna

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Roger Varian

Result

4th 28/1

Song Of The Clyde

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Clive Cox

Result

7th 40/1

FAQ

When and where is the Commonwealth Cup?

The Commonwealth Cup will take place at Ascot racecourse on Friday 19 June, 2026 at 3.05pm.

How can I watch the Commonwealth Cup on Friday?

The Commonwealth Cup is live on ITV Racing at 3.05pm on Friday.

When were the Commonwealth Cup tips published?

The tips for the Commonwealth Cup were published at 1.30pm on Thursday 18 June.

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Next Race Off

Commonwealth Cup tips, odds, racecard & trends 2026: Sun's up for three-year-old sprint

2026 Commonwealth Cup Runners

2026 Commonwealth Cup Racecard

15:05 Ascot

Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (No Geldings)

+o+e Betting Returns

Selections

Commonwealth Cup Trends 2026

2026 Commonwealth Cup Tips

FAQ

When and where is the Commonwealth Cup?

How can I watch the Commonwealth Cup on Friday?

When were the Commonwealth Cup tips published?