The Group 1 Coronation Cup has a new place on the racing calendar. It now sits alongside the Epsom Derby on Saturday and has attracted a superb field for its first weekend renewal.

GG tipster Joe Napier previews the race, featuring last year’s one-two and the 2025 Derby hero.

2026 Coronation Cup Runners

Jan Brueghel beat Calandagan in a humdinger 12 months ago. Aidan O’Brien’s 2024 St Leger winner subsequently disappointed in the King George before missing ten months of racing. Reappearing at Chester, he was a game and convincing winner of the Ormonde Stakes. That form needs improving upon, but he liked this track a year ago. Race fitness is also on his side.

Calandagan, though, has reached a different stratosphere of form since. He is now the world’s highest-rated racehorse and came from the clouds for a remarkable victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan earlier in 2026. He has now won five straight races, all Group 1s. A sixth looks likely with his trainer keen to run here.

2025 Derby hero Lambourn was brave in winning the Group 2 Huxley Stales on the Roodee on return. Runner-up Bay City Roller now gets a 5lb swing at the weights, but Lambourn took to Epsom superbly a year ago and could be dangerous on the front end. Bay City Roller could also improve for 1m4f though.

Convergent is a potential improver for Karl Burke. He was second in last year’s German Derby. but has won three of four starts since. His Group 3 John Porter Stakes win on return was his best form yet. Illinois is a solid, unspectacular performer, but up against it at this level and may be a Ballydoyle pacemaker.

2026 Coronation Cup Racecard

14:40 Epsom

Good To Soft

Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1)

First Prize: £560200
1m 4f 6y
Class 1
6 runners

ITV

View Course

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

1 (4)

Bay City Roller 13 days

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Form: 241-22 D

OR: 118

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Consistent colt whose Group 1 form is non-domestic, namely a success in Germany (1m4f, soft) last November and good second at the Curragh (10.5f, good) latest start; only a neck behind Lambourn on worse terms at Chester on reappearance, albeit with that rival rusty and likely to improve for the run, according to Ryan Moore; needs a personal best to land this prize.

2 (2)

1 tip

Calandagan 70 days

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

Form: 1111-1 D

OR: 130

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Superstar gelding who has a record of 222211111 since racing at Group 1 level and is the highest-rated racehorse in the world; couldn’t quite get past Jan Brueghel in this race last year but turned the tables in the King George and is on an impressive roll going into another rematch with that rival; prevailed at Meydan (Sheema Classic) last time despite the race not panning out ideally; duly strongly respected, assuming the ground is okay (not certain to run if it’s a slog scenario).

3 (3)

Convergent 49 days

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Form: 2117-1 D

OR: 118

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Scored on soft ground on debut; flopped in the German race won by Bay City Roller but otherwise progressive and overcame trouble to defy a Group 2 penalty in Group 3 contest at Newbury (1m4f, good) on seasonal debut, taking record to 5-8; about 3l behind Lambourn at Chester last term but is now in the same ball park as that opponent on ratings, with a chance of further improvement to boot; adds great interest to this race.

4 (5)

Illinois 30 days

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 1227-3

OR: 115

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 5 yo Colt

Form

Runner-up in two Cup races last term; only a neck behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger but was beaten about 5l by that opponent last month when bidding for a second success in the Ormonde at Chester, doing nothing to close their current ratings differential; perhaps in here to set the pace and ensure a proper test.

OUR TIP

5 (1)

2 tips

Jan Brueghel 30 days

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Form: /214-1 CD

OR: 125

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 5 yo Colt

Form

High-class performer who has a record of 6-8 overall and 2-3 at Group 1 level, adding to his 2024 St Leger win when knuckling down the better to beat Calandagan in this contest (good to soft) 12 months ago; combination of cheekpieces and setting an unsuitably steady pace perhaps contributed to his King George defeat behind that rival; reappearance success in the Ormonde at Chester (1m5f, good) sets him up nicely for another Coronation Cup bid.

6 (6)

Lambourn 29 days

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 1154-1 CD

OR: 120

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Most wins on good ground but has form on soft; held on by only a neck from Bay City Roller on better terms in the Huxley (1m2f Group 2) at Chester on seasonal debut but proved game in first-time cheekpieces and, based on Ryan Moore’s post-race comments, will come on for the run; notable contender in the retained headgear returned to the scene of his biggest moment, namely a clearcut success in last year’s Derby (followed up in the Irish version).

Terms and conditions

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Betting Forecast

20/1 Bay City Roller, 5/4 Calandagan, 13/2 Convergent, 33/1 Illinois, 2/1 Jan Brueghel, 11/2 Lambourn

Verdict

Calandagan, the planet’s best racehorse, is very much the one to beat provided the ground is deemed suitable and he takes part. However, there remains the memory of him being outbattled by JAN BRUEGHEL in this race last year, and the return to this particular scenario swings the vote in favour of the Ballydoyle first string. Derby winner Lambourn is a significant contestant despite being deserted by Ryan Moore, while the progressive Convergent adds major interest.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jan Brueghel

TOPSPEED:

Calandagan

POSTDATA:

Jan Brueghel

Coronation Cup Trends 2026

There are some key stats and trends which apply to the Coronation Cup. Here are the most vital to help inform your bets.

None of the last five favourites have won the race
Only two horses priced at bigger than 11/4 have won
Aidan O’Brien is seeking a hat-trick in the race
Five-year-olds have a slight edge over four-year-olds int he last decade, winning 6-4

2026 Coronation Cup Tips

The Ballydoyle brigade all have race fitness on their side against Calandagan, who is yet to race in Europe this season. However, Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old has been a transformed horse in the 12 months since losing this to Jan Brueghel last season. He can gain revenge, with 2025 Derby hero Lambourn potentially posing the biggest threat this year.

Calandagan

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

Lambourn

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Jan Brueghel

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

FAQ

When and where is the Coronation Cup?

The Coronation Cup will take place at Epsom racecourse on Saturday 6 June, 2026 at 2.40pm.

How can I watch the Coronation Cup on Saturday?

The Coronation Cup is live on ITV Racing at 2.40pm on Saturday.

When were the Coronation Cup tips published?

The tips for the Coronation Cup were published at 1.55pm on Friday 5 June.

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