Royal Ascot Thursday is the centrepiece of the meeting. It includes the Group 1 Gold Cup, the oldest trophy at the festival and run over a huge distance of 2m4f.
GG tipster Joe Napier has four selections on the day, including in the Gold Cup itself.
Royal Ascot Tips (Thursday 18 June)
The Gold Cup is the Thursday feature at Royal Ascot. We have an each-way selection in that marathon race, as well as three others to follow.
3.40 Ascot – Earth Shot (1pt win – 11/2)
Legacy Link is a long way ahead of these on form so far. The Oaks runner-up travelled well through that Classic, but it was only 13 days ago and while the winner was impressive, the feeling is it was a weak renewal. Her array of rivals is not the strongest, but Earth Shot probably brings most potential. William Haggas’ filly won easily at Newmarket to start this season in the manner of a useful horse. She was sent off favourite for Listed honours at Goodwood off the back of that, just taking too long to kick into gear when finished second behind Inis Mor. The winner has since finished a very respectable third in the French Oaks. Others have emerged with credit from that race too, so the form looks solid. Earth Shot has to improve, but she should for this step up to 1m4f. Wathnan Racing purchasing her suggests she has caught the eye to progress a fair bit further.
4.15 Ascot – Caballo De Mar (1pt e/w – 11/1)
Between them, the front three in the market all boast greater upside than Caballo De Mar. However, there is also greater downside to each, with four-year-olds Rahiebb and Scandinavia both having to prove themselves at this trip, while we do not know if eight-year-old defending champion Trawlerman will show up at his best. Conversely, the selection is a rock solid stayer. One blip to end last season at Saint-Cloud can be forgiven as his tenth race of a long, tough season. Beforehand, he won the Group 1 Prix Du Cadran at Longchamp over this mammoth trip. That was on soft going, but he has had no issue with decent ground in the past. That includes at this track; he was second at this meeting over 1m6f in handicap company last season, but has since proven he is better over even further. His second in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes to Sweet William last month came when conceding 2lb. The extra half-mile suits him more and he looks very likely to get a place at least.
4.50 Ascot – Exclusive Code (0.5pt e/w – 16/1)
Sneaking in right at the foot of the weights, Exclusive Code has a good chance to make that count. Another Wathnan Racing runner, he was only fourth in both starts at two. However, those came behind Dewhurst winner Gewan and Listed victor Isaac Newton. In neither was he beaten far, while he returned from 259 days off, and having been gelded, to win at Newbury in April. That was significant as it was a 25-runner maiden, most unusual in 2026. The second, third, fourth and fifth have all won since, the first three of those being unbeaten in all their subsequent runs. The form could not have worked out too much stronger while it also proved he was comfortable in a big field. Stall 3 may be a slight concern, but he otherwise has plenty in his favour as one of the likely springers from his mark and conceding weight to no rivals.
5.35 Ascot – Italy (1pt win – 13/2)
Aidan O’Brien holds the aces here, but perhaps Italy can upset favourite Endorsement in the Hampton Court Stakes. Few Ballydoyle horses who win on debut end up being duds. Italy has not won since that Leopardstown success, but has been highly tried. He was second twice in Group company, then third in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh last season. He flopped in the Dewhurst Stakes, but ran well given his keenness on return. He was fourth to Derby winner Christmas Day in the Ballysax Stakes, with Endorsement second. However, the son of Wootton Bassett was much further back and raced inefficiently. If he settles better in this bigger field, he is bred to be a middle distance horse.
GG Royal Ascot Thursday Tips – Thursday 18 June
3.40 Ascot – Earth Shot (1pt win – 11/2)
4.15 Ascot – Caballo De Mar (1pt e/w – 11/1)
4.50 Ascot – Exclusive Code (0.5pt e/w – 16/1)
5.35 Ascot – Italy (1pt win – 13/2)
GG Royal Ascot Thursday Tips – Thursday 18 June