One of the toughest punting puzzles of the week, the Royal Hunt Cup will yet again see a bumper field of 30 horses head to the 1m start for the handicap contest. A race awash with experienced campaigners taking on emerging milers, the race is a fascinating betting heat.

Steve Chambers takes a look at the prestigious contest, which is run at 5pm on Wednesday 17th June, and he has a 50/1 selection for the race.

2026 Royal Hunt Cup Runners

Roger Varian saddled the well-backed My Cloud to victory in this race 12 months ago and he looks to reign supreme once again on Wednesday. He will saddle the well-fancied Indalo, who warmed up for this with a second placed finish behind Classic at Newbury.

Fourth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket earlier in his career, Scoville will look to strike for William Haggas. Now lining up in this handicap, he’s one that could be ahead of his current mark. Runner-up in the Britannia Stakes last season at Royal Ascot, La Botte will be bidding to go one better in this contest.

The aforementioned Classic will take his chance and he will be aiming to frank that Newbury form with Indalo, and alongside the likes of Linwood, Archivist and Erzindjan all four of them will head to this contest with a win on their last racecourse start.

Fifth Column, Shout and Mister Winston are all classy milers in handicaps and could play a notable role, whilst a whole plethora of outsiders will be looking to etch their name on the illustrious roll of honour.

2026 Royal Hunt Cup Racecard

17:00 Ascot

Good To Firm

Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)

First Prize: £90195
1m 0f 0y
Class 2
33 runners

ITV

View Course

Runners: 33 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

1 (4)

Holloway Boy 47 days

J: Mr Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Form: -53232 CD

OR: 112

W: 10st 0lb

Age: 6 yo Colt

Form

Runner-up in C&D Listed contest last time, maintaining his consistency; Royal Ascot record includes a debut success in the 2022 Chesham and creditable fifth (off 7lb lower) in this race in 2024; Jack Nicholls takes off a useful 5lb; solid contender who again should give his running.

2 (17)

Skukuza 12 days

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Ed Dunlop

Form: 3-4566 D

OR: 110

W: 9st 12lb

Age: 5 yo Colt

Form

Good second (off 20lb lower) in the Britannia at this meeting two years ago but he was progressive at the time, whereas his form has dipped in last two outings (normally a consistent sort, including at Group level); 2-2 at the Curragh compared to only 1-16 elsewhere; wears first-time headgear.

3 (16)

Linwood 60 days

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Richard Hannon

Form: 3351-1 D

OR: 108

W: 9st 10lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Ended last season with an easy success (good to soft; subsequently gelded) and followed up in the Spring Cup at Newbury (good) in sole start this term, taking record over 1m to 3-5 and overall strike-rate to 4-9; may be capable of further progress at this distance; enters calculations.

4 (7)

No Retreat 123 days

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Scott

Form: 02-115 D

OR: 107

W: 9st 9lb

Age: 5 yo Colt

Form

Useful performer but has done much of his racing in the Middle East, winning three times; 0-5 in British events and suffered a heavy defeat (albeit with something possibly amiss) at Royal Ascot 12 months ago; something to prove off his mark.

5 (11)

Excellent Believe 38 days

J: Toby Moore

T: Jack Channon

Form: 122-33 BF

OR: 106

W: 9st 8lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Successful at Haydock in sole handicap attempt then ran well behind a notable rival in Group 3 at same venue; no further progress in three runs since but he is proving reasonably consistent and returns to handicap level with Toby Moore taking off a useful 7lb; could go well.

6 (18)

Archivist 96 days

J: James McDonald

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Form: 13-531 D

OR: 105

W: 9st 7lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

In good form at Meydan this year for new yard, most recently scoring readily in first-time hood to take his 1m record to 22111 (all wins on good/firmer); may have even more to offer over this trip in the retained headgear; sound claims.

7 (22)

Cerulean Bay 34 days

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Form: 103-42 D

OR: 105

W: 9st 7lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Completed a Goodwood double during his 2025 campaign; good second in notable handicap at the York Dante festival (1m, good) most recently, going down by only a neck; he’s paying the price for his consistency, however, with the assessor failing to relent.

8 (32)

Ebts Guard 32 days

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Form: 224-04 CD

OR: 104

W: 9st 6lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Dual winner at Ascot; hindered by trouble in the Spring Cup on reappearance and ran creditably kept to Newbury last time; far from disgraced when seventh in this contest last year but has a stiffer mark this time and his ceiling has seemingly been reached already.

9 (2)

Henlein 53 days

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Form: 2/90-7

OR: 104

W: 9st 6lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Capable of very useful form in Australia, notably a close second in 1m2f Group 1 contest in 2024; lightly raced since and 40-1 when seventh of 12 in Haydock handicap (7f) on British debut last time; best watched in this deep field.

10 (28)

Thunder Run 33 days

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Form: 640-72 D

OR: 103

W: 9st 5lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Back to form with second at the York Dante festival (good) in the 1m2f event he’d won 12 months earlier; before racing over longer trips he was a three-time 1m winner and ran creditably in major handicap over C&D once; may remain competitive.

11 (25)

Chibitty 117 days

J: Sean Levey

T: David Simcock

Form: 123-48 D

OR: 103

W: 9st 5lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Broadly useful when trained in France but may be flattered by his biggest figure, having failed to back it up, latterly in two Meydan starts this year for new yard; something to prove off his mark in this first British attempt.

12 (20)

Urban Lion 60 days

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Jack Channon

Form: 309-10 D

OR: 102

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Good fifth in this race last year but was in a progressive vein of form at the time; some inconsistency has crept in and he finished last (admittedly lost a shoe) in the Spring Cup at Newbury most recently, failing to back up the form of his narrow success in the Lincoln on reappearance.

13 (15)

Jagged Edge 31 days

J: Colin Keane

T: Stephen Thorne

Form: 1010-1 D

OR: 102

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Acts on soft ground; Irish 4yo who landed a major handicap at the Curragh during his time with Dermot Weld; won well at Naas (good) on stable/seasonal debut, taking form figures over 1m to 3111 and strike-rate to 3-6; interesting challenger with further improvement very plausible.

14 (30)

Checkandchallenge 32 days

J: Rossa Ryan

T: William Knight

Form: 639-06 D

OR: 102

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 7 yo Gelding

Form

Very useful on his day and has plenty of Listed/Group form; however, needs to improve on his Newbury handicap efforts this season (beaten 4l both times) and remains badly out of the winning habit, with losing spell stretching back to 2023.

15 (14)

1 tip

Fifth Column 46 days

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Form: 100-02 D

OR: 102

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

A regular in notable handicaps, bagging three (over 1m) during his progressive period last term and proving resurgent when close second to Erzindjan at Newmarket (1m1f) latest start; first home in the unfavoured group in the Britannia at this meeting 12 months ago; looks set to go well.

OUR TIP

16 (5)

1 tip

La Botte 26 days

J: Mark Zahra

T: Harry Eustace

Form: 2-4078

OR: 102

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Has failed to build on an eye-catching reappearance effort but seemed to be outstayed over 1m2f most recently; unlucky second in the Britannia at this meeting last year (good to firm; might well have won but for traffic issues) and looks interesting back here, bidding for compensation.

17 (10)

Mister Winston 12 days

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Form: 40-161 D

OR: 97

W: 9st 4lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Overcame trouble to win by 1l at Epsom (8.5f, good to soft) on Oaks day, taking record since being gelded to 2-3 and overall strike-rate to 4-12; returns to a hotter handicap but he’s improving steadily and 1lb well in under a penalty; not dismissed.

18 (24)

Erzindjan 46 days

J: Ryan Moore

T: T J Kent

Form: 7458-1 D

OR: 101

W: 9st 3lb

Age: 8 yo Gelding

Form

Campaigned over 1m1f/1m2f for current yard; beat Fifth Column by half a length at Newmarket (good to firm) in sole run this season, ending a five-year losing spell and showing he retains plenty of ability aged eight; has form claims but doesn’t seem to be crying out for this return to 1m.

19 (13)

One Smack Mac 277 days

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Form: 43200-

OR: 101

W: 9st 3lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Formerly trained by Ger Lyons; placed a few times over 6f/7f in Listed grade but posted duck eggs at Royal Ascot 2025 and in valuable Irish handicap in his last two appearances; sold for 80,000gns since; hood fitted; enough to prove on debut for new yard.

20 (6)

Godwinson 34 days

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Form: 1500-0 D

OR: 100

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 6 yo Gelding

Form

Got up in the final stride to win last year’s Lincoln and followed up in useful AW handicap; not in the same form since and York defeat on stable/seasonal debut spoiled an otherwise good record when fresh; revival is far from guaranteed.

21 (1)

Ozat 12 days

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Ian Williams

Form: 248-00 D

OR: 100

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Scored four times in France but has come up short in handicaps won by Linwood and Mister Winston since joining new stable, beaten about 7l both times; probably best watched until he’s down the weights and his sights are lowered.

22 (23)

Blue Rc 32 days

J: Hector Crouch

T: James Tate

Form: 2-1229 D

OR: 100

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Below par in the Newbury contest won by Classic last time but that was out of character for him; otherwise a solid and steadily progressive colt whose form this spring includes good efforts in AW finals event and the Thirsk Hunt Cup; whether he can defy current mark is another matter.

23 (21)

War Socks 28 days

J: David Egan

T: Niels Petersen

Form: 1-4331 D

OR: 99

W: 9st 1lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Trained in Norway; consistent in handicaps this year, most recently winning a Swedish event after some good runs at Meydan; not disgraced at Royal Ascot (1m2f) or Glorious Goodwood (1m) last term but is on a much stiffer mark now.

24 (26)

Shout 34 days

J: Jack Callan

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Form: 14-903 CD

OR: 99

W: 9st 1lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Versatile as regards ground; perhaps didn’t take to visor in the Britannia at this meeting 12 months ago; creditable fourth in major handicap last October when bidding for a C&D double; possibilities back in this scenario, especially as latest effort (third at York) represented a return to form.

25 (19)

Classic 32 days

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Form: 128-21 D

OR: 99

W: 9st 1lb

Age: 6 yo Colt

Form

Has less hidden up his sleeve than others, being a 6yo whose record is 4-24, but he arrives having been better than ever in useful handicaps at Newbury (1m, good) this term; finished second to Linwood on reappearance and weaved his way through to beat Indalo by a neck last time.

26 (27)

Swing Vote 109 days

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Form: 587/67 D

OR: 99

W: 9st 1lb

Age: 6 yo Gelding

Form

Has been campaigned only on artificial surfaces, mostly in UAE, for current yard; generally out of form since a hat-trick that was over two years ago (missed the 2025 campaign); enough to prove in first turf attempt since his French days in 2023.

27 (8)

Indalo 32 days

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Form: 1412-2 D

OR: 98

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 5 yo Gelding

Form

Unraced on softer than good; record is 4-11 (AW/turf); good second in the 2025 Cambridgeshire (would likely have won but for traffic issues) and Newbury event (collared by Classic) in last two appearances; progressive, represents last year’s winning yard and has a big prize in him; respected.

28 (33)

Rogue Diplomat 24 days

J: Harry Davies

T: James Owen

Form: 11-257

OR: 98

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Failed to fire in French Listed race last time; broadly progressive in handicaps and went close in the Lincoln when bidding for a five-timer (ran creditably in Spring Cup next time); however, chance partly depends on the weather, as he’s ideally suited by ground softer than good.

29 (9)

1 tip

Scoville 68 days

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Form: 1104-8 D

OR: 98

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Commenced his career with a novice double, looking a smart prospect; disappointing in his three races (Group/conditions) since, gelded prior to latest, but is on an attractive mark assuming another physical tweak (wind surgery) prompts a turnaround and fulfilment of the early promise.

30 (3)

Witch Hunter 32 days

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Form: 148900 CD

OR: 98

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 7 yo Gelding

Form

Defied a 5lb higher mark in the 7f handicap at this meeting three years ago and scored over 1m on AW in January; has lost his form, most recently finishing last in the Newbury event won by Classic; further Royal Ascot glory looks unlikely.

31 (31)

Blue Brother 364 days

J: James Doyle

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Form: 25/60- D

OR: 98

W: 9st 0lb

Age: 5 yo Colt

Form

First reserve; trained in France in 2024 then Qatar in 2025; absent and gelded since being hindered by traffic issues when 18th of 30 in this contest 12 months ago; attracted support that day and will be interesting if the money again comes for him; debut for another new stable.

32 (29)

Diego El Queso 63 days

J: Reserve

T: G M Lyons

Form: 283-21 D

OR: 97

W: 8st 13lb

Age: 4 yo Gelding

Form

Second reserve; has a largely solid record; better than ever this season, going close at the Curragh (1m, soft to heavy) then getting up close home at Leopardstown (1m2f, yielding to soft); may ideally need testing ground back down in trip; otherwise plausibly open to further progress.

33 (12)

The Lost King 46 days

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Form: -12134

OR: 97

W: 8st 13lb

Age: 4 yo Colt

Form

Third reserve; gelded prior to showing improvement and performing solidly (12134) this year, mostly on AW, including a good effort over 1m on finals day; respectable fourth to Erzindjan at Newmarket (1m1f) returned to turf; again likely to give his running.

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

16/1 Holloway Boy, 33/1 Skukuza, 10/1 Linwood, 25/1 No Retreat, 20/1 Excellent Believe, 10/1 Archivist, 33/1 Cerulean Bay, 33/1 Ebts Guard, 40/1 Henlein, 16/1 Thunder Run, 40/1 Chibitty, 33/1 Urban Lion, 14/1 Jagged Edge, 20/1 Checkandchallenge, 14/1 Fifth Column, 10/1 La Botte, 12/1 Mister Winston, 14/1 Erzindjan, 50/1 One Smack Mac, 33/1 Godwinson, 66/1 Ozat, 33/1 Blue Rc, 50/1 War Socks, 14/1 Shout, 12/1 Classic, 50/1 Swing Vote, 6/1 Indalo, 20/1 Rogue Diplomat, 11/1 Scoville, 40/1 Witch Hunter, 12/1 Blue Brother, 25/1 Diego El Queso, 25/1 The Lost King

Verdict

Returned to Royal Ascot and back in the big-field handicap scenario that may well be optimal, LA BOTTE is taken to gain compensation for being unlucky in last year’s Britannia. Today looks the time to catch the selection, with circumstances in his favour and a resumption of progress conceivable. Jagged Edge, an Irish raider who looks the type to improve further, is second pick ahead of Linwood and Archivist, two other runners who bring good 1m stats. Indalo has strong credentials, as the early betting reflects, while Scoville is interesting assuming the wind surgery works a treat. It’s difficult to be conclusive as regards the draw, with results changeable on the straight course here.[Steve Boow]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Scoville

SPOTLIGHT:

La Botte

POSTDATA:

Fifth Column

2026 Royal Hunt Cup Trends

Check out the key Queen Anne Stakes and trends for the Group 1 showpiece…

8 of the last 10 winners have been aged four
2 favourites have won in the last 10 years
5 of the last 10 winners have been rated 100 or higher
No winner has carried more than 9st 5lbs to victory in last 10 years

2026 Royal Hunt Cup Tips

Trends certainly suggest Ed Dunlop’s Skukuza has it all to do, but the near top-weighted five-year-old is too big to let go from an each-way perspective. A listed winner at the Curragh at his best, he’s struggled for any sort of form of late, but with the visor tried for this he could be of notable interest. He was runner-up in the Britannia Stakes earlier in his career, and if he can settle then he should relish the quick pace this is run at. Archivist impressed last time out and could well be ahead of his current mark, whilst Indalo has to be respected from right down the bottom of the weights.

Skukuza

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Ed Dunlop

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

FAQ

When and where is the Royal Hunt Cup run?

The Royal Hunt Cup will take place at Ascot racecourse on day 2 of Royal Ascot on Wednesday 17th June, 2026 at 5.00pm.

How can I watch the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday?

The Royal Hunt Cup is live on ITV at 5.00pm on Wednesday afternoon.

When were the Royal Hunt Cup tips published?

The tips for the Royal Hunt Cup were published at 1.35pm on Tuesday 16th June.

Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.