Away from the major racing festivals, the Victoria Cup is one of the grander handicap prizes. The 7f contest at Ascot is regularly well subscribed. A maximum field of 29 go to post again this season.

GG tipster Joe Napier has previewed the race. With so many runners in with chances, a 50/1 shot stands out for an each-way flier.

2026 Victoria Cup Runners

Mudbir runs in the Shadwell silks for John & Thady Gosden. A touch unlucky at Goodwood when last seen, he was progressive otherwise and is extremely well-related. He will still have to step up significantly on previous form, but looks an obvious type to do so.

Dangers inevitably abound in a field this size though. Shiplake is progressive for Amo Racing though has to prove so on turf. Defence Minister is another owned by a powerful operation in Wathnan Racing. He also scored on the all-weather latest.

The last two winners, Hickory and The Wizard Of Eye, return again. The former is 10lb higher than for his 2025 success though. Conversely, the year-younger The Wizard Of Eye is on the same winning mark as 2024. He goes well fresh and connections may have been working back from this since he returned to fitness last season.

Tribal Chief comes back in trip, but that might not be ideal for him. He is bang there on the form of his unlucky Lincoln third, though a step up in distance could help So Darn Hot. He is well worth another attempt at 7f for Ed Walker.

Down the betting, there remain those with chances. Any significant rain could help Star Anthem, while Pellitory went very well first time out last season. He makes his debut for David O’Meara here.

None are more interesting than Houquetot though. Now trained by James Owen for the first time, he was ninth in Group 2 company last time out. However, he was value for finishing closer in that higher grade. With some notable form in France, including winning a juvenile Group 3, a mark of 98 could be exploited at a big price.

2026 Victoria Cup Racecard

14:20 Ascot

Carey Group Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Going Good
Distance 0m 7f 0y
Class Class 2
Race Type Flat Turf
Surface Turf
Runners 28
Win Time 1m 24s

1st 6 (26)

The Wizard Of Eye W: 9st 8lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

20/1 (Won)

J: Neil Callan T: Tom Clover

OR: — RPR: — Form: 60/39-

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

2nd 9 (12) 3 tips

Great Acclaim W: 9st 7lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

12/1

J: Charles Bishop T: Eve Johnson Houghton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 240-03

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

3rd 19 (22) 2 tips

Tribal Chief W: 9st 2lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

9/2

J: Billy Loughnane T: David Menuisier

OR: — RPR: — Form: 6107-3

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

4th 2 (23) 1 tip

Golden Mind W: 9st 12lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

33/1

J: Warren Fentiman T: Richard & Peter Fahey

OR: — RPR: — Form: 001-72

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

5th 3 (10)

Royal Zabeel W: 9st 11lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Jason Watson T: Michael Appleby

OR: — RPR: — Form: 871-04

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

6th 22 (27)

Jordan Electrics W: 9st 0lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

28/1

J: Lauren Young T: Jim Goldie

OR: — RPR: — Form: 080-02

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

7th 17 (14)

So Darn Hot W: 9st 4lb Age: 4 yo Colt

28/1

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Ed Walker

OR: — RPR: — Form: 135-06

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

8th 24 (25)

Nikovo W: 8st 13lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

80/1

J: Dylan Hogan T: Michael Herrington

OR: — RPR: — Form: 233160

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

9th 28 (11) 1 tip

Aalto W: 8st 12lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

66/1

J: Nicola Currie T: Ian Williams

OR: — RPR: — Form: 07078-

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

10th 5 (21)

Completely Random W: 9st 9lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

18/1

J: Kaiya Fraser T: Harry Charlton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 74-110

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

11th 15 (28)

Yorkshire W: 9st 4lb Age: 6 yo Colt

28/1

J: Jack Mitchell T: Edward Bethell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 51469-

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

12th 29 (24)

Jumby W: 8st 12lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Oliver Carmichael T: Eve Johnson Houghton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 3640-8

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

13th 4 (29)

Ten Pounds W: 9st 10lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

22/1

J: Andrea Pinna T: Joey Ramsden

OR: — RPR: — Form: 41-488

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

14th 21 (4)

Nostrum W: 9st 1lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Alistair Rawlinson T: Michael Appleby

OR: — RPR: — Form: 68000-

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

15th 7 (2)

Popmaster W: 9st 7lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

40/1

J: P J McDonald T: Ed Walker

OR: — RPR: — Form: 321227

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

16th 11 (16)

Pellitory W: 9st 6lb Age: 4 yo Colt

40/1

J: Daniel Tudhope T: David O’Meara

OR: — RPR: — Form: 78550-

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

17th 14 (1) 1 tip

Defence Minister OUR TIP W: 9st 5lb Age: 4 yo Colt

11/1

J: James Doyle T: Hamad Al Jehani

OR: — RPR: — Form: 0249-1

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

18th 13 (17) 3 tips

Hickory W: 9st 5lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

12/1

J: Saffie Osborne T: Jamie Osborne

OR: — RPR: — Form: 35212-

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

19th 27 (13)

Storm Free W: 8st 12lb Age: 4 yo Colt

18/1

J: Clifford Lee T: James Tate

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1321-6

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

20th 1 (9)

Witch Hunter W: 9st 12lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Sean Levey T: Richard Hannon

OR: — RPR: — Form: -51489

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

21st 23 (6)

Morte Point W: 9st 0lb Age: 4 yo Gelding

50/1

J: Lewis Edmunds T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1211-0

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

22nd 16 (19) 2 tips

Mudbir W: 9st 4lb Age: 4 yo Colt

3/1F

J: Oisin Murphy T: John & Thady Gosden

OR: — RPR: — Form: 15117-

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

23rd 20 (3) 1 tip

Shiplake W: 9st 1lb Age: 4 yo Colt

14/1

J: David Egan T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

OR: — RPR: — Form: 4361-1

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

24th 26 (15) 1 tip

Shafdar W: 8st 12lb Age: 4 yo Colt

12/1

J: Edward Greatrex T: Ian Williams

OR: — RPR: — Form: -31201

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

25th 12 (18)

Khafiz W: 9st 6lb Age: 4 yo Gelding

22/1

J: Callum Rodriguez T: Edward Bethell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1793-5

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

26th 25 (5)

Humam W: 8st 13lb Age: 4 yo Colt

66/1

J: Marco Ghiani T: Stuart Williams

OR: — RPR: — Form: 8534-0

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

27th 18 (8)

Star Anthem W: 9st 3lb Age: 4 yo Colt

66/1

J: Harry Davies T: Clive Cox

OR: — RPR: — Form: 79308-

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

28th 8 (20)

Serengeti W: 9st 7lb Age: 4 yo Colt

150/1

J: Rob Hornby T: Mike Murphy

OR: — RPR: — Form: 25-450

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

Non-runners

Houquetot

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£329.50
Straight Forecast	£233.90
Tricast	£1323.00
Trifecta	£2619.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

LAMBOURN:

NEWMARKET:

Telegraph:

The Star:

SPOTLIGHT:

Daily Mail:

POSTDATA:

TOPSPEED:

The Times:

Daily Mirror:

The Sun:

D Express:

The Guardian:

Daily Record:

Victoria Cup Trends 2026

No favourite has won since 2017
Four-year-olds have won six of the last ten runnings – but none of the last three
The last six winners have been between saddlecloth 6-18, in the middle of the handicap
Only one of the last ten winners has emerged from a single figure stall

2026 Victoria Cup Tips

A Group 3 winner when trained in France, Houquetot ran eyecatchingly in Dubai last time out and may strike on debut for James Owen. A mark of 98 looks workable for a four-year-old who retains potential. The move back up to 7f on turf could be a positive for So Darn Hot, while 2024 winner The Wizard Of Eye goes well fresh and is on the same winning mark as two years ago. Mudbir will attract support given his pedigree and connections. Though not the pick on form, he has obvious potential this season.

Houquetot

J: Harry Davies

T: James Owen

So Darn Hot

J: George Downing

T: Ed Walker

Result

7th 28/1

The Wizard Of Eye

J: Neil Callan

T: Tom Clover

Result

1st 20/1

Mudbir

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Result

22th 3/1F

FAQ

When and where is the Victoria Cup?

The Victoria Cup will take place at Ascot racecourse on Saturday 9 May, 2026 at 2.20pm.

How can I watch the Victoria Cup on Saturday?

The Victoria Cup is live on ITV Racing at 2.20pm on Saturday.

When were the Victoria Cup tips published?

The tips for the Victoria Cup were published at 12.25pm on Friday 8 May.

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.

Next Race Off

Victoria Cup tips, odds, racecard & trends 2026: 50/1 upset in the offing at Ascot

2026 Victoria Cup Runners

2026 Victoria Cup Racecard

14:20 Ascot

Carey Group Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap)

+o+e Betting Returns

Selections

Victoria Cup Trends 2026

2026 Victoria Cup Tips

FAQ

When and where is the Victoria Cup?

How can I watch the Victoria Cup on Saturday?

When were the Victoria Cup tips published?