18/6/2026 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Royal Ascot, Gold Cup day

Royal Ascot 2026 continues this Thursday night, headlined by the Gold Cup (4013m).

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15 Sea Venture (Bet Now:  $SP.00) steps up to 1400m after a debut win over 1200m at Haydock. She sat off speed and looked to be absolutely trucking before being clicked up, found clear air and she went through her gears like a nice horse. The rise to 1400m is ideal, she’ll be strong late and has change up speed.

1 Aix La Chapelle (Bet Now:  $SP.00) was a debut winner at this trip at Curragh for Aidan O’Brien. He stalked the speed throughout under Lordan before going through the motions and getting better as the race went on. He commands respect.

6 Revels (Bet Now:  $SP.00) didn’t beat much when a debut winner over this trip at Redcar but I was impressed with the way he went about things, being clicked up and dashed clear late. Good test here but think he can measure up and run a positive race.

12 Into The Light (Bet Now:  $SP.00) takes beating here I say. Placed two back at Southwell before going back to 2000m at Sandown and was good late from off speed. Back up to 2400m, he should be strong late and be within range to launch over the top.

8 Atomic City (Bet Now:  $SP.00) steps up to 2400m after a win over 2100m at Cork last time, leading throughout and he found plenty under pressure to fend them off and score. 2400m should be fine, good stable and good racing style. He’s in the mix.

15 Genchev (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes here off the back of a last start win over 2000m at Navan, sitting near the speed and was trucking before being clicked up and he found plenty to score. Harder here, but think he can measure up.

9 Legacy Link (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is short but she should be winning. She ran second in the Oaks at Epsom last start, sitting in a decent spot in transit and tried hard but had no answers late for Thundering On. If she holds her form, I think she wins.

5 Gilded Prize (Bet Now:  $SP.00) steps up to 2400m after racing over 2000m at Longchamp. She won two on the bounce this time in before a down the track effort at Longchamp. The rise to 2400m should be fine and is in a good camp.

3 Dark Lucinda (Bet Now:  $SP.00) steps up to 2400m after a win over 1900m at Gowran Park on debut, sitting on speed throughout and was quite strong to the line in getting the job done. Rise to 2400m, I think, is okay, and looks to be a horse with talent.

Aidan O’Brien has dominated this race in recent years with Kyprios and I think he has a stayer in 10 Scandinava (Bet Now:  $SP.00) that could take the mantle. Outstanding over two miles last year in the Goodwood Cup and has been impressive in 2026. 4000m is a different pain barrier, but he shows no signs of it being an issue…he’s the good thing of the Carnival for mine.

2 Al Riffa (Bet Now:  $SP.00), if he came back, would give the Melbourne Cup a shake. I thought he was overrated last year but despite not winning, he has shown me that he’s top class. Slaughtered at Meydan and then with a decent ride, I think he wins at Longchamp. He’ll run the trip and run a beauty.

8 Further (Bet Now:  $SP.00) hasn’t done much this time in but does have a touch of quality about him when right. Let and tired late in the Henry ll at Sandown but I think with a more patient steer, he can run run an improved race at odds.

21 St Anton (Bet Now:  $SP.00) for me. He has won two on the bounce, the latest at Carlisle when held up behind the speed and trucking before being clicked up and he found under pressure, producing good change up speed to score. Harder here but confident he can measure up.

10 We’re Goosers (Bet Now:  $SP.00) didn’t beat much at Newmarket last start but the manner in which he spanked his rivals…my goodness it was something else, and he ran really good time in the process. Off that effort, he’s one of the leading contenders.

29 Jamestown (Bet Now:  $SP.00) steps up to the mile after a maiden win over 1400m at Dundalk, sitting on speed and was bolting before being clicked up and he went through his gears to win and win by a space. Harder here, but he looks a horse on the up.

3 Endorsement (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a horse I’d love to see in Australia for the Melbourne Cup. I think he is a rocket and yes, he beat nothing at Leopardstown last time, but it was his first time stepping up to 2400m and he made an absolute mess of them. Back in trip is fine, I am quite keen.

7 Maho Bay (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 2000m after racing over 2400m at Lingfield. He got back off the speed and did make up headway but was never really threatening. Back in trip is fine, maps ideally, he’s in the mix.

9 Mountain Cat (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is 2/2 to start his career for Godolphin, winning on debut at Doncaster before proving that was no fluke with a triumph at Wolverhampton. Good test here but think he can measure up.

14 Cosi Bello (Bet Now:  $SP.00) for me in the get out. He resumed with a win over this trip at Haydock, sitting near the speed and finding plenty under pressure to fend them off and score. Harder here, but looks to have returned well and should be strong at the end.

21 River King (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes back to 1400m after a sharp win over the mile at Newbury where he made a proper mess of them and ran decent time relative to the meeting. He has versatility re racing style and draws well for the straight course.

3 English Oak (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a six year old gelding that resumes. His last run came during the Dubai Carnival at Meydan when midfield. He is a horse who does race well early on in a prep, so watch the market.

BEST BET: Race Four Number 10 Scandinavia

NEXT BEST: Race Six Number 3 Endorsement

LONG SHOT: Race One Number 15 Sea Venture

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