Horse Racing Editor•15+ Years of Experience, Horse Racing Analyst & Tipster
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
!Expired
Royal Ascot. (Getty)
One of the highlights of the British sporting summer begins on Tuesday, as Royal Ascot 2026 gets off to a flying start.
Three thrilling Group One races will be run on Tuesday, along with the Coventry Stakes, Wolferton Stakes and a couple of staying handicaps. Here are our free betting tips for day one of Royal Ascot 2026.
Aidan O'Brien will saddle the top two in the betting ahead of this juvenile Group Two. Ryan Moore and Confucius look to have landed a more favourable draw in stall 20, with Wayne Lordan and Great Barrier Reef on the inside part of the track.
One who I thought was interesting at a fairly big price was HIGH KING (50/1). Donnacha O'Brien's colt wasn't unfancied on his debut at the Curragh, but got off to a shocking start and could never recover, finishing last of the 12 runners.
Gavin Ryan's mount broke smartly on his second start at Fairyhouse, kicking into the lead rounding the bend before stretching clear to win by almost four lengths. High King is by former Coventry Stakes winner Calyx, and his dam finished second in the Prix Morny. He's bred to be a pretty smart juvenile, and I liked the way he improved between his first and second runs.
Ryan Moore and Willie Mullins are a potent combination in staying races at Royal Ascot. However, it's been nine years since a favourite last won the Ascot Stakes, and Reaching High hasn't been seen since finishing ninth as the favourite in this race 12 months ago.
Joseph O'Brien saddled the second, third and fourth in this race 12 months ago, and runs seven in Tuesday's renewal. I've missed the price a bit with Puturhandstogether, but GALILEO DAME (14/1) can still be backed at a decent price.
An easy winner of a maiden hurdle at Navan in February, Galileo Dame went close under Joey Sheridan when second to Mordor on her return to the Flat at that same venue in March. Ryan Moore then took the ride in the Chester Cup, where Galileo Dame was shuffled back to the rear after a couple of furlongs, but stayed on well to finish a one-and-a-half-length fourth behind stablemate A Piece Of Heaven.
O'Brien's mare handled decent ground better than I thought she would at Chester, and she's only one pound higher in the handicap. Colin Keane has picked up the spare ride, and another bold showing from this talented dual-purpose mare wouldn't be a surprise.
An interesting name to note further down the market is ISMAHANE (28/1). Paddy Twomey's recruit has run twice in juvenile hurdles since joining this growing operation in the winter, finishing fourth and second behind Willie Mullins-trained runners on both occasions.
Before joining Twomey, Ismahane was running well on the Flat for Henk Grewe in Germany. This Isfahan filly was touched off in a two-mile handicap in November, before finishing second in the Italian St Leger later that month.
Ismahane clocked an RPR of 99 in that Italian Classic, but has been handed a mark of 93 for her first outing in a British handicap. Billy Lee's mount ran well at Ballinrobe three weeks ago, and she's landed a kind low draw in stall four.
Enfjaar (third) finishing behind Haatem in last year's Wolferton Stakes. (Getty)
5:35pm Ascot - Wolferton Stakes Tips
The first four from this race last year will meet again, with defending champion Haatem sitting ahead of Galen, and long way clear of the out-of-form King's Gambit. ENFJAAR (11/1) finished a luckless fourth 12 months ago, and returns to Ascot on the back of a fine reappearance run at Goodwood last month.
Roger Varian's lightly-raced six-year-old was bumped around early as he tried to find a good position from stall two, and found himself boxed in against the rail behind the leaders. Jim Crowley tried a couple of times to extricate himself from that tricky position once entering the home straight. Enfjaar finally found open air at the two-furlong pole, but Haatem and Galen had gotten away from him, and he could only stay on to finish fourth.
Enfjaar came with a strong challenge under Ray Dawson in the Festival Stakes at Goodwood, but was edged out into third by two race-fit rivals in Boiling Point and Naqeeb. Varian seemed confident that his star had improved plenty for that return to action when he spoke to the press in the build-up to Royal Ascot. I doubt Enfjaar will go off at a double-figure price.
6:10pm Ascot - Copper Horse Stakes Tips
Having tipped several runners at more interesting prices, I'll be ending my Royal Ascot day one tips with a fairly unimaginative selection. VALIANCY (9/4) arrives in Berkshire looking to complete a hat-trick, and William Haggas' star should take the world of beating.
Having suffered narrow defeats on his first couple of starts in handicaps, Valiancy ended 2025 with a hard-fought success in a valuable handicap at Haydock. James Doyle then endured a rough passage at Hamilton as Valiancy made his return in a Sunday Series handicap. The favourite was forced to angle sharply left to make his challenge, but flew home once he'd hit the centre of the track and won cosily in the end.
A wide draw out in stall 14 will be no bother for Doyle, who said at the weekend that he was confident Valiancy was the best horse in this contest. Just eight pounds separate the entire field, so there won't be any lurkers looking to take advantage of a low weight. Valiancy hasn't finished improving yet.
Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips Summary
Time
Track
Tip 1 (Price Taken)
Tip 2
2:30pm
Ascot
More Thunder (6/1)
3:05pm
Ascot
High King (50/1)
3:40pm
Ascot
Cover Up (50/1)
Aspect Island (100/1)
4:20pm
Ascot
Gstaad (3/1)
5:00pm
Ascot
Galileo Dame (14/1)
Ismahane (28/1)
5:35pm
Ascot
Enfjaar (11/1)
6:10pm
Ascot
Valiancy (9/4)
Royal Ascot 2026 Day 1 FAQs
When does Royal Ascot Day 1 take place?
The opening day of Royal Ascot 2026 takes place on Tuesday, June 16. The first race is the Queen Anne Stakes at 2:30pm, with the final race scheduled to start at 6:10pm.
What races are run on Royal Ascot Day 1?
Royal Ascot Day 1 features several prestigious races, including the Queen Anne Stakes, King Charles III Stakes and the St James's Palace Stakes. The Coventry Stakes, Ascot Stakes, Wolferton Stakes and Copper Horse Handicap will also take place.
What is the feature race on Royal Ascot Day 1?
The Group One St James's Palace Stakes is often regarded as the feature contest on the opening day, attracting many of the season's leading three-year-old milers. The Queen Anne Stakes and the King Charles III Stakes also hold Group One status.
Where can I watch Royal Ascot Day 1 live?
Royal Ascot Day 1 will be shown live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, while Racing TV will provide comprehensive coverage of every race from Ascot. Visit our website if you'd like to watch any race at Ascot via a mobile or tablet.
Jon Vine
Horse Racing Editor • 15+ Years of Experience, Horse Racing Analyst & Tipster
Jon has been a sports writer and tipster for over ten years. Over the last six years, he has become completely immersed in all things horse racing. Every race is a puzzle that he is eager to solve.
Favourite races over jumps would include the Brown Advisory Chase (RSA) at the Cheltenham Festival and the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. On the flat, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown is the race that excites most each season.
Favourite horses of all time include Vautour, Laurens, Road To Respect, Topofthegame, Saint Calvados and Elegant Escape.
