ROYAL ASCOT - DAY 1 (TUESDAY)

It's the opening day of the five-day festival as we prepare to see some of the best flat horses in the world line up for Royal Ascot 2026. The team previews every race on Tuesday. 14:30 ASCOT

Notable Speech holds obvious claims on the back of his clear-cut success over More Thunder in the Lockinge Stakes. Charlie Appleby’s classy miler sets the standard, but there’s a suspicion he’s not at his very best at Ascot, so it could be worth chancing his progressive stablemate Opera Ballo. A winner of the Jebel Hatta at Meydan earlier in the season, he looked as good as ever when dominating the likes of Field Of Gold in the bet365 Mile. This track should suit and he continues to head firmly in the right direction.

(written by Sam King) 15:05 ASCOT

The Aidan O’Brien-trained duo Confucius and Great Barrier Reef command plenty of respect, but this looks a deep renewal and, at the prices, Mrair could be worth siding with. Recent Group 1-winning trainer George Scott has been in excellent form of late and this promising individual arrives with an appealing profile. He was well looked after when slowly away on debut before showing he possessed a sizeable engine when scoring next time out at Lingfield. He’ll need to improve on the bare figures, but this track should suit and he remains open to plenty of further progress.

(written by Sam King) 15:40 ASCOT

As seems to be the case every year, the market is headed by overseas challengers in the major Royal Ascot sprints, and this renewal is no different. Overpass brings a strong level of form from Australia, including finishing less than two lengths behind the world’s highest-rated racehorse, Ka Ying Rising. However, he often appears to be doing his best work late on and this stiff Ascot finish may not play entirely to his strengths.

The other overseas contender, Rayevka, makes more appeal. She has long threatened to develop into a top-class performer and connections seem to believe they have finally found the key to unlocking her full potential. A strongly run five furlongs on fast ground should allow her to travel comfortably before finishing powerfully, making this race look an ideal opportunity.

At a bigger price, Rosy Affair is also worth a second look. Trainer George Boughey has been extremely positive about her and she has done nothing but improve throughout her career so far, with further progress entirely possible. Both selections receive the mares’ allowance and, with so little often separating the runners in these major sprint handicaps, that weight concession could prove invaluable.

(written by Toby Darby)

16:20 ASCOT

The unbeaten British Guineas winner Bow Echo appears to be improving with every career start and already looks one of the best Guineas winners since Frankel. A repeat of his demolition job at Newmarket would be more than enough to see him maintain his unbeaten record and he looks comfortably the one to beat.

Gstaad landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas and now attempts to reverse the form of his second-place finish behind Bow Echo at Newmarket earlier in the season. He looks the biggest threat to the current market leader but faces a tough task if he is to finish in front.

Talk Of New York has done very little wrong, winning three of his four career starts, but this represents a significant step up in class. Unfortunately, with only six runners set to go to post, and therefore just two places on offer, there’s little scope for an each-way alternative.

(written by Rory Paddock)

17:00 ASCOT

Jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Willie Mullins have enjoyed tremendous success together in staying handicaps at Royal Ascot and renew their partnership with the King’s horse Reaching High. The five-year-old was sent off a clear favourite for this race last year but was unfortunate not to get a clear run. More can be expected this time around, but having not raced since Ascot 12 months ago, a 364-day absence is a significant spell on the sidelines and makes this a much tougher assignment. He should be thereabouts, but with 20 runners set to go to post there are others who offer greater value.

At the foot of the weights, fellow Irish raider Kizlyar may still be something of an unknown quantity, but the four-year-old makes plenty of appeal after landing a conditions race over 1m6f last time out. Despite the rise in the weights, he looks capable of improving again and should make the frame.

Stablemate Comfort Zone is another worthy of consideration after finishing third in this contest last year and returning from a similar mark. He has been competing over trips that appear too short and now steps back up to a marathon distance, which should suit him much better.

Puturhandstogether, Mordor, Small Fry and Tim Toe look the best of the remainder, with the Irish challengers likely to dominate proceedings.

(written by Rory Paddock) 17:35 ASCOT

The Wolferton Stakes brings together last year’s first two home in Haatem and Galen, who filled the top two places in this race 12 months ago. Haatem has warmed up nicely for this renewal with a solid reappearance at Goodwood and Richard Hannon’s charge already boasts two Royal Ascot victories on his record.

The each-way value could lie with Arabian Light, who has been in excellent form at Meydan and returned to these shores with a tidy fourth at Sandown recently. William Buick has also chosen him ahead of his stablemates, which catches the eye. It promises to be a fascinating middle-distance contest to round off the opening day.

(written by John Arnold) 18:10 ASCOT

Daiquiri Bay was an impressive winner at Newmarket in May and this step up in trip is highly likely to bring about further improvement. This is the type of progressive horse Alan King does particularly well with and another bold showing is expected.

Real Dream can certainly be given a chance based on some of his previous form. He has been handed a number of difficult assignments in the past, but this represents a more suitable level and he could easily outrun his odds.

There is one horse in the field who could potentially prove a cut above this grade, and that is Valiancy.

He looks a typical steadily improving type from this yard, getting better with experience on each start, and although the market is likely to latch onto him, he still appears capable of proving too strong for this opposition.

(written by Matt Polley) See the team's best bets for the entire Royal Ascot meeting: