Goliath and Christophe Soumillon win the King George

Royal Ascot 2026 World Pool tips

Horse Racing

Fri June 19, 2026 · 8h ago

Graham Cunningham sets the scene ahead of the fifth and final day at Royal Ascot and provides his World Pool selections.

Precision timing as streetfighter Causeway lands another knockout blow

Coronation Stakes winner Precise

Talk about having your day in the Sun.

Temperatures soared on day four at Royal Ascot and Clifford Lee, whose future looked cloudy after a biking accident last October, enjoyed the biggest day of his career as the high-class VENETIAN SUN battled home in the Commonwealth Cup.

Aidan set out in search of his second century of royal winners with PRECISE and the rugged streetfighter CAUSEWAY, ending the day 6-5 ahead of Joseph, but the beat (and the heat goes on with Saturday’s card looking as deep and intense as anything we’ve seen all week.

2.30: Norfolk Stakes (1000m)

12-3-19-10

It isn’t Royal Ascot if you don’t swing for the fences at long odds here and there and the Norfolk – switched to Saturday for American telly this year – has shocked the world with winners at 50-1 and 150-1 in the last four years.

Sadly, hopes of a huge price about SAVAGE MARINER are probably in vain after a certain filly scored on Friday.

Either way, this lad shaped with plenty of promise on his Leicester debut, travelling powerfully for a long way, and the filly who beat him (Libertango) gave the form a very rosy look by powering home to land Friday’s Albany. This step down to a stiff 1000m might just suit him very well indeed.

CARRY THE FLAG has useful runs on the board, with his Marble Hill second polished by Great Barrier Reef, but the WP market will react accordingly. Salisbury winner Orthodox has been notably solid in the market against the jolly since the final declarations were made, while this could be the day when American speed comes to the fore.

Wesley Ward won the Norfolk with No Nay Never and Shang Shang Shang.

EZ TINA isn’t easy to assess after her commanding Woodbine dirt win, but the mid race power she unleashed that day was very encouraging.

Her sire Golden Pal came very close to giving Ward another Norfolk in 2020 when run down close home by the Lir Jet and the US handler unleashed a potential star when Bacio made mincemeat of some useful handicappers in Friday’s nightcap.

3.05: Hardwicke Stakes (2400m)

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When was the last time you saw a G2 race with six G1 winners on deck?

This year’s Hardwicke is doing a very fair impression of a King George come early and KALPANA and GOLIATH appeal in a race that will surely have a significant bearing on next month’s summer showdown.

Leaving Aidan’s stars off the short list is dangerous but Jan Brueghel didn’t look hearty in that gruelling Coronation Cup two weeks ago and Lambourn was also left floundering when Bay City Roller rolled for home there.

But Kalpana is in prime form after defying a G1 penalty at Newbury last month and former King George hero Goliath looked very smooth in easing clear in G2 company at Chantilly.

They top the short list and, given that the Quinella ought to pay well in such a strong race, former HK vase winner Giavellotto and BC Turf winner Ethical Diamond might add a bit of value at bigger prices.

3.40: QEII Jubilee Stakes (1200m)

A sprinting World Cup – with raiders from Australia, Japan, France, Ireland and Denmark – and six of the field have had a rear view of the mighty Ka Ying Rising at one time or another.

JOlIESTAR is one of the sextet, but she’s among the best around when the champ is absent and her fine record in Australia – and the fact that Chris Waller knows exactly how to prepare an Ascot sprinter – makes her a solid first choice for any short list.

Fellow Aussie Overpass should give her a good lead up the centre after his good third on Tuesday, but this is a deeper race than the King Charles III and I’m looking for stalkers to help fill the frame.

LAKE FOREST’s runaway Haydock win suggests that he might just be a different horse since being gelded over the winter, while last year’s runner-up SATONO REVE holds clear claims again and proven G1 force KIND OF BLUE is a British challenger who could sneak into the frame at a much bigger price than most of the higher profile stars.

4.20: Jersey Stakes (1400m)

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Potential is key in a Jersey that sees half the field separated by a few pounds on ratings and, although the market won’t miss him, SABER STRIKE looks a must for any Q list.

This Night of Thunder colt made a strong impression on his reappearance in a Newmarket listed race, reeling off a quickfire 22.5s closing split up the hill to win with authority, and the normally cautious Haggas is giving off a notable sense of confidence.

Fillies don’t have a good record in this G3. The Prettiest Star comes out well on the figures with a sex allowance after her Guineas fourth, but I prefer COLORI FOREVER among the longer priced horses as he was very impressive in winning a handicap off a mark of 96 over course and distance.

A fast pace would suit him very well indeed and 2000 Guineas fourth Into The Sky could provide it, and THESECRETADVERSARY is another strong saver and Quinella option after a string of good efforts including a luckless effort in Gstaad’s Irish Guineas last time.

5.00: Wokingham Stakes (1200m)

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There hasn’t been a strong draw pattern for the Wokingham of late and it might be best to focus on several key horses who are either bang in form or ready to return to their peak.

More Thunder looked a good thing beat at 3-1 in this race last year and his stablemate BINHAREER will be a similar price after a hugely promising York reappearance. The faith looks justified with a Timeform rating that’s 12lb ahead of his BHA mark, while DOUBLE RUSH is another key player even though he’s shooting up the weights after two dominant Newmarket wins.

Now to a couple at longer prices in the hope of snagging an ambitious Quinella.

COMPLETELY RANDOM came from well back for a fine fifth in last year’s Wokingham and returns with cheekpieces and Ryan Moore after thriving on the AW in the winter. He should be primed to peak again after shaping nicely away from the favoured group in the Victoria cup and the latter comment also applies to another likely lad in ROYAL ZABEEL.

Royal Ascot 2026

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