2026 Royal Ascot Friday Preview & Tips – DS
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Preview
Dave Stevos’ 2026 Royal Ascot Friday preview is below.
2.30 – Albany Stakes (Group 3)
I fancied a son of Persian Force to go well in the Coventry but he wasn’t even declared. He had one run a cracker in the Queen Mary at a big price earlier this week and hopefully, Topaz can do something similar here for Jack Channon Tom Marquand.
This filly ran a blinder on debut at Newmarket last month. She was held up and fared best of those that were ridden patiently, staying on very nicely in the final furlong and just failing to reel in the winner and 2-1 fav Jolivette, who has been priced up at 11/1 here.
The third from that race wasn’t disgraced in the Coventry on Tuesday, finishing in the middle of the pack 6l behind the winner but just 2.75l behind the fourth. As far as breeding goes, Topaz’ dam was of little account but she is a half-sister to the useful G2 placed Wall Of Fire and G3 placed Sapphire Beach and her great grand-dam, Jewel In The Sand, won this very race in 2004.
At odds of 33/1, Topaz is the each way selection.
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Tip: Topaz e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
3.05 – Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
I put Spicy Marg up for this race at 50s ante-post and she’s into 40s with most firms now. You can read why I fancy her here. I think she’s better than her last run when well behind Venetian Lace at Haydock on easy ground, and the return to quicker conditions will hopefully elicit a much-improved performance. Fingers crossed for a big run.
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Tip: Spicy Marg already advised e/w @ 50/1
3.40 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap (Heritage)
We backed Omni Man at big odds in the King George V Stakes at this meeting last season and he nicked place money for us in fifth. He was running off a mark of 90 and he didn’t get the clearest of runs, so he could well have finished much closer and he went on to win nicely at Goodwood on his next start off 93.
Since then, Omni Man has been mostly highly tried to no avail, including in both starts this season. He was below par in a 1m2f G3 at the Curragh on his seasonal return on soft ground, and then 1m on good ground was never likely to suit in a Listed heat at Leopardstown last time out.
Omni Man was eased 3lb for those two runs and he now steps back up to his optimal trip on ground he’ll relish. He proved he could handle this track last year and I’d imagine this race has been a long-term plan. At odds of 14/1, Omni Man is the each way selection.
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Tip: Omni Man e/w @ 14/1 (5 places) NAP
4.20 – Coronation Stakes (Group 1)
It feels like a lifetime ago since Cercene did us proud in last year’s renewal of this G1. Unfortunately, I haven’t got anything like her for this year’s race. The Irish 1000 Guineas winner Precise, the mount of Ryan Moore, is odds on and her stablemate, True Love, the Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner and runner up in the Irish version, is next best at odds of 10/3. Their claims are obvious.
To be honest, it is hard to make a solid case for anything at a price. Black Caviar Gold is half-tempting but she got nowhere near the two Ballydoyle fillies in the Irish Guineas and it is hard to see her reversing that form. We’ve backed enough losers this week so I’m going to give this race a miss. No bet.
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Tip: No bet
5.00 – Sandringham Stakes Handicap (Heritage)
We backed Spinning Lizzie in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket earlier this season and while she missed the place money in third (six runners), it was a good run over 1m2f, a trip that in hindsight probably stretched her.
In that race she finished in front of Esna, who went on to win a Newbury G3 on her next start and well behind her in fourth was Brigid’s Well, who re-opposes here. Before that run Spinning Lizzie was beaten 5l when eighth in the G3 Dubai Duty Free at Newbury. She finished 2.5l behind Ellusive Butterfly, since a Listed winner and now rated 105.
This filly has had just one run in a handicap, in a nursery at Goodwood last year (7f, heavy) and she found just one too good off a mark of 83. Yes, she’s 13lb higher now but on that Dubai Duty Free run (and her last run at Newmarket) her mark of 96 could be workable and the drop back to 1m here is a big plus.
Dr Newland and Jamie Insole landed a lovely place for us with Dividend on Day 1, hopefully Spinning Lizzie does something similar at odds of 40/1.
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Tip: Spinning Lizzie e/w @ 40/1 (6 places)
5.35 – King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
Just six runners here and it’s a race I am happy to leave alone. No strong opinion and no bet.
2026 Royal Ascot Friday Tip: No Bet
6.10 – Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap (Class 2)
The one I like here off a mark of 96 is the Andrew Balding trained filly, Simplify. By the speedy Profitable, she has been ultra-consistent since an underwhelming debut effort at Newbury last June (6f, gd-fm).
She followed that up with a much better run when second to the now 102 rated Timeforshowcasing at Newbury (6f, gd-fm) on her next start and she filled the same position on her third start over 5.5f at Bath. She finally got off the mark at Thirsk (6f, good) in September, making all for a 2l win with a couple of subsequent winners behind.
Simplify has had three runs this term, all at 5f. On her seasonal return she won by a neck in a handicap at Wolves (5f) off 80. Then, off 3lb higher, she absolutely bolted up in the manner of a smart filly at Thirsk (5f, good). Balding then decided to try to nick some black type in a 5f listed heat at York and she did exactly that, finishing 0.5l behind the 100 rated Dickensian.
This filly is a strong traveller with a sharp turn of foot, characteristics that should serve her well in a race of this nature, and she is nicely drawn in stall 18. At odds of 18/1, Simplify is worth backing each way.
