The flat season is approaching one of the premier races of the year, as trainers, jockeys, and owners all gear up for the return of Royal Ascot.
Scheduled to begin on Tuesday 16th June, the five-day festival includes several Group 1 races, most notably the Gold Cup.
The two-and-a-half-mile race is regarded as the showpiece event for many, and this year will be no different.
Those competing in the Gold Cup have been making their preparations for several weeks now, and it was only a short while ago that three horses entered in the event made the trip north for the Boodles May Festival.
Those who made the trip to Chester and watched the trio might well have left the racecourse feeling encouraged by their performances, and bettors can back one of them at Ascot across the best horse racing betting sites.
But what do their chances of success at Ascot actually look like this month?
Jan Brueghel
The Ormonde Stakes was Jan Brueghel’s first race of the season, but the Aidan O’Brien-trained horse returned to action with a positive performance.
Winning by two and a half lengths, the five-year-old laid down a marker for the rest of the season and is set to run again at Epsom.
A positive run in the Coronation Cup will only serve to highlight Jan Brueghel’s class further, but Chester and Epsom are both shorter distances than the Gold Cup.
At 33/1, there are question marks regarding his stamina for the two-mile, four-furlong race, as he’s not regarded as an effective stayer compared to other entries for Ascot.
Illinois
After winning the Queen’s Vase at Ascot in 2024, Illinois raced in the Gold Cup at Ascot the following year, finishing seven lengths behind eventual winner Trawlerman in second place.
He was also entered in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last month by Aidan O’Brien to kick off preparations for the 2026 season, but ultimately finished five and a quarter lengths behind stablemate Jan Brueghel.
Despite that result, Illinois is still seen as a stronger contender for the Gold Cup due to his history at the course. Nevertheless, at 16/1, the five-year-old is still some way behind the ante-post favourites.
Lambourn
A day after Jan Brueghel’s victory on May 7th, Aidan O’Brien had another winner at Chester in the Huxley Stakes.
Lambourn finished ahead of Bay City Roller by a neck, adding to his previous win at the course in 2025.
That victory last year sparked a run of three consecutive first-place finishes, as Lambourn went on to complete an Epsom and Irish Derby double.
But while he’s been entered for the Gold Cup at Ascot, jockey Ryan Moore cast doubt on Lambourn’s chances following his most recent win by questioning whether he wants to ride further than a mile and a half.
Considered a middle-distance specialist, this is why bookmakers don’t consider him an Ascot contender at 20/1.
Chester non-runner a top contender for Ascot
While none of the trio above is considered to be a challenger for the Gold Cup, one non-runner at Chester is now seen as a contender.
Rahiebb had been due to compete in the Ormonde Stakes but withdrew following an inspection of the course.
Fresh off winning the Yorkshire Cup, Rahiebb’s odds in the Gold Cup have shortened dramatically to 4/1.
Trainer Roger Varian certainly appears to be targeting success at Ascot, having not entered the four-year-old into any other races.
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