Flat Racing column: 2026 Coronation Cup first look, insight, betting tips

In his latest Focus On The Flat column, Races Now's Adam Smith takes a first look at another of the year's most anticipated flat races – the Coronation Cup.

As part of the much-needed project to revitalise the Epsom Derby Festival, the Coronation Cup has had a facelift. Increased prize money now sees £1,000,000 awarded to the winner, Coolmore are the new sponsors and the race has been moved back to the Saturday having previously flirted with Friday.

Will these changes help increase the average field size which sits at just 7.1 in the last 10 years? Hopefully so. Probably not.

Maybe Coolmore thought winning seven of the last 16 renewals wasn’t good enough from Aidan O’Brien, so he now has more impetus to win the Coolmore Coronation Cup.

Calandagan was the best turf horse in the world last year, feeling defeat just once in five starts. That single reversal coming at the hands of Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup. And the pair are on a rematch collision course ahead of the 2026 renewal.

Jan Brueghel, the 2024 Goodwood Cup and St Leger winner, looked to be in rude health when dominating the Ormonde Stakes at Chester’s May Meeting. You can see him being all out to retain his Coronation crown and with the potential for one or two Coolmore pacemakers, who would doubt him?

Illinois set the pace for Jan at Chester and last year’s Derby winner Lambourn made every yard of the Huxley Stakes at the same venue. The script is written for it to be a tough day at the office for Calandagan.

The best horse in France is now on a run of five straight Group Ones, and proper Group Ones at that.

His Ascot victories in the King George and Champion Stakes were simply brilliant and a Japan Cup win in November might well be his best achievement to date. Similarly to last year, Calandagan looks set to prep for the Coronation Cup via Meydan’s Sheema Classic 70 days prior.

Calandagan might simply be the best horse in the race, but the Ballydoyle boys will make sure its anything but straightforward for the likely favourite on the day.

At this stage in proceedings, we usually take a look at hose at bigger prices. But it is hard to make a case for anything against the big two in honesty.

It is likely to be a small field as usual. Calandagan, Jan Breughel, Lambourn maybe, one or two pacemakers, one or two British horses making up the numbers, possibly another French raider (Goliath, Aventure, Map Of Stars etc).

Currently in the market, you will find some very good horses who look unlikely to participate at this stage. Arc winner Daryz is set to go for the Prix d'Ispahan, Oaks winner Minnie Hauk is all guns blazing for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, See The Fire doesn’t stay the trip and the others aren’t good enough on all known evidence.

Given the scars of last year, a long season ahead and many other possible targets, there is a world I could see where Calandagan doesn’t run in the Coronation Cup. That would be a shame and hopefully it doesn’t happen. I wouldn’t rule it out, though.

Regardless, I think Jan Brueghel will be all out to win this from a fitness and tactical point of view. If this race was this afternoon, I’d happily back Jan Brueghel at 5/2 vs Calandagan at 6/4. As it's not, I'll keep my powder dry – for now.

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