Flat Racing column: 2026 Royal Ascot 2026 ante post insight, betting tips

In a special edition of his Focus On The Flat column, Races Now's Adam Smith takes a ook ahead to what many racing fans believe to be the highlight of the year – Royal Ascot. In this first parts, Smido rattles through some of the key opening day races and offers up three ante post wagers.

Royal Ascot 2026 ante post preview

Christmas arrives in June in the Smith household, and it goes by the name of Royal Ascot. The best meeting in the flat racing world, by some distance may I add.

The Royal meeting ignites with a large bang on day one with three Group One races in the space of two hours.

Starting with the Queen Anne, where the market had a sizable shakeup thanks to Notable Speech's career best effort in turning the Lockinge into a one-horse race on May 16th at Newbury. Well backed despite some terrible recent Charlie Appleby form and punters had some scary moments at the business end as William Buick rode in an incredibly brave fashion. He was right to ride with such confidence though, as when the gaps opened, the 2024 2,000 Guineas winner whooshed clear.

Appleby reported post-race that both Notable Speech and Opera Ballo (6/1) are set to run in the Queen Anne. That would be a fantastic spectacle with their running styles at the opposite ends of the spectrum. It'll be a tough decision for Buick with both rated 125 officially, although you'd expect him to stick with Notable Speech on the back of that Lockinge romp.

Many a punting eye will have been drawn to More Thunder (7/1) at Newbury. Ridden out back to get the trip on first run of the season and finishing better than any rival, including the winner. He'll be ridden with more confidence in his stamina at Ascot, although it is a stiffer mile in the east part of Berkshire.

Race three on day one is the King Charles III Stakes for the five furlong sprinters, formally known as the King's Stand.

The first five in the current ante post market are all trained outside of the UK and Ireland, with Australia, Japan and France all represented. Australian visitors have taken two of the last four editions and could well do so again this year.

Now, "not a great bunch" is a cliche you have heard many times when referring to British sprinters in recent years – and the Australians appear to do sprinting better than us. I'm always nervous about tipping international horses to be honest, and it's a long way for a horse to come from Down Under to Ascot, but this race looks absolutely perfect for Overpass.

I don't think I've ever seen as consistently quick a starter. He absolutely flies out of the gates more often than not. There aren't many Group One five furlong races in Australia for Overpass, so he often runs over six (usually round a bend) and runs out of gas late. A stiff five at Ascot should be ideal for him.

With fellow Aussie Joliestar aiming for the Jubilee on Ascot Saturday instead, fast ground likely to hamper Rayevka and the British crop not up to much, Overpass is a bet at 5/1.

Whilst we are at it, I am about to tip the biggest price ever tipped in five years of Races Now existence.

Heavenly Heather is 200/1, hasn't won a race in over a year and has never ran in a Stakes race. However, Heavenly Heather 'won' her side of the race in a York handicap last week in what was a chaotic three days for a draw bias on the Knavesmire sprint tracks.

Officially second in a race that last year produced the winner of the King Charles III in American Affair. Of course, it's a whopping price and could easily end up running in a Royal Ascot handicap rather than a Group One. But this is a horse on the up and Tracy Waggott wouldn't be entering horses in a Group One for a laugh.

A small stake of 0.25 points each way is advised. That means if you usually have a tenner each way, have £2.50 each way.

A star could be crowned in the final Group One of Royal Ascot Tuesday, where 2,000 Guineas winner Bow Echo is even money to win the St James's Palace.

He looked potentially very good at Newmarket, dominating the field and winning by two and a quarter lengths. Gstaad was back in second and the rest of the field a further eight lengths back from him. Either Bow Echo and Gstaad are pretty good or the rest of the Guineas field are rubbish. I think it could be the latter – we'll find out as the season goes on.

I'm no paddock expert and didn't even look on the day, but general consensus suggests Gstaad was chubby and certainly would come on for his first run of the season. We'll find out this Saturday (May 23rd) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, where he is odds on. It could be a cracker if we have the English, Irish and French (Rayif) Guineas winners all turning up at Ascot.

It's not often we tip trading angles on Races Now, but I am backing Puerto Rico at 16/1 on the basis he will be significantly shorter on the day.

To my eye, I can trade out on the day and have a free swing against Bow Echo, who could well prove be top drawer. Puerto Rico took a while to get going last year but when the penny dropped, he won two end-of-season Group Ones in France and was at least equal to stablemate Gstaad as a juvenile, in my opinion.

The pair have had one start this year and Puerto Rico was unable to show his best in torrential rain conditions at Longchamp. Gstaad is 7/2 for this and Puerto Rico 16/1. He's an intended runner, sure to have his preferred ground at Ascot and that price discrepancy should and will be shorter in my opinion come race day.

Smido's ante post 2026 Royal Ascot best bets

1pt win - Overpass (King Charles III) - 5/1

0.25pts EW - Heavenly Heather (King Charles III) - 200/1

1pt win - Puerto Rico (St James's Palace- 16/1

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