The biggest flat festival of the British season dominated the racing headlines last week, with Royal Ascot serving up five spectacular days of action. From the opening Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday to the concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes on Saturday, the Berkshire showpiece delivered its usual mix of shocks, storylines, and stellar performances.
While the honours were shared around in the eight Group 1 events, a familiar name once again made his name to the top of the leaderboard. Already responsible for Classic winners in Britain, Ireland, and France in 2026, Aidan O’Brien added further sparkle to what is the greatest Royal Ascot training career of all time.
Bow Remains Unbeaten in St James’s Palace Stakes
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bow Echo | 5/6F | George Boughey | Billy Loughnane |
| 2nd | Gstaad | 2/1 | A P O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 3rd | Talk Of New York | 11/2 | Charlie Appleby | William Buick |
The opening Group 1 of the meeting saw Ten Bob Tony cause a 50/1 upset in the Queen Anne Stakes. Thankfully for most punters, events ventured back into the realm of the predictable in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Separated by 2¾l when finishing first and second in the 2,000 Guineas, Bow Echo and Gstaad renewed their rivalry in this valuable event for the three-year-old colts. With Gstaad since going on to claim the Irish 2,000 Guineas in fine style, there was optimism in the Ballydoyle camp that he could get closer to his Newmarket conqueror. Charlie Appleby’s rapidly improving Talk Of New York added to a fascinating clash of the big guns.
Swinging for home, the anticipated battle played out on the track. Sticking to the inside rail, Gstaad made his bid for glory under Ryan Moore, while Talk Of New York began his charge down the centre of the track. Forced wide off the turn, Bow Echo was last off the bridle but was made to work harder than he had at Newmarket. Talk Of New York wilted close home, but Gstaad wasn’t lying down. Only a short head between the pair at the line, with Bow Echo just doing enough to extend his unbeaten record to five.
The drama didn’t end when the runners crossed the line. Amid swirling accusations of team tactics aboard the Aidan O’Brien duo of Gstaad and Puerto Rico, Ryan Moore and Christophe Soumillon each received a ban. Bow Echo’s rider, Billy Loughnane, was simply delighted with the narrow success, stating:
“This horse is a superstar, and I’m so lucky to be part of a horse like this. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Ombudsman Dazzles in Prince of Wales’s Stakes
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ombudsman | 11/10F | John & Thady Gosden | William Buick |
| 2nd | Minnie Hauk | 15/2 | A P O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 3rd | Daryz | 2/1 | F-H Graffard | Mickael Barzalona |
The heavyweight clashes continued on Day 2, with the Prince of Wales’s Stakes featuring a fascinating Britain vs Ireland vs France battle.
The John & Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman arrived as the big home hope. A brilliant winner of the 2025 edition, he was two from two in 2026 but was workmanlike rather than spectacular when winning the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes last time out.
Having ended 2025 as the queen of the fillies’ middle-distance division, Minnie Hauk represented Aidan O’Brien and Ireland. A three-time Group 1 winner, thanks to her victories in the English, Irish, and Yorkshire Oaks, she lost out by just a head in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Flying the flag for France was the horse who mastered Minnie Hauk at Longchamp. Hailing from the yard of Francis-Henri Graffard, Daryz arrived on the back of successive top-level triumphs in the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan.
Much like in the St James’s Palace Stakes, the three main protagonists locked horns inside the final two furlongs. However, whereas the three-year-old contest produced a nail-biting finish, this result was decisive. Launching his challenge from the rear, Ombudsman’s electric turn of foot saw him leave Minnie Hauk and Daryz standing on his way to a stunning four-length success.
Only the fourth horse to successfully defend his crown in the 164-year history of the race, this display confirmed Ombudsman’s status as one of the most talented horses in the world.
Scandinavia On Top in Gold Cup Thriller
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Scandinavia | 11/8F | A P O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Trawlerman | 10/3 | John & Thady Gosden | William Buick |
| 3rd | Sweet William | 11/1 | John & Thady Gosden | Robert Havlin |
While the Prince of Wales’s Stakes produced a dominant performance, the Day 3 feature saw a return to the type of heart-stopping finish witnessed in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The 2026 Gold Cup saw another Gosden-trained, Godolphin-owned, defending champion in the shape of the eight-year-old Trawlerman. Taking maximum advantage of the retirement of Aidan O’Brien’s staying sensation Kyprios, Trawlerman emerged as the clear king of the stamina hill in 2025. Seven lengths too good for the field 12 months ago, he seemed sure to put up a bold defence of his crown.
If there is one sure thing in racing, it is that the next O’Brien-trained superstar is rarely too far away. Stepping into the space vacated by Kyprios, 2025 St Leger Stakes winner Scandinavia tackled 2m4f for the first time.
In another race which stuck to the script, Trawlerman and Scandinavia combined to produce one of the most pulsating finishes of the meeting. Having made all the running, Trawlerman initially looked to have repelled Scandinavia’s late surge, but back came the O’Brien runner to dethrone the champ by an agonising head.
Now a three-time Group 1 winner, and still only four years of age, Scandinavia has time on his side to become O’Brien’s third multiple winner of the Gold Cup.
100 Wins for Aidan O’Brien
Aidan O’Brien has been the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history since surpassing Sir Michael Stoute in 2023. Stretching his lead in 2024 and 2025, the Ballydoyle maestro arrived at the 2026 edition with 96 Royal Ascot wins to his name.
O’Brien wasted little time in his charge towards a century. Picking up an opening day double with Great Barrier Reef in the Coventry Stakes and Mission Central in the King Charles III Stakes, he moved onto 99 when Victorious claimed the Queen Mary Stakes on Day 2.
Fittingly for a man accustomed to success on the biggest of stages, the century arrived in the meeting’s signature event, courtesy of Scandinavia’s lung-busting Gold Cup victory. Still not finished, O’Brien added to his haul with Precise, Causeway, and Illinois to move onto 103 Royal Ascot wins.
Congratulations to Aidan O’Brien, who has achieved 100 Royal Ascot victories after winning the 2026 Gold Cup, an incredible landmark moment. #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/IDZZvCBO2S
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 18, 2026
The man on board all but one of O’Brien’s seven winners, Ryan Moore, also ended the week with seven wins. Claiming the top trainer and jockey awards at the meeting, O’Brien and Moore also became the first trainer and jockey combo to win all eight Royal Ascot Group 1s, with Mission Central completing the set in the King Charles III Stakes.
