Royal Ascot - Day Five 2026
We're coming out swinging on the final day of what has been an fantastic week!
Your Saturday morning briefing, built on our 11-factor scoring.
Jan Brueghel
The strongest single case anywhere on the card, a proven Group performer back at a sensible mile and a half, 9/2 is fair, even allowing for Kalpana, who has beaten him over this course and distance and will go off shorter, but he tops our scoring by a clear margin in a small, select field, with the trip and the ground ideal.
Realign
Drawn on the favoured low side of a twenty-eight-runner cavalry charge and arriving off a ready win, 9/1 reads as fair each-way in a field this size, with several places on offer, and a routine rise after the win is the familiar shape of a horse still going the right way.
Today's Highlights
THE SHORT STORYThe Card
7 RACES · 7 SELECTED, 0 PASSEDTop of our scoring and the highest rated in the race, a prominent type who should get the perfect tow as the front-runners pressure each other, 3/1 is workable for the clear pick on our numbers, with Ryan Moore booked off a flawless recent record at the track.
Drawn high on the favoured stands' side and a clear second on our scoring, the each-way angle for those taking on the favourite at a much bigger price; the money has come for him from 28/1, and we take a small each-way saver.
The strongest single case anywhere on the card, a proven Group performer back at a sensible mile and a half, 9/2 is fair, even with Kalpana, who has beaten him over course and distance and will go off shorter, but he tops our scoring by a clear margin in a small, select field with the trip and ground ideal.
An each-way alternative at a big price, strong on the conditions profile, for those who want to play the wider field.
An each-way shot at a big price in a wide-open Group 1 sprint, consistent and proven over course and distance, 18/1 looks fair with the field size guaranteeing extra places, though he was held over this trip here last autumn by Lake Forest, so this is a place-chance play rather than a confident pick.
A fraction behind on our scoring with the pick of the draw and a strong recent profile, the each-way alternative.
The strongest alignment of positive signals anywhere on the card, drawn high where seven furlongs here favours and fresh off a wide-margin win, 15/2 stays workable and the price has come in from 10s, which only confirms it, for a yard with a fine recent record in this very race.
The unbeaten favourite and clear second on our scoring, but the slowest of the principals on the clock, which is why we take him on at the prices.
Drawn on the favoured low side of a twenty-eight-runner cavalry charge and arriving off a ready win, 9/1 reads as fair each-way in a field this size, with several places on offer, for a yard in strong form, and a routine rise in the weights is the familiar shape of a horse still going the right way.
A front-running type who can use the favoured early pace, a huge price each-way in the same race.
Lightly raced with the best time figures in the race and a first run in a handicap, exactly the kind of unexposed type a powerful yard places a contest like this with, 15/2 is workable enough in a competitive sixteen-runner heat, and a smart novice success last time says there is more to come.
Level with the selection on our scoring, but his case leans on the jockey booking rather than the conditions, so we side with the improver.
Comfortably the highest rated in the race, dropping out of top company after finishing second in the Gold Cup here, with a tame run last time easily forgiven on unsuitable ground, 2/1 is acceptable for the class act in the field, and the marathon trip on a sound surface brings him right back into his comfort zone.
Last year's winner of this very race, proven over course and distance, the each-way alternative at a bigger price.
Our eleven-factor scoring with multiple data points behind each. Every runner. Every race. Applied rigorously without exception.
Today's advised stakes
9PT TOTAL OUTLAY · 8 BETS · 0 PASSES| TIME | SELECTION | PRICE | TYPE | STAKE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:30 | Carry The Flag | 3/1 | WIN | 0.5pt WIN |
| 14:30 | Savage Mariner | 9/1 | EW | 0.25pt EW (0.5pt total) |
| 15:05 | Jan BrueghelNAP | 9/2 | EW | 1pt EW (2pt total) |
| 15:40 | Kind Of Blue | 18/1 | EW | 0.5pt EW (1pt total) |
| 16:20 | Catullus | 15/2 | EW | 0.5pt EW (1pt total) |
| 17:00 | RealignNB | 9/1 | EW | 1pt EW (2pt total) |
| 17:35 | Harmonics | 15/2 | EW | 0.5pt EW (1pt total) |
| 18:10 | Illinois | 2/1 | WIN | 1pt WIN |