Royal Ascot is a festival that draws thousands of eyes to it, both in the UK and around the world and 2026 is set to be no different.
Huge crowds are set to make the journey to the Berkshire racecourse, where plenty will be placing bets on every race.
That will certainly be the case for the main event of the festival, the Gold Cup held on Thursday, which could be set for a very different feel this year.
Trawlerman was the impressive winner by seven lengths in 2025, but while he’s been entered for this year’s event, the reigning champion has not yet raced this season, which could open the door for a new winner.
Heading into the race, Scandinavia is the strong favourite after impressive wins in the St Leger and the Goodwood Cup in 2025. This season, he has recorded victories at Navan and at Leopardstown in the Saval Beg.
Fans and punters can back the AP O’Brien-trained colt by using a novibet promo code, but they might want to look for a better value pick instead.
In that case, it’s worth looking at the potential candidates who are in the kind of form which might lead to them beating Scandinavia in the two-and-a-half-mile race. Here are three that could yet surprise punters in the Gold Cup.
Rahiebb
While still considered a contender by bookmakers, Rahiebb has bigger odds than Scandinavia at 4/1, and that could make him a value pick.
Trained by Roger Varian, he’s become a contender in recent weeks after an excellent victory in the Yorkshire Cup in May.
Although he only won one race in 2025, he managed four second-place finishes, including in the St Leger where Scandinavia only won by a neck.
Varian believes that the four-year-old has matured over the winter and said after Rahiebb’s most recent races that he’s firmly in contention for the Gold Cup. It’s now only a question of whether that confidence can translate onto the course.
Jan Brueghel
All eyes might be on Scandinavia, but his stablemate, Jan Brueghel, is just as big a contender for the Gold Cup honour.
After triumphing in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester, his first race of the season, the five-year-old finished second in the Coronation Cup.
Although the former Epsom winner was considered a contender for the win by bookmakers, a strong performance still bodes well heading into Ascot.
As both he and Scandinavia are trained by Aidan O’Brien, the Irishman has two candidates in serious contention for the Gold Cup this year, with the top trainer just four wins away from breaking into triple figures for Ascot victories.
So far, Jan Brueghel has recorded six wins and two second-place finishes in nine runs, and he’ll be looking to keep that formidable form going into his next Group 1 race.
Sweet William
If you’re looking for consistency, there are few horses worth backing more than Sweet William.
The seven-year-old has only finished outside the top three in one of his 23 races, and has made an exceptional start to the 2026 season.
Second place in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown followed a victory in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot, and the John and Thady Gosden-trained horse is now preparing for his return to the racecourse.
There are questions regarding his stamina in the Gold Cup, as he chased Trawlerman in last year’s race before dropping back to finish fourth, but there will be plenty of support behind this honest horse.
