Saturday 20th June 2026
Welcome aboard to this week’s Saturday blog, where the focus is once more on Ascot, where it’s the fifth day of the Royal Meeting. The first race of the afternoon is the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs, which gets underway at 2.30. This could well be another to the Aidan O’Brien tally with CARRY THE FLAG, who’s the mount of Ryan Moore. He got the better of the Albany Stakes favourite Sun Goddess on his penultimate start, before finishing a length and a quarter in second behind the Coventry winner, Great Barrier Reef, on his most recent start. This is form that speaks for itself, and he’s likely to post a bold bid back over a stiff five furlongs here. I’ve also had an each-way play in the race, and this comes in the form of American raider EZ TINA, who’s a filly representing Wesley Ward, and the mount of Juan Hernandez. Ward has won this race twice before, and this two-year-old looked as though she could be a smart sort when winning on debut at Woodbine by four and three-quarters of a length. She’s likely to blast away from the stalls and could take some pegging back on fast ground.
The second race of the afternoon comes up at 3.05, and this is the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, contested over a mile and four furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of KALPANA here for Andrew Balding and Colin Keane. She’s a highly talented mare and signed off her campaign last term with Group 1 success in the Champion Fillies & Mares race over course and distance in October. She opened her account at the first time of asking this time around when winning the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury last time out in May, and she should naturally take a big step forward here. I think she could take a lot of beating in this. Her main danger is highly likely to be Jan Brueghel, who finished ahead of her here in the King George last season. He has got a faster turnaround to contend with, having contested the Coronation Cup a couple of weeks ago at Epsom, where he was ten lengths behind Bay City Roller. But he’s still a big player. Amiloc may outrun a big price, as he’s likely to be more tuned up for this assignment than when free at York last time out.
We move into Group 1 company at 3.40, with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes taking centre-stage over six furlongs. This is a fantastic renewal of the race, with a real International feel, and I think that it could go the way of Australia with JOLIESTAR, who represents Chris Waller and is the mount of James McDonald. She’s a leading sprinter in Australia, where the standard is considerably higher, and comes into the race having won her last three races, with the latest two coming within Group 1 company. She’s the one to beat here if she’s anywhere near her best, and an explosive performance would be no real shock. Japanese sprinter Satono Reve could prove a big threat, with trainer Noriyuki Hori securing the services of Ryan Moore. He’s a top-level performer himself and should be bang there at the business end of things. Lake Forest is likely the best of the home challenge for William Haggas, and is very interesting back over a sprinting distance.
The final race I’ll be having a play in at this year’s Royal Meeting is the 4.20 on Saturday, and this is the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, contested over seven furlongs. I’m taking a chance on one at a fairly big price here, and that’s CATULLUS for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The Appleby yard has struggled at this meeting in recent times, which is a slight concern; however, this three-year-old is a progressive-looking gelding. He was last seen at Goodwood in May when a competitive seventeen-runner handicap in impressive style by three and three-quarters of a length, in what was his first run since being gelded and a wind operation. He looks well worth his place within this company on the back of that run, and the experience he gained could also be a big positive. William Haggas’ Saber Strike is a very promising colt and is unbeaten after two starts. He’ll be popular with punters and is a big danger at the top of the betting. There’s also likely more to come from Into The Sky for Jim Boyle and Oisin Murphy
Saturday Selections
Royal Ascot (Day 5)
20/06/2026
2.30 Ascot
CARRY THE FLAG – (9/4) (Win)
EZ TINA – (9/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
3.05 Ascot
KALPANA – (9/4) (Win) (NB)
3.40 Ascot
JOLIESTAR – (2/1) (Win) (NAP)
4.20 Ascot
CATULLUS – (10/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
