Of the seven races set for Royal Ascot on Thursday, the 2 ½-mile Gold Cup (G1) is the main attraction.
The race is often called the Ascot Gold Cup to help differentiate it from other Gold Cup races, but it’s always been the Gold Cup since its founding in 1807, according to Ascot Racecourse.
For one year only, 2016, it was renamed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday and was called the “Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen's 90th Birthday.”
The Gold Cup is the centerpiece of the Royal Ascot meet and probably Europe’s most prestigious event for “stayers” -- long distance runners.
The beautiful and warm weather in Berkshire is expected to continue on Thursday, and the afternoon is expected to be dry, with highs reaching into the upper 70s ensuring firm going.
First run in 1807 during the reign of King George III, it was established as a marathon staying test on Ascot’s straight course. It remains a highlight on the third day of the five-day meeting and has long been the pinnacle event for elite stayers in Europe, attracting top long-distance performers.
Over more than two centuries, the race has showcased runners with extraordinary endurance and consistency. The most notable and successful horse in Gold Cup history is Yeats, trained by Aidan O’Brien, who won an unprecedented four consecutive times from 2006-2009. A bronze statue of the son of Sadler’s Wells stands in the parade ring at Ascot.
Other standout multiple winners include Sagaro (three straight wins from 1975–1977 under Lester Piggott) and Stradivarius (who started in the race from 2018 to 2020 and won three for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori). The winner’s list also features prominent dual victors like Kayf Tara (1998, 2000), Ardross (1981, 1982), and more recently Kyprios (2022, 2024), and top names like Courage Mon Ami (2023), and Trawlerman, who last year set a track record in a dominant front-running performance.
Trawlerman, the John and Thady Gosden-trained gelding, returns as a top betting choice (7-2) in a field of 11 in his first start of 2026.
O’Brien, who sends out Scandanavia as the 7-5 favorite, leads all trainers with nine Gold Cup victories, underscoring the race’s deep ties to Irish and British training powerhouses.
Post time for the Gold Cup is 11:15 a.m. ET.
1 Al Nayyir (Tom Clover, James Doyle), 30-1a
2 Al Riffa (Joseph O’Brien, Dylan Browne McMonagle), 15-1
3 Caballo De Mar (George Scott, Oisin Murphy), 10-1
4 Dubai Future (Saeed Bin Suroor, David Probert), 20-1
5 Sweet William (John & Thady Gosden, R Havlin), 8-1
6 Trawlerman (John & Thady Gosden, William Buick, 7-2
7 Carmers (P Twomey, Billy Lee), 20-1
8 Furthur (Andrew Balding, Colin Keane), 60-1
9 Rahiebb (Roger Varian, Ray Dawson), 5-1
10 Scandinavia (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore), 7-5
11 Miss Alpilles, Edward Walker, K Shoemark, 60-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
