Royal Ascot Betting & Odds 2026 – Expert Picks at Mr. Gamble

Latest Royal Ascot Betting & Odds for 2026

We’re constantly on the lookout for the latest Royal Ascot odds, with some ante post betting Royal Ascot options already available at the top betting sites.

While Royal Ascot horse racing odds are subject to change and can improve or worsen, we found the following being offered in February 2026 for some of the Royal Ascot race cards:

LeoVegas - Royal Ascot Gold Cup odds (each-way pays three places, 1/5 odds):

• Scandinavia (3/1)
• Trawlerman (6/1)
• Rahiebb (12/1)
• Illinois (14/1)

NetBet - Gold Cup (each-way pays three places, 1/5 odds):

• Scandinavia (3/1)
• Trawlerman (4/1)
• Al Riffa (8/1)
• Rahiebb (14/1)

Highbet - Gold Cup (each-way pays three places, 1/5 odds):

• Scandinavia (3/1)
• Trawlerman (4/1)
• Al Riffa (8/1)
• Rahiebb (14/1)

NetBet - Commonwealth Cup (each-way pays three places, 1/5 odds):

• Wise Approach (8/1)
• Samangan (10/1)
• Venetian Sun (12/1)
• Alparslan (12/1)
• Charles Darwin (12/1)

Highbet - Commonwealth Cup (each-way pays three places, 1/5 odds):

• Wise Approach (8/1)
• Samangan (10/1)
• Venetian Sun (12/1)
• Alparslan (12/1)
• Charles Darwin (12/1)

Types of Royal Ascot Betting Offers Explained

The prestige of Royal Ascot – along with the presence of the royal family in the famous Royal Enclosure – makes it one of the standout events on the racing calendar. Because of the huge interest it generates, bookmakers roll out a wide range of Royal Ascot offers throughout the five-day meeting, giving betting fans plenty of enhanced markets and promotional incentives to take advantage of.

 Among the many Royal Ascot betting offers available, we’ve listed some of the most frequently offered to help get you started:

Win & Each-Way Bets

A win bet is the simplest wager you can place. You back a single horse to finish first; if it wins, you collect, and if it finishes anywhere else, the bet loses. This suits situations where you think a horse has a strong chance of winning outright and ends up in the Royal Ascot Windsor enclosure, often at shorter odds or when you’re confident the market underestimates it.

An each-way bet is two bets in one: one part on the horse to win, and one part on the horse to place (e.g. top 3 or 4, depending on race and bookmaker terms). Because it’s two bets, your total stake is doubled, but you can still get a return if the horse places without winning, making it popular in big Royal Ascot fields where outsiders have a chance.

• Win: Horse must finish 1st; any other position and the bet loses.
• Each-way: Paid as a win if the horse wins, place part still returns if the horse finishes in a paying place; the number of places and place odds fraction vary by race and firm.

Place Bets: Betting on a Horse to Finish in the Places

When it comes to place betting, this is where you bet on Royal Ascot races with a focus on a horse to finish in the designated places that the bookies offer. An example of this might be wagering on the Gold Cup because of the large field. An example might be to wager on it finishing in the top three.

This type of bet is less risky than a straight win because the horse can finish behind the winner and still generate a return. It’s useful when you fancy a horse to run very well in a competitive race but aren’t convinced it’s the most likely winner.

• Pays if your horse finishes in one of the official place positions as defined for that race.
• Typically offers shorter returns than win bets but a higher strike rate.

Forecast & Tricast Bets

Forecast and tricast bets are about identifying the finishing order of multiple horses accurately, offering larger potential returns at the cost of much greater difficulty. These are most attractive in races where you have a strong view on how the principals stack up against each other.

• Forecast (Exacta): Predict the first and second home in the correct order; some bookmakers also offer reverse or combination forecasts so your two (or more) picks can finish in any combination in the top two, at an increased total stake.
• Tricast (Trifecta): Predict the first, second, and third in the correct order; combination tricasts cover all possible finishing orders among your selections and multiply the stake. This can make it easier for the bet to return a profit.

Match Bets

A match bet, also known as a head-to-head, pits two named horses against each other. You’re simply betting on which of the pair will finish in front; if your selection beats the other horse, you win, whether they are first and fifth or eighth and ninth.

These bets strip out the rest of the field; if you have a clear view that one horse is overpriced or another is vulnerable, but you’re unsure about the full race shape, these bets can offer value. Prices reflect the relative perceived ability and circumstances (draw, going, trip) of the two horses rather than the whole field.

• You win if your chosen horse finishes before the other named horse.
• Some bookies may void if one or both do not run, depending on the rules.

Tote & Pool Betting

At Royal Ascot, you can also bet into Tote/pool markets, where all stakes on a particular bet type go into a common pool and the dividend (return per unit stake) is calculated after the race. The operator takes a fixed percentage out of the pool, and the remainder is shared among all winning tickets.

Common pool bets at big meetings include win, place, exacta/forecast, trifecta/tricast, Placepot, and multi-race jackpots. Larger payouts from small stakes when popular horses underperform or when your selections are less fancied by the crowd can be obtained.

• Returns depend on how much money is in the pool and how many winners there are.
• Can be more appealing in large, competitive Royal Ascot fields where results can be unpredictable.

Ante-Post Betting

Royal Ascot ante post betting means placing bets days, weeks, or even months before the Royal Ascot meeting, often at bigger odds than will be available on the day. With Royal Ascot ante post betting, you’re betting on a horse to run and perform in a specific race long before declarations are finalised, taking on more uncertainty in exchange for better potential value.

The major risk is non-runner status: with traditional ante‑post rules, if your horse does not line up in the race (for example, injury, different target, or not declared), your stake is usually lost. Some bookmakers occasionally offer “non‑runner, no bet” promotions close to the meeting, which remove that specific risk but generally come with shorter prices. 

• Suits punters with strong early opinions or find angles that the wider market has not yet fully priced in.
• Offers potentially much bigger odds; higher risk, and lower flexibility than on-the-day betting.

Specials & Royal Ascot Betting Promotions

Given the nature of the event, many of the UK’s top horse racing betting sites will offer specials and promotions specific to Royal Ascot horse racing. Many of these Royal Ascot bet offers are often made closer to the beginning of the event, so it’s definitely advisable to look out for them around May and the beginning of June.

If you check out the top sportsbooks, it’s likely that you’ll find some of the following promotions on offer:

Jockey, Trainer & Owner Markets

These markets let you bet on the top jockey, trainer, or owner by number of wins over a single day or the entire five-day festival. They're popular because dominant figures like Aidan O'Brien (trainer) or Ryan Moore (jockey) often rack up multiple successes in pattern races, creating value on outsiders if a big yard underperforms.

Royal Ascot gamble horse odds reflect past Royal Ascot results, recent records, current form, and booked rides; for example, the leading trainer market might shorten on O'Brien's stable as he saddles numerous contenders. Dead-heats split stakes and payouts if tied on wins.

• Win tallies determine the winner; some bookies offer place terms for the top 2-3.
• Ideal for punters tracking trainer/jockey angles or expecting an upset from a less-fancied name.

Daily & Festival Bets

Daily and festival bets cover multi-race aspects, such as the best horse across all five days, the race-of-the-day winner, and specific prestige races such as the Queen Anne Stakes (opening Group 1) or the Gold Cup (staying showpiece). These offer punters a different way to view Royal Ascot race odds.

A "top-rated horse" might be judged by official ratings of winners, while "race of the day" specials gauge excitement via margins or times; festival outrights suit long-range punters eyeing standouts like last year's big-race heroes returning. Markets often include without-favourites options for value.

• Common in prestige cups: Backing Gold Cup contenders ante-post can yield big drifts if form holds.
• Suited to analytics fans comparing trainer strike rates or spotting festival patterns.

Royal Ascot Horse Racing Tips

To make the Royal Ascot best bets possible, we’ve identified some of our top Royal Ascot betting tips to help enhance your betting experiences on this prestigious racing festival.

Our betting tips for Royal Ascot include:

1. Study draw bias early. Low draws often dominate sprints (5-7f), especially near side on soft ground; watch first races to spot pace/setup advantages.
2. Prioritise trainer/jockey form. Aidan O'Brien, Charlie Appleby, and Ryan Moore typically dominate when racing at Royal Ascot; back their runners in Group races, but check recent trials. It’s always worth considering an each-way on Moore places, as he typically yields a profit. Willie Mullins Royal Ascot winners have also been emerging in recent years.
3. Look for races with extra places. Several races at Royal Ascot can come with extra places when betting on them. This is one of our top Royal Ascot race tips; it can be a good idea to look for these to maximise potential returns.
4. Favourites don’t always win at Ascot: Royal Ascot stats suggest approximately only 30% of the favourites that run at Royal Ascot tend to win their race. Horses with odds of 6/1 or longer can offer value, especially in each-way betting.
5. Consider pace and ground. The ground will play a huge role in how a race is run on the day, especially with the uphill straight. Strong finishers should be considered, which is why it’s ideal to keep track of the pace. The weather and ground can be impactful on this.
6. Look for the best offers and odds. Compare bookies to find the best Royal Ascot offers and odds. Not all will be the same, and money could be left on the table if you don’t search for it.
7. Watch along in real-time. Watch Royal Ascot live by following each race on the TV or your smartphone. If you have Royal Ascot live streaming available from your chosen bookie, make sure to use it.

There are many Royal Ascot racing tips that can help to maximise your experiences throughout this five-day festival. Follow these Royal Ascot tips today to help you enjoy this festival to its fullest!

Royal Ascot FAQs

Upcoming Races & Odds at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot 2026 will feature a total of 35 races over five days, meaning punters will be able to witness and place bets on eight each day.

At Mr. Gamble, we want you to enjoy responsible gambling practices. To help you stay safe, we’ve picked out the top Royal Ascot racecards.

Queen Anne Stakes

The Queen Anne Stakes opens the festival on Tuesday, with it being contested over 1 mile for horses 4 years old and older; it's the mile championship for older horses. Recent winners include Docklands (2025), Charyn (2024), and Triple Time (2023); Frankel and Baaeed have also won it. The race features a £750k prize, making it one of the biggest.

Goldophin have dominated this race in the past, winning eight races (last in 2017), with Saeed bin Suroor having seven wins as a trainer. Frankie Dettori has won the most races as the leading jockey with seven (last in 2021). 

King Charles III Stakes

The King Charles III is also a Day 1 race: a sprint over 5 furlongs for the very best 3-year-old and older speedsters. American Affair won in 2025, with Asfoora winning in 2024. A £1 million prize purse is available for this race, attracting a lot of betting opportunities due to the competitive odds it offers.

This is a race that no trainer or jockey has managed to dominate in recent years, with new winners crowned at each edition. This is why it’s one of the most competitive, and why bettors can typically find an opportunity in the odds' value.

St James’s Palace Stakes

A Group 1 race held on Tuesday, the St. James’s Palace Stakes is a flat race that sees 3-year-old colts run a distance of 7 furlongs and 213 yards (1,603 metres). It is a race that typically features those who have run in the 2,000 Guineas, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains or the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Many top horses have won this race over the years, including Field of Gold in 2025 and Rosallion in 2024. Aiden O’Brien has nine wins in this race.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes

On Wednesday, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the showpiece of the day, with the best 4-year-old+ horses running a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong and 212 yards (2,004 metres). It is known as the ‘middle-distance title’ because it can test the stamina of competitors. A prize purse of over £1 million is offered in this race.

Goldolphin are the owners with the most wins in this race, with Ombudsman winning in 2025 to take their tally to six, with William Buick as the jockey and John & Thady Gosden as the trainers. Aiden O’Brien won the race in 2024 with Ryan Moore, who was the jockey for Auguste Rodin.

Duke of Cambridge Stakes

The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is another premier race held on Wednesday, with the Group 2 race open to fillies and mares that are 4 or older. It consists of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and is designed to keep them in the sport for longer, rather than exporting or prematurely retiring them to study. 

It has been on the card at Royal Ascot since 2004, with John Gosden having won the most races. The trainer has six wins, including winners in 2025 (Crimson Advocate) and 2024 (Running Lion).

Coronation Stakes

The Coronation Stakes is held on Thursday and is a 1-mile Group 1 race for 3-year-old fillies. Typically, it features fillies which ran previously in the 1,000 Guineas, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches or the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Tahiyra was the most recent to be a winner of this race after winning one of the above, having won in 2023 after winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Cercene ran just a few milliseconds short of a record-paced race in 2025 to win (1:38.35), almost beating the record time of 1:38.32 set by Ghanaati in 2009.

Gold Cup

The main event and centrepiece featuring the top Royal Ascot horses, the Gold Cup is held on Thursday and features the very best stayers. It is considered one of the premier race meets of the British and Irish horse racing calendar.

Held on Royal Ascot Ladies' Day 2026, women will dress to their very best, including wearing some incredible Royal Ascot hats and clothing. After the day, many enjoy a drink at the Royal Foresters in Ascot, before going on to stay at the Royal Berkshire Hotel in Ascot.

Appearing in the Royal Ascot enclosures frequently, Yeats is the most successful horse to have won this race, having won it four years in a row (2006-09), while Stradivarius won it three times in a row (2018-20).

Trawlerman won in 2025 for the first time, blitizing the record by a few seconds to finish with a time of 4:15.02. That was three seconds quicker than Kyprios’ 2024 win (his second victory (2022).

John and Thady Gosden have won five of the last eight Gold Cups (between 2018 and 2025), with Aiden O’Brien having two victories (Kyprios) and Mark Johnston having the other in 2021 with Subjectivist.

Commonwealth Cup

Held on Friday, the Commonwealth Cup is a Group 1 race that is contested over six furlongs by 3-year-old sprinters. It has been at Royal Ascot since 2015. It’s a race that rewards the quickest colts and fillies, which is what bettors should be looking out for in the Royal Ascot betting odds.

Time For Sandals won in 2025 and was just shy of setting a new record. That is held by Advertise, who was ridden by Frankie Dettori in 2019, clocking 1:11.88. Dettori is the only jockey to have had multiple wins in this race.

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

A race with a £1 million prize, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is held on the final day of Royal Ascot (Saturday). It is open to horses that are aged four or older, and requires them to run a distance of six furlongs (1,207 metres).

James Doyle is the only jockey to have had multiple Royal Ascot winners in recent editions, having won in 2019 (Blue Point), 2022 (Naval Crown), and Lazzat (2025); Lazzat set a new record, clocking 1:11.30. Khaadem won back-to-back Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in 2023 and 2024.

Read More Betting Guides

At Mr. Gamble, we strive to be a comprehensive resource for all of your sports betting needs.

We have worked hard to provide you with the best horse racing betting guides, completing an overview of the best sites to use. We’ve also dug further into the sport by offering you detailed guides specific to the biggest events, including the Cheltenham Festival, on top of this Royal Ascot guide.

It’s not just horse racing that we’ve covered in detail. As sports betting experts, we’ve also created expert-led guides on football, cricket, and greyhound racing, among many others.

We’re consistently updating our site and introducing new guides with all of the latest information, so make sure to keep checking back to stay up-to-date and enjoy the best betting experiences with us!

Best UK Betting Offers & Free Bets

If you’re looking for the best UK betting offers and free bets around, we’ve got you covered at Mr. Gamble. We’re all about bringing you the very best offers and what to look out for. Among the most frequent that we can find include the following:

• Welcome bonuses: Offers you can claim as a new customer to receive free bets and matched deposits, enhancing the value of the offer. You may even be able to play risk-free bets with this offer.
• No deposit bonuses: Although rare these days, it may be possible to find this bonus available at the best no deposit bookies in the UK. Simply join, follow the T&Cs and claim the bonus without making a deposit!
• Sports-specific offers: You can find the biggest and best UK sportsbooks offering sports-specific bonuses that can enhance the value that can be found. Football betting may feature promos that include early payouts, acca bonuses, and acca insurances. Horse racing betting may feature Best Odds Guaranteed options, wins on extra places, and insurance on bets where your horse falls in a jumps race.
• Reload bonuses: It may be possible to get losses back as a free bet or cash at some UK bookies. A promo may provide you with a return if the team or horse you bet on loses, or if a specific outcome isn’t achieved.