How to Bet on Royal Ascot 2026 - Royal Ascot Betting Guide

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Royal Ascot is the true pinnacle of British flat racing held every year during the month of June over five days at the famous Ascot racecourse in Berkshire, England. Revered across the globe, the famous race meeting is given its Royal status as attendance from the monarchy in each day’s Royal procession is normal practice.
It truly combines historic British tradition with thunderous thoroughbred horse racing action that is not to be missed at betting sites by racing enthusiasts.
With an extended race schedule of 35 races over a full five days from Tuesday 16th June to Saturday 20th June, the best horses from the UK and Ireland, alongside stars from the likes of Australia, USA, France, Hong Kong and Japan, will arrive for a festival of flat racing. It will be the port of call for around 250,000 visitors across the week and countless more on best odds guaranteed betting sites.
The meeting includes eight Group 1 contests for the very best flat horses in the world to contest over sprint distances like the King’s Stand Stakes over the shortest of five furlongs to the frantic and hugely valuable handicaps such as the Wokingham and Royal Hunt Cup. The showpiece Gold Cup contest is run for the stamina-laden stayers over a marathon two-and-a-half miles.
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There is something for everyone from an entertainment point of view. The best horse racing betting sites across the globe also cover the action in great detail with their betting markets and options for horse racing enthusiasts. There'll be Royal Ascot live streaming across the world with UK races being shown on ITV, ITV4 and the free-to-air Sky Sports Racing channel showing every race live, whilst many betting apps will get in on the action, too.
Royal Ascot 2026 is about to swing into life and the runners and riders are ready to pit themselves against the best in undoubtedly the biggest horse racing event of the year. We recommend the following as the best places to bet during Royal Ascot week, and if you want more information on the week itself, some tips and picks across the 35 races and how to best bet on the Royal Ascot markets. then read on!
Royal Ascot Free Bets 2026
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
Royal Ascot 2026 Race Schedule
Here you will find the list of all races that take place over the five days of Royal Ascot 2026 between Tuesday 16th June and Saturday 20th June. All races will be broadcast live on terrestrial television in the UK and Ireland, as well as on betting sites with live streaming.
Royal Ascot is also a huge time for online bookies and sportsbooks with lots of specials and new customer betting offers to announce the start of the meeting. If there is a time to find a new betting operator this is one of the days that it pays to see what is available with the online sports betting sites you haven’t yet signed up to.
Royal Ascot all kicks off on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes at 2:30pm, with nine horses battling it out over 1m for glory in the opener. The Stand Stakes sees Overpass looking for glory on British turf for the first time after coming over from Australia, before Bow Echo and Gstaad vye for glory in the St James' Palace Stakes.
There is plenty of Group 1 action on the second day of Royal Ascot, with the Prince of Wales' Stakes amongst the highlights for many punters in what appears to be a straight battle for glory between Ombudsman and Daryz.
The Royal Hunt Cup is one of the most competitive races on the horse racing calendar anywhere in the world. UK betting sites will be offering all sorts of extra place betting options and specials on the day that will allow racing enthusiasts to get more chance of a return in a traditionally huge betting heat.
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Thursday at Royal Ascot is the feature day for the famous Gold Cup. A race for stamina-packed horses that can last the extended trip of two-and-a-half miles around the famous Ascot course. The American horse Scandanavian looks to be the one to beat, but with international stars sure to line up, we are set for a wonderful renewal of the great race once again.
Handicaps provide huge puzzles for the betting public, and the Britannia Stakes and the Buckingham Palace Stakes will be ripe for extensive form study combined with the bookmaker enhancements and free bet offers that this meeting provides each year from the best betting sites in the business.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
Friday is the fourth day of five at the Royal Ascot meeting, and the Coronation Stakes are a huge highlight for many, which takes place at 16:20 UK Time over a 1m trip for three-year-olds who excel at the specialist trip. Rising star Precise looks to be the one to beat in this race, but the likes of True Love and Touleen are sure to make it difficult.
With the sprinters in action for the Commonwealth Cup over a dashing 6f, the betting may well concentrate on those who come to Royal Ascot with a big reputation despite limited experience at this level and could well be a smart horses to follow with the attractive weight allowances.
The Albany Stakes starts the day Saturday, and with hot handicaps on the card in the shape of the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes and the Sandringham, there is something for everyone and the betting markets will be massively competitive to match the fields.
The Wokingham Handicap is a betting favorite with the Royal Ascot crowds on the final day of the Royal Ascot meeting, and it will be one of the most anticipated races for deposit match bonus and other bookmaker offers. It’s a cavalry charge that takes a lot of winning and a little bit of luck, so the field can often start at close to double figures even for the favourite in the race.
Simpler races to predict on the Saturday include the famous Jersey Stakes and the Chesham Stakes, where there has often been an odds-on banker available to back.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
How to Bet at Royal Ascot
If attending the track over the Royal Ascot meeting, betting on course is simple with many bookies in operation and tote pools available at the course. Bettors can also use the track WiFi or mobile phone data to access their chosen betting apps and bet online during the meeting.
Placepots and Betting on the Tote at Royal Ascot
The tote pools during a meeting like Royal Ascot will be large given the huge interest in the UK, Ireland and internationally during the week. A great way to access more value can be to play into these pools. If not at the track, though, this can be done via many of the leading betting sites. We list a few here that will have usual fixed odds betting across all races at Royal Ascot and also allow you to place pool bets and exotics like the Placepot, Jackpot, forecasts and tricasts across all the races at the Royal Ascot meeting.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
Royal Ascot Betting Offers
The best online horse racing betting sites during Royal Ascot will have specials, enhanced odds, betting welcome offers and extra place specials across each day at the meeting. These types of enhancements are specific to the event and only available for a certain period of time. Often only until the first race of each day is run during Royal Ascot itself.
It pays to take notice, so claim whatever exclusive bonus might exist such as free bets that allow you to use them across the Royal Ascot meeting. Also ensure you are getting the best place terms for each way betting with your Royal Ascot free bet sites.
We list several of them here and will update each day of the meeting to ensure you are kept up to date with the latest free bet offers and bet-through-the-card options that the best online bookies will make available to racing fans during the week.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (AZ, CO, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). CALL 1-877-770-STOP (LA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Please gamble responsibly. Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/MO/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. Licensee partner Amelia Belle Casino. Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 or greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
Best Bets for Royal Ascot 2026
Our experts have picked out one horse to follow for each day of Royal Ascot 2026. Prices are correct at the time of writing. Be sure to check out our leading horse racing tips page for daily selections all week of the Royal meeting at Ascot.
Tuesday June 16, St James' Palace Stakes 4:20pm UK Time
Selection: Talk Of New York
It's hard to oppose the worthy favourite Bow Echo but Talk Of New York looks a very nice price after a couple of strong wins recently. First came a victory at Newmarket in April when he saw off second without even breaking a sweat and then he followed that up with another very comfortable success in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown last month.
Wednesday June 17, Prince of Wales’s Stakes 3:40pm UK Time
Selection: Ombudsman
Taking a favourite doesn't always guarantee success at major racing festivals but Ombudsman simply looks far too good to miss out on. It was happy hunting in this race 12 months ago when he stormed home at 7/1 and with two wins from two races under his belt this year, he looks worthy of his shorter price today despite pressure from Daryz.
Thursday June 18, Ascot Gold Cup, 4:20pm UK Time
Selection: Scandanvia
Another favourite that's incredibly difficult to go on the wrong side of, Scandanavia simply looks so much better than the rest of the field. The American-trained horse has won his last five races, including Grade 1s at both Goodwood and Doncaster, and his recent victory at Leopardstown shook off he cobwebs to set him up nicely for Royal Ascot.
Friday June 19, Commonwealth Cup, 3:05pm UK Time
Selection: Charles Darwin
A near-perfect record blighted only by a debut defeat and a disaster at Naas where everything went wrong, Charles Darwin has recorded four wins in six outings and had some very impressive runs in Ireland. The Aidan O'Brien horse won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and this step up doesn't appear to be asking too much.
Saturday June 20, The Wokingham Stakes, 5pm UK Time
Selection: Double Rush
An incredibly competitive handicap on the final day of Royal Ascot, in which it is worth taking a chance on Double Rush. It usually takes a good horse to take the spoils here, and Double Rush is certainly proving he deserves to be in that bracket of late. He's won both his races since switching trainers to Andrew Balding earlier this year, going well clear at Newmarket twice and can take that form into Ascot.
Royal Ascot 2026 FAQs
When does Royal Ascot Start?
Royal Ascot starts on the June 16 2026 and lasts for five days, finishing on Saturday June 20 2026. It takes place each year in June at the famous Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, UK, and over 250,000 visitors are expected over the five days.
Can I watch Royal Ascot online?
Watching Royal Ascot online is very simple, with the leading betting sites with live streaming offering footage of each race from most meetings provided you are registered and in some cases have placed a bet or have a funded betting account.
What TV Station is Royal Ascot on?
Royal Ascot is shown on ITV Racing, ITV 4 and across the Sky Racing Channel all week of Royal Ascot 2026 and is free to view for anyone in the UK. The racing gets under way at 14:30 each day, so make sure you don’t miss a race.
Can I use a Free Bet at Royal Ascot?
All leading bookies online will usually let you use, earn and bet on Royal Ascot with free bets. As part of new customer betting offers or loyalty schemes, Royal Ascot free bets are commonplace with online betting sites during race week.
How many races are at Royal Ascot?
There are 35 races at Royal Ascot each year spread over five days. With seven races taking place each day. There is a wide variety of handicaps and stakes races, with the day’s biggest race starting at 15:40 or 16:20 UK time every day.
Is Royal Ascot flat or jumps?
Royal Ascot is a flat turf meeting. However, Ascot does have the facilities to host both flat and national hunt meetings. Generally flat meetings take place in the summer months, and national hunt meetings in the winter. This is because the time of year provides the suitable ground conditions for each form of horse racing.
Which jockey has the most wins at Royal Ascot?
Lester Piggott is the most successful jockey at the Royal Meeting. Over the course of his career, he managed to ride 116 winners at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore is the most successful jockey of modern times, standing on 92 winners going in to the 2026 renewal.
About the Author

Adam has worked in online gambling for most of his adult life. Starting off with Paddy Power in the Flutter group, he moved on to work in Sportsbook Operations at Betbright before joining Bookies.com. His experience in the industry covers both sports betting and online casinos. Football, horse racing and NFL betting are his main passions on the sports side of things, but he has seen and reviewed hundreds of online casinos and thousands of casino games too.


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