When Is The Royal Ascot Gold Cup? Date, Start Time, Runners and Favourites

Once again, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot has come around, a testing 2m4f run awaits racehorses and jockeys as they look to etch their names into the history books.

The Gold Cup dates back 219 years, all the way to 1807 and it has been won by some of the greatest horses to ever grace flat racing.

This year’s winner will take the largest share of the race’s £700,000 prize pot.

Trawlerman established himself as the king of the staying division in 2025 following Kyprios’ retirement and broke the track record en route to victory in last year’s renewal. It’s doubtful whether the eight-year-old will defend his title, however, after missing his intended prep runs.

That could open the door for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Scandinavia to add the Gold Cup to last year’s St Leger crown. Can he prove he is the new super stayer on the block?

Gold Cup 2026 date

The Gold Cup takes place at Ascot on Thursday, 18^th June.

Gold Cup 2026 start time

The Gold Cup starts at 16:15.

How to watch the Gold Cup 2026

You can watch the Gold Cup live on ITV1.

Gold Cup 2026 runners and riders

A total of 25 horses hold entries for the Gold Cup ahead of confirmations and final declarations.

Al Nayyir
Al Riffa
Ascending
Caballo De Mar
Columbus
Dallas Star
Dubai Future
Illinois
Jan Brueghel
Le Destrier
Subsequent
Sweet William
Tabletalk
Trawlerman
Carmers
Furthur
Lambourn
Lazy Griff
Rahiebb
Scandinavia
Tarriance
Danielle
Fairy Glen
Miss Alpilles
Consent

Scandinavia is the favourite with Paddy Power to win the Gold Cup after bagging last season’s Irish St Leger and kicking off his campaign with two victories in Ireland. He looks like the heir to Kyprios’ crown as Aidan O’Brien’s star staying hurdler.