- Oisin Murphy names ‘standout’ Royal Ascot ride
- Murphy looking to extend on his 20 Royal Ascot wins
- Latest Gold Cup betting odds
Top jockey Oisin Murphy will have a stack of good rides at Royal Ascot this year, but has highlighted a horse as one of his standout picks – which is currently priced at 8/1 with the best horse racing betting sites.
Oisin Murphy Fired In Five Royal Ascot Wins Last Year
Ryan Moore is the red-hot odds-on favourite to be the top rider at Royal Ascot 2026 – but having ridden FIVE winners at the five-day meeting last year Oisin Murphy could be the value at 7/1.
Murphy (30) has racked up 20 overall Royal Ascot wins, which is way behind the 92 Ryan Moore has heading into 2026.
But the Irish rider is sure to add to that tally this year with a stack of top rides – and Murphy is once again looking forward to one of the big flat racing highlights of the season.
“It’s the most important week of the year, but I relish it and I’ve found I can get in a good zone there.” Murphy said to the Press Association.
“You are always thinking about the meeting, even in the winter. I never really have horses to look forward to in the Oaks and the Derby and for me it always seems to ramp up straight after the Guineas. That is when I’m really starting to focus on Ascot”.
“There is always a lot of pressure and in some races you have horses to choose from and you are always thinking about it”.
“I’m always under a lot of pressure to get a winner in the first couple of days and once you get one it just eases you in. But I’m also under the realisation that it’s possible to draw a blank no matter how good your book of rides and chances.”
Oisin Murphy Highlights Standout Royal Ascot Ride
12 months ago, ALL five of Murphy’s Royal Ascot winners came in handicaps.
However, his standout Royal Ascot fancy this year comes in the biggest race at the meeting – the Ascot Gold Cup on Ladies’ Day Thursday.
Murphy feels his mount CABALLO DE MAR has a big chance of landing the showcase Group One contest for trainer George Scott.
The 5yold has improved this season to to run a close second to cup stalwart Sweet William in the Sagaro Stakes last month.
And then backed that up with a Group One win in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp at the end of May (watch below)
“The standout ride for me would be Caballo De Mar in the Gold Cup,” said Murphy.
“It’s been his target since Dubai and he ran a great race at Ascot in the Sagaro and did it really well in France.
“He’s won over the distance before and it really shows him to good effect. He’s improved so much in the last 12 months, he’s not bred to go those distances yet he gets them very well so his team need a lot of credit.”
“I remember Yeats winning the Gold Cup so many times and in more recent years Stradivarius and it’s a race of course I would love to win.”
The Ascot Gold Cup will also be shown live on the ITV Racing schedule at Royal Ascot.
With the Aidan O’Brien-trained Scandinavia the current Gold Cup favourite as he looks to give the Ballydoyle handler his nineth success in the race.
Back CABALLO DE MAR with Midnite and claim a £30 free bet
WATCH: Caballo De Mar Winning In France
When Is The Ascot Gold Cup?
📅 Date: Thursday 18th June 2026
⌚ Time: 4:15pm
🏇 Racecourse: Ascot
🔄 Trip: 2m 4f
💷 Winner: £396,970
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing / ITV Racing
2026 Ascot Gold Cup Odds
- Scandanavia 6/4 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Rahiebb 5/1 (Roger Varian)
- Trawlerman 5/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Caballo De Mar 8/1 (George Scott)
- Sweet William 10/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Fairy Glen 16/1 (Simon & Ed Crisford)
- Illinois 16/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Jan Brueghel 16/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Lambourn 16/1 (Aidan O’Brien)
- Al Nayyir 25/1 (Tom Clover)
- Al Riffa 25/1 (Joseph O’Brien)
- Danielle 25/1 (John & Thady Gosden)
- Carmers 33/1 (Paddy Twomey)
- Consent 33/1 (Sir Mark Prescott Bt)
- Lazy Griff 33/1 (Charlie Johnston)
- Le Destrier 33/1 (Willie Mullins)
- 33/1 BAR
Note: Ascot Gold Cup odds are subject to change and others are on request
