Royal Ascot remains good-to-firm for Thursday’s Gold Cup day, with the course watered, and expecting a sunny day – showing one Ascot non-runner before the seven-race card on Ladies’ Day (18th June, 2026).
Royal Ascot Day-Three Ground Stays Good To Firm After Watering
As Royal Ascot moves into their third afternoon the track has kept their ‘fast ground’ shape – with the Gold Cup at 16:15 the big highlight on the day.
Racing Post’s latest going and non-runner update lists Royal Ascot as good to firm, watered and sunny.
The published GoingStick readings are 8.9 on the stands’ side, 8.7 in the centre, 8.5 on the far side and 7.6 on the round course.
Thursday’s Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day card opens with the Chesham Stakes at 14:30 and moves through the King George V Stakes, Ribblesdale Stakes, Gold Cup, Britannia Stakes, Hampton Court Stakes and Buckingham Palace Stakes.
With all the races at Royal Ascot on Thursday covered on the ITV Racing schedule.
Also See: Andy Newton’s Royal Ascot tips for Thursday, including Gold Cup NAP and 14/1 Britannia best bet.
Ground picture stays settled
The Royal Ascot Thursday temperatures are expected to range between 14.5C and 26.9C, reinforcing the sense that this is a dry, warm Royal Ascot raceday rather than a changing-weather card.
The stall positions are also fixed, with the straight-course stalls in the centre and the round-course stalls on the inside.
Bobby McGee remains the only Ascot Thursday scratching in the Racing Post going and non-runner update, having come out of the 16:50 Britannia Stakes.
Gold Cup day has a clear frame
The Gold Cup remains the centrepiece at 16:15, with 11 runners over 2m3f210y and a £396,970 first prize.
Scandinavia is the favourite as he looks to give trainer Aidan O’Brien a tenth win in the race.
While last year’s winner Trawlerman is back for more, with Caballo De Mar, the mount of Oisin Murphy and the improving Rahiebb other big players according to the Ascot Gold Cup betting odds.
Last year’s winner Trawlerman, will however, be looking to defy a 125-year Ascot Gold Cup trend that surrounds his age.
WATCH: Trawlerman Winning The 2025 Ascot Gold Cup
Royal Ascot Day Three Going – The Key Facts
- Meeting: Royal Ascot
- Date: Thursday 18 June 2026Going: Good to firm
- Weather: Sunny
- Track status: Watered
- GoingStick: stands’ side 8.9, centre 8.7, far side 8.5, round course 7.6
- Stalls: Straight course centre; round course inside
- Ascot non-runner listed by Racing Post: Bobby McGee in the Britannia Stakes
- Feature race: Gold Cup, 16:15
- Gold Cup field: 11 runners
- Gold Cup distance: 2m3f210y
- Gold Cup first prize: £396,970
