Top Horses to Watch in 2026: Hollie Doyle's Top Picks

Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her top ten horses to watch in 2026 as the flat season gets underway. Richard Hannon's five-year-old has elevated his performance since autumn, winning a valuable handicap at Ascot and the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster. He is expected to transition smoothly into Group company. A promising debut by a son of New Bay at Chelmsford City has also caught her attention, with the potential for further improvement. Another standout is a three-year-old son of Caravaggio, who impressed in his debut at Saint-Cloud, showcasing his potential as a future star. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett has also made a notable performance, staking his claim for the Classic. William Haggas's son of Kingman, a half-brother to Group 1 star King Of Change, has shown promise, despite being carried off line in his last race. A filly partnered by Tom Marquand to a debut win at Newbury has a hefty price tag to live up to, but is closely related to Group stars My Oberon and My Prospero. Archie Watson's son of Havana Grey has done well physically since his last race and is expected to develop into a stakes performer. A daughter of Starman could be David Ward's next headline horse, having won a 6f Nottingham maiden and finishing close behind Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel. A son of Sea The Stars made a spectacular winning debut at Newcastle, and it will be interesting to see how he copes in deeper waters. Karl Burke's son of Night Of Thunder has wintered well and is aiming for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.