Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her top 10 horses to watch in 2026 as the flat season gains momentum. Among her selections is Richard Hannon's five-year-old, who has shown significant improvement since autumn, winning a valuable handicap at Ascot and the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster.
Doyle expects a smooth transition into Group company for this promising horse. Another notable mention is a debut winner at Chelmsford City, a big son of New Bay who showed great potential despite his inexperience. His joint-trainer, Jamie Insole, has a valuable spring handicap in mind for him at Newbury.
Doyle was also impressed by a three-year-old's debut performance in a Saint-Cloud newcomers race, where he effortlessly outperformed his opponents over 1m. This son of Caravaggio is considered a rising star and is in good hands with Francis Graffard. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett, who made a notable performance in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy, is another horse Doyle is excited about, expecting him to become a serious Derby contender.
Other horses on her list include a Kingman son trained by William Haggas, a filly who debuted with a win at Newbury, and a Havana Grey son who has shown promise despite being on the weaker side. Doyle also has high hopes for a Starman daughter, who has already demonstrated her class in a Nottingham maiden and the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket. Her boss Archie Watson's son of Sea The Stars, who made a striking debut at Newcastle, is another horse to watch. Lastly, Karl Burke's Night Of Thunder son, who won the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket, is aiming for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.