Hollie Doyle's Top Picks for 2026: Emerging Stars and Derby Contenders

Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her top 10 horses to watch in 2026 as the flat season gets underway. Among her selections is Richard Hannon's five-year-old, who has shown impressive form 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 horse. Another notable mention is a big son of New Bay, who gave Doyle a nice feel when scoring on debut at Chelmsford City. Despite his greenness, he was well in control and can hopefully build on this performance. A three-year-old son of Caravaggio also caught Doyle's attention with a belated debut performance in a Saint-Cloud newcomers race, toying with his opposition over 1m. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett, who made all the running in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy, is another horse Doyle is excited about, expecting him to develop into a serious Derby contender. William Haggas's son of Kingman, a half-brother to Group 1 star King Of Change, also shows promise, with Doyle liking his Newbury debut and Doncaster performance. Doyle's husband Tom Marquand partnered a filly to a debut win at Newbury, and she has a hefty price tag to live up to, but Doyle is looking forward to seeing her develop. Archie Watson's son of Havana Grey, despite feeling weak when finishing down the field in the Coventry Stakes, has done well physically and shaped well in his comeback run. Ed Walker's filly, a daughter of Starman, was too classy for her rivals in a 6f Nottingham maiden and had a strong field well beaten when finishing close behind Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel. Doyle's boss Archie Watson has been patient with a son of Sea The Stars, who made a spectacular winning debut, and it will be interesting to see how he copes in deeper waters. Karl Burke's son of Night Of Thunder, who made it four from four in the Group 2 Joel Stakes, has wintered well and is aiming for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.