Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her excitement about the upcoming flat season, highlighting ten horses that have caught her attention for 2026. Among them 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 standout is a lovely 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 in his 10f maiden and is expected to kick on. A three-year-old son of Caravaggio also made a belated debut performance in a Saint-Cloud newcomers race, toying with his opposition over 1m and showing great potential. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett, who made virtually all the running to stake his own Classic claims in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy, is another horse to watch. William Haggas's son of Kingman, a half-brother to Group 1 star King Of Change, has also shown promise, taking another step forward in a similar race at Doncaster's Lincoln Meeting.
Doyle's husband, Tom Marquand, has high praise for a filly who debuted with a win at Newbury, and although she has a hefty price tag to live up to, she has the world at her feet. Other notable mentions include a son of Havana Grey, who has done well physically since his last run and shaped well enough in his comeback, and a daughter of Starman, who could fit the bill as a headline horse for David Ward.
With the flat season kicking into gear, these horses are sure to make a splash, and Doyle is eager to see how they will perform in the coming months.