As the flat season gains momentum, Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her top ten horses to look out for in 2026. Richard Hannon's five-year-old has shown remarkable improvement since autumn, with notable wins at Ascot and Doncaster.
Hollie expects a seamless transition into Group company for this talented horse. Another promising contender is the big son of New Bay, who made a impressive debut at Chelmsford City and is being considered for a valuable spring handicap at Newbury. A three-year-old debutant at Saint-Cloud also caught Hollie's attention with a stunning performance, showcasing potential to become a star. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett, who made a strong claim in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy, is expected to develop into a serious Derby contender.
William Haggas's son of Kingman, a half-brother to Group 1 star King Of Change, has shown promise and is highly regarded. 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, despite being rusty, shaped well in his comeback run and has the potential to become a stakes performer.
Ed Walker's filly, a daughter of Starman, could be a headline horse for David Ward, having been too classy for her rivals in a Nottingham maiden and finishing close behind Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel. A son of Sea The Stars made a spectacular winning debut for Hollie at Newcastle, 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, is aiming for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.