Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle has shared the ten thoroughbreds she is most eager to watch as the 2026 flat racing calendar gets underway. Her selections span promising juveniles, seasoned handicap performers, and a handful of international prospects, each with a story that suggests a bright future in the upper echelons of the sport. First on her list is the five‑year‑old trained by Richard Hannon.
Since the autumn break the horse has taken a decisive step forward, beginning with a valuable handicap win at Ascot in October and followed by a hard‑fought victory over the higher‑rated Jasour in the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the flat season. Doyle believes the colt possesses the kind of profile that Hannon’s operation excels at developing, and she expects a smooth transition from listed company into Group level races as the season progresses. The second prospect is a big, attractive son of New Bay who impressed Doyle on his debut at Chelmsford City in early March. Although still green, the three‑year‑old handled a ten‑furlong maiden race with composure and showed a turn of foot that hints at further improvement.
Joint‑trainer Jamie Insole has reportedly earmarked a valuable spring handicap at Newbury for the youngster, giving Doyle confidence that the horse will continue to climb the ladder. Third on the list is a three‑year‑old gelding who burst onto the scene in a newcomers race at Saint‑Cloud at the end of March.
Sired by Caravaggio, the colt dominated his rivals over a mile, prompting the Aga Khan Stud to label him a potential future star. Some observers have even compared him to the legendary Caledonian, a lofty compliment that underscores the high expectations surrounding him.
Despite being a gelding rather than a colt, Doyle believes his pedigree and the guidance of trainer Francis Graffard will allow him to thrive. Aidan O'Brien’s fourth entry is a son of Wootton Bassett who missed the Group 1 Futurity Trophy last autumn but ran a credible race that hinted at classic potential. Out of the champion mare Hydrangea, who captured the Ballydoyle Champions Day Fillies’ and Mares’ titles, the colt is expected to stay in training and target longer distance contests this year. Doyle sees him as a genuine Derby contender who could develop into a top‑class middle‑distance performer.
The fifth horse is a Kingman‑sired colt in the William Haggas yard, a half‑brother to Group 1 winner King Of Change. After a promising second‑place finish at Newbury in October, the colt stepped up at Doncaster’s Lincoln Meeting, showing resilience even when heavily weighted in the final stages. Although his entry for the Guineas may not be acted upon, the very fact that a nomination exists signals the high regard in which he is held. Sixth on the roster is a filly owned by Doyle’s husband, Tom Marquand, who broke her maiden at Newbury late last season.
The filly carries a hefty price tag of £1.7 million and is closely related to Haggas’s Group‑level performers My Oberon and My Prospero. Doyle expects Tom to continue the partnership, especially as the filly already holds an entry for the Irish Oaks, suggesting she will be aimed at classic distance races for fillies. The seventh prospect is a son of Havana Grey trained by Archie Watson.
After a maiden win at Lingfield last summer, the colt ran poorly in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing well down the field. However, his physical development has been evident, and a recent Listed sprint at Deauville in early March showed he could still be a stakes‑level performer despite a touch of rustiness. Doyle believes the horse has ample room to improve and could become a reliable sprinter. Eighth is a daughter of the top sprinter Starman, owned by David Ward and trained by Ed Walker.
She displayed class in a six‑furlong Nottingham maiden last summer and then ran a strong second‑place effort behind Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket. Doyle notes that the filly is a favourite of Kieran Shoemark and has an entry for the Guineas, indicating her connections believe she can stay the mile distance. The ninth entry is a Sea The Stars‑sired colt in the Archie Watson stable that made a spectacular debut win at Newcastle. The performance exceeded expectations, and the trainer now plans to test the colt over a longer distance in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.
Doyle anticipates that the horse could become a flag‑bearer for the yard this summer if he handles the step up in trip. Finally, Doyle highlights a Night Of Thunder‑sired colt owned by Karl Burke, who completed a perfect four‑for‑four record by winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket in September, comfortably beating Godolphin’s 119‑rated Opera Ballo. Karl reports the horse wintered well and is targeting the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury as his next objective, a race that appears ideally suited to the colt’s current form. In summarising her selections, Doyle emphasized the blend of proven talent, promising pedigrees, and strategic training plans that underpin each horse’s potential.
She concluded her interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft by expressing excitement for the upcoming season and confidence that many of these horses will make a significant impact on the 2026 racing landscape.