Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador Hollie Doyle has highlighted ten horses she is most eager to follow as the flat racing calendar ramps up for the 2026 season. Her selections span a mix of promising juveniles, seasoned handicap performers, and emerging classic contenders, each offering a distinct storyline that could shape the year ahead.
First on her list is a five‑year‑old trained by Richard Hannon. Since the autumn, the horse has elevated his performance, capturing a valuable handicap at Ascot in October before stepping up to beat the higher‑rated Jasour in the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the flat season. Doyle believes the colt fits the profile of horses that Hannon and his team excel with, and she anticipates a smooth transition into Group company as the season progresses.
Next, Doyle points to a strikingly large son of New Bay who impressed her with a solid debut at Chelmsford City in early March. Despite being a green youngster, he handled the ten‑furlong maiden race with composure and displayed the potential to improve further.
His co‑trainer, Jamie Insole, is reportedly targeting a valuable spring handicap at Newbury, giving the colt a clear stepping‑stone toward higher‑class competition. The third entry is a three‑year‑old who burst onto the scene with a late debut in a newcomers race at Saint‑Cloud at the end of March. Sired by Caravaggio, the horse dominated his rivals over a mile, prompting Doyle to label him a rising star for the Aga Khan Studs.
Already being compared to the legendary Caledonian, the colt carries lofty expectations, though Doyle notes the slight disappointment that he is a gelding rather than a colt, which limits breeding prospects. Aidan O'Brien’s offering is a son of Wootton Bassett who missed the Group 1 Futurity Trophy last autumn but ran a near‑perfect race, taking control for much of the contest and staking an early claim for classic races. Out of the champion mare Hydrangea—winner of the Ballydoyle Champions Day Fillies’ and Mares’ races—this colt is expected to stay in training longer and may develop into a serious Derby contender as his stamina over extended distances becomes evident. William Haggas contributes a son of Kingman, a half‑brother to the Group 1 winner King Of Change.
Doyle recalls his promising second‑place finish at Newbury in October and notes a further improvement at Doncaster’s Lincoln Meeting, where he finished strongly despite being heavily weighted in the final stages. Though his entry for the Guineas may not be taken up, the performance underscores the high regard in which the colt is held. Doyle also mentions a filly owned by her husband Tom Marquand that secured a debut win at Newbury late last season. Purchased for a hefty £1.7 million, the filly carries a substantial price tag but also immense potential.
Related to Haggas’s Group‑level performers My Oberon and My Prospero, she already holds an entry for the Irish Oaks, and Doyle looks forward to seeing Tom continue his partnership with her. Archie Watson’s son of Havana Grey is another horse that caught Doyle’s eye. After winning a maiden at Lingfield last summer, the colt finished well down the field in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, suggesting a need for further development.
However, a recent Listed sprint at Deauville in early March showed he had returned to form, running smoothly despite some rust. Doyle believes he still has the capacity to evolve into a stakes‑level performer. David Ward’s daughter of the sprint champion Starman is highlighted as a potential headline act.
Trained by Ed Walker, the filly displayed class in a six‑furlong Nottingham maiden last summer and subsequently ran a respectable second to Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket. Considered a favorite of Kieran Shoemark, she is entered in the Guineas and appears capable of staying the mile distance. Another promising prospect comes from Archie Watson’s yard—a son of Sea The Stars who delivered a spectacular debut win at Newcastle. The colt’s first outing exceeded expectations, leaving a strong impression on Doyle.
He is now slated for the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, and Watson hopes the youngster can become a flag‑bearer for the stable throughout the summer. Karl Burke’s son of Night Of Thunder rounds out the list. After a flawless four‑for‑four record culminating in a comfortable victory in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket—where he beat Godolphin’s highly rated Opera Ballo—Burke reports the horse wintered well and is being aimed at the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Doyle sees this as an ideal target for the colt at this stage of the year.
In the interview, Hollie Doyle spoke with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, sharing her insights and excitement for the upcoming flat season. Her selections reflect a blend of proven talent, emerging juveniles, and horses poised to step up to the highest level, promising an engaging and competitive campaign for racing fans throughout 2026.