Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador, Hollie Doyle, has shared the ten horses she is most eager to watch as the flat racing calendar ramps up for the 2026 season. Each of these youngsters carries a distinct story, a promising pedigree, and the potential to make a splash on the big stage.
First on the list is the five‑year‑old trained by Richard Hannon. Since the autumn break the colt has taken a decisive step forward, clinching a valuable handicap at Ascot in October before turning the tables on the higher‑rated Jasour in the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the flat season. Hannon’s stable has a reputation for nurturing horses of this type, and Doyle expects a seamless progression into Group company as the season unfolds. The next prospect is a big, attractive son of New Bay who debuted at Chelmsford City in early March.
Despite being green, he handled his 10‑furlong maiden with composure and showed plenty of scope for improvement. Joint‑trainer Jamie Insole is reportedly targeting a valuable spring handicap at Newbury, and Doyle believes the colt could continue to develop and become a genuine contender as the distances increase. A third horse that caught Doyle’s eye is a three‑year‑old who made a delayed first start in a newcomers’ race at Saint‑Cloud at the end of March. The offspring of Caravaggio displayed a turn of foot over a mile, keeping his rivals in check and hinting at star quality for the Aga Khan Studs.
Some have already likened him to the future Caledonian, a lofty comparison, and while he is a gelding rather than a colt, his training under Francis Graffard suggests he has the right environment to thrive. Aidan O’Brien’s son of Wootton Bassett is another intriguing candidate. He missed the Group 1 Futurity Trophy last autumn, but his performance in that race hinted at classic potential. Out of the celebrated Ballydoyle mare Hydrangea—winner of the Champions Day Fillies’ and Mares’ races—he is expected to stay effective over longer trips this year.
Doyle sees him as a possible serious Derby prospect as the season progresses. William Haggas has a promising son of Kingman in his yard, a half‑brother to the Group 1 winner King Of Change. The colt impressed on his Newbury debut in October with a solid second‑place effort and then stepped up again at Doncaster’s Lincoln Meeting, showing grit despite being badly hampered in the final stages.
Though his entry for the Guineas may not be acted upon, the very fact that it exists underscores the high regard in which he is held. Doyle also highlighted a filly owned by her husband Tom Marquand, who secured a debut win at Newbury late last season. The filly carries a hefty price tag of £1.7 million and is closely linked to Haggas’s Group‑level performers My Oberon and My Prospero.
With an entry in the Irish Oaks, she offers a tantalising blend of pedigree and potential, and Doyle looks forward to seeing Tom continue their successful partnership. Archie Watson’s son of Havana Grey, despite a modest maiden win at Lingfield last summer, ran poorly in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, the colt has shown physical improvement and returned to form in a Listed sprint at Deauville in early March, despite being a touch rusty. Watson believes the horse has yet to make a mistake and could evolve into a stakes‑level performer.
David Ward’s daughter of the ace sprinter Starman is another horse Doyle hopes will rise to headline status. Trained by Ed Walker, the filly displayed class in a six‑furlong Nottingham maiden last summer and then ran a respectable second to Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket. She is now entered in the Guineas, and Doyle feels she possesses the stamina to stay a mile, potentially becoming a top‑class miler.
A further entry from Archie Watson is a son of Sea The Stars who delivered a spectacular winning debut at Newcastle. The performance exceeded expectations and left observers eager to see how the colt handles more testing distances. Watson has entered him in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, and Doyle anticipates that he could become a flag‑bearer for the yard throughout the summer.
Karl Burke’s son of Night Of Thunder also earned a place on Doyle’s list. The colt went unbeaten in four starts, culminating in a dominant victory in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket in September, where he comfortably beat Godolphin’s highly rated Opera Ballo.
After a productive winter, Burke is aiming the horse at the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, a target that appears perfectly timed for his development. These ten horses represent a blend of proven ability, promising pedigrees, and the excitement of untapped potential. As the flat season gathers momentum, Hollie Doyle’s insights provide a valuable roadmap for fans and punters alike, highlighting the youngsters who could shape the narrative of British and international racing in 2026. The anticipation is palpable, and the racing world will be watching closely to see which of these prospects fulfill their early promise and ascend to the upper echelons of the sport.